Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora (John Walker & Sons)

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora (John Walker & Sons) is a blended Scotch from John Walker & Sons, in the Ghost and Rare series that spotlights whisky from closed and rare distilleries. Blends like this fold a thread of vanished distillery character into a rounded whole. Johnnie Walker draws on many malt and grain whiskies, married to a consistent house style.

A blended Scotch marries malt whiskies for character with grain whisky for a lighter frame. Here a rare closed distillery malt sits at the heart, the other malts and grain built around it. The grain lends a creamy frame while the malts bring depth and a dried fruit richness. The blender marries the parts and rests them together into one harmonious Scotch. The Ghost and Rare series spotlights malts from closed and vanishing distilleries. Blended Scotch marries malt and grain into a balanced, layered whole.

At an approachable 46% it is balanced. Honey, orchard fruit and dried fruit run through it, with a soft oak spice and a waxy depth. It is rich and deep, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish runs malty, spiced and rich. A refined blend built around rare closed distillery malt.