Johnnie Walker Gold

Johnnie Walker Gold is a blended Scotch whisky, which means grain and malt whiskies from different distilleries are combined into a single house style. Blends in this tier usually lean toward a soft, honeyed profile instead of a heavily smoky one. Expect creamy vanilla, honey and dried fruit up front, with gentle oak and perhaps a faint wisp of smoke in the background. The exact balance is the blender's call, so treat these as typical expectations for the style, not a measured tasting profile. Because blends like this are built around smoothness and integration, they reward being tried neat first. Pour a small measure into a Glencairn glass, which has a narrow rim that concentrates the aroma, and nose it for a minute before the first sip. If the alcohol feels sharp on the nose or palate, add a few drops of room-temperature water. Water loosens the whisky slightly and tends to bring sweeter, softer notes forward, such as honey, fruit and malt. For slower sipping, a rocks glass with one large cube works well. A single big cube melts slowly, chills the whisky gently and dilutes it only a little, though very cold temperatures can mute the delicate aromas that make a blend like this worth buying. This is more a sipping whisky than a mixing one, but it handles a few simple drinks well. A Rob Roy, which is a Manhattan made with Scotch, suits its rounder character: use sweet vermouth, a dash or two of aromatic bitters and a cherry or orange peel. An Old Fashioned made with a small amount of sugar or rich syrup and an orange twist keeps the focus on the whisky instead of burying it. Skip the Whiskey Sour and any heavily flavored mixer, since strong citrus or sweetness will cover the subtle honeyed notes. If you want a long drink, a Highball with chilled soda water and a lemon peel is the lightest way to stretch it while keeping the aroma intact. At the table, expect it to pair well with milder foods that don't compete with it, such as aged hard cheeses, roasted nuts, shortbread or dark chocolate. Keep the bottle upright, away from sunlight and heat, and it will hold its character between pours.