Johnnie Walker Black Ruby 70cl

This is the Johnnie Walker Black vibe, but dialled toward dark fruit and sweet spice. You still get that familiar whisper of smoke, but the star move here is the ruby-ish hit of berry, vanilla and oak that makes each sip feel like it’s got a story to tell.

If you’ve ever wanted a Scotch whisky that brings more flavour than fire, this is the lane. It’s layered without being a homework assignment, and it plays nice whether you’re pouring for yourself or handing a glass to someone who “doesn’t usually like whisky.”

• Nose: Blackberry jam, dried cherry, vanilla, soft peat smoke, a little toasted wood.
• Taste: Dark berries up front, then caramel, baking spice (think cinnamon), and a gentle smoky edge that keeps it from going candy-sweet.
• Finish: Warming spice and oak, lingering berry notes, then a final drift of smoke.

What makes it worth your time is the balance. The fruit notes give it instant personality, the oak and spice add structure, and the smoke ties it back to that classic Johnnie Walker DNA. It’s not trying to be the loudest peat monster in the room, it’s trying to be the bottle everyone keeps reaching for.

It’s also an easy win for mixing when you want your Scotch cocktail to taste like Scotch. The berry, vanilla and spice pop in a Whisky Sour, and that touch of smoke brings extra depth to a Highball without bulldozing the drink.

You’re basically getting a modern twist on a familiar classic, with enough layers to keep you interested and enough approachability to share. That’s a rare combo in the Scotch aisle.

Fun Fact: Johnnie Walker started as a small grocery shop in Kilmarnock, and the now-iconic square bottle design was created so more bottles could survive shipping with fewer breakages.