7 Scotch Whiskies To Try If You Like Johnnie Walker Double Black: Caol Ila 12 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old And More

If Johnnie Walker Double Black is the bottle that made you realise you enjoy smoky Scotch, there is a whole other side of whisky waiting beyond it. The familiar mix of peat, toasted oak and vanilla can lead you towards a sharper Islay malt, a peppery island whisky or even something softer and sweeter. With that in mind, these 7 Scotch whiskies to try if you like Johnnie Walker Double Black take those familiar flavours in very different directions, with Caol Ila 12 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old, Highland Park 12 Year Old, Kilchoman Machir Bay, Ardbeg 10 Year Old, Glenfiddich 14 Year Old and Black Bottle all bringing something distinct to the glass. Here are seven bottles worth trying next.

Scotch Whiskies To Try If You Like Johnnie Walker Double Black

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Caol Ila 12 is a natural move for anyone drawn to Double Black's smoky side. The Islay single malt is fresher and more restrained, with citrus, light smoke, a gentle salinity and a clean, lingering finish. Caol Ila also has a direct connection to the wider Johnnie Walker whisky world as the brand's Islay home.

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: ₹7,660 (approx.)

Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Talisker 10 adds a more maritime edge to the smoky profile. Produced on the Isle of Skye, it combines peat smoke with sea salt, dried fruit and its trademark peppery finish. It feels bolder and more coastal than Double Black while retaining the sweet-smoky balance that makes the latter so approachable.

Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: ₹6,760 (approx.)

Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Highland Park 12 is worth considering when you enjoy the smoke but want it wrapped in softer sweetness. Orcadian peat, heather honey, citrus and sherry-cask influence give it a rounded character, making this a polished bridge between smoky whisky and richer, more honeyed single malts.

Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: ₹6,300 (approx.)

Kilchoman Machir Bay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Machir Bay brings a more energetic Islay style to the glass. Citrus, vanilla and butterscotch sit beneath its peat smoke, while bourbon and sherry cask maturation add sweetness and depth. It is a particularly interesting choice when you want Double Black's smoky-oak character with a brighter, more modern edge.

Kilchoman Machir Bay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: ₹3,000 (approx.)

Ardbeg 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Ardbeg 10 takes the smoky conversation somewhere more intense. Its profile combines sea spray, tar, lemon and lime with espresso, peat oils and a long smoky finish. The sweetness underneath keeps the whisky from becoming one-dimensional, but this remains the bottle for drinkers who want the peat dial turned significantly higher.

Ardbeg 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: ₹7,500-₹9,200 (approx.)

Glenfiddich 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Not everyone loves Double Black purely for the smoke. Glenfiddich 14 works for those who stay for its charred oak, vanilla and sweetness. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak and finished in charred new American oak, it brings brown sugar, toffee, cinnamon and toasted oak into focus.

Glenfiddich 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: ₹6,000-₹8,000 (approx.)

Black Bottle Original Blended Scotch Whisky

Black Bottle is the closest stylistic detour for drinkers who would rather remain with a blend. Its recipe uses a high proportion of malts alongside Islay influence, while wood smoke, sea salt, honey and charred toffee shape the flavour. It keeps the smoky-sweet balance familiar to Double Black fans without turning the experience into a single-malt lesson.

Black Bottle Original Blended Scotch Whisky Price: 5,780.

Note: Whisky prices may vary across states, retailers and cities in India. Please check local listings for the latest price before purchasing.