5 Best Whiskies to Try If You Loved Johnnie Walker Black Label: Dewar's 15, Monkey Shoulder, Dewar's 12 To Ballantine's 12

Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky has a knack for being the spirit people across the world keep coming back to. It is an exceptional whisky bottle. It is smoky enough to have personality, but there is plenty of ripe fruit, vanilla, spice and oak underneath. The 12-year-old blended Scotch at 40% ABV manages to feel familiar without becoming predictable, which makes it a useful starting point for exploring alternatives. If that is the combination you enjoy, then check out the list of these 5 best whiskies including Dewar's 15 Year Old, Monkey Shoulder, Johnnie Walker Double Black, Dewar's 12 Year Old and Ballantine's 12 Year Old whisky. Check the whisky prices in India of these Johnnie Walker Black Label alternatives too.

5 Best Whiskies to Try If You Loved Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky

Here are the 5 best whiskies that bring some part of the Johnnie Walker Black Label experience and push it somewhere slightly different.

Dewar's 15 Year Old Whisky

Dewar's 15 Year Old whisky stays in familiar territory, but gives the blend a little more maturity. It has a rich, mellow profile built around honey, vanilla and oak, with a subtle smoky note in the background. For someone who likes Black Label but wants something a little rounder, it is an easy next step.

The current listed price for Dewar’s 15 Year Old is ₹6,700 in Delhi

ABV: 40%.

Monkey Shoulder Whisky

Monkey Shoulder takes the conversation away from smoke and towards malt. It is a blended malt Scotch made with three Speyside single malts, so there is no grain whisky in the mix. The result is softer, fruitier and more relaxed than Black Label, making it a good choice when the malt character is what you enjoy most.

The current listed price for Monkey Shoulder is ₹5,370 in Delhi

ABV: 40%.

Johnnie Walker Double Black Whisky

If it is the smoke that keeps you reaching for Johnnie Walker Black Label, then Johnnie Walker Double Black Double Black is the most straightforward move. It builds on the familiar Johnnie Walker profile with a greater emphasis on peated whisky, charred oak and darker flavours. In other words, it does not ask you to leave the Black Label family it just makes the smoky side louder.

The current listed price for Johnnie Walker Double Black is ₹4,320 in Delhi

ABV: 40%.

Dewar's 12 Year Old Whisky

There is a reason Dewar's 12 Year Old wisky makes this list. It is another blended Scotch, with honey, vanilla, dried fruit and gentle smokiness in the profile. It sits close enough to Black Label to feel familiar, but has a softer, more mellow character.

The current listed price for Dewar’s 12 Year Old is ₹3,300 in Goa

ABV: 40%.

Ballantine's 12 Year Old Whisky

Ballantine's 12 Year Old whisky takes the least smoky route of the five. Its profile leans towards honey, citrus, oak, toffee, vanilla and spice, making it a good option if the sweeter side of Black Label is what you prefer.

The current listed price for Ballantine’s 12 Year Old is ₹3,200 in Goa

ABV: 40%.

The interesting thing about Johnnie Walker Black Label is that there is not just one thing to like about it. The smoke might be what catches your attention, but the fruit, vanilla, spice and oak are what keep the glass balanced.

That gives you several ways to move on from it. Dewar's 15 adds maturity, Monkey Shoulder puts malt in the spotlight, Double Black turns up the smoke, Dewar's 12 stays comfortably familiar and Ballantine's 12 takes things in a softer direction.

Note: Whisku prices are current listings from Delhi Duty Free and Livcheers Goa at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Bottle sizes and state-specific pricing may vary.