Johnnie Walker Black Ruby Review

September 22, 2025

Ah, Johnnie Walker. There’s a name that’s synonymous with whisky. Johnnie Walker whisky is always a safe bet. You know what you’re getting with Johnnie, and what you’re getting is an above-average whisky for an affordable price.

I’m partial to a drop of Johnnie Walker now and then, though it’s been a while since I last indulged. While the Red, Black, and Green Labels are all great drams (pun most definitely intended) when I decided to review a Johnnie Walker expression, I knew I had to try something a little different.

Most of the Johnnie Walker expressions you can find in your local supermarket shelves are already very well established, and chances are if you’re whisky drinker you’ll know exactly how they taste. One of their newest permanent expressions however, caught my eye last year, and that expression is their Black Ruby.

If you like your whiskies dark, fruity, heavy on the berries, with just a smattering of smoke, stop what you’re doing and pick up a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, (after your favourite Great Drams whisky, of course).

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

One of the reasons why Black Ruby caught my eye was the fact that it came about thanks to Diageo’s Roseisle Distillery.

This Speyside distillery is located in the heart of Roseisle, just a stone’s throw away from Elgin. Owned by global drinks giant Diageo, it was founded back in 2010 and is the largest of its kind, coming in at a whopping 3,000 square metres, with the capacity to produce 10,000,000 litres of spirit annually.

Its size isn’t the only thing large about the distillery either. It cost a cool £40 million to build and was built to provide a sustained stream of fine malts for Diageo. Despite being in its infancy, the site has already won numerous awards and is renowned for its sustainability, so that already gets a big thumbs up from us here at Great Drams.

There’s a saying commonly associated with Guinness, another hugely popular name under Diageo, which goes ‘good things come to those who wait’. Well, after 13 years of waiting, in 2023 the Roseisle Distillery finlly released their first single malt.

Just one year later, malt whisky from the distillery was used to produce Johnnie Walker Black Ruby. So, was it worth the wait? You bet it was!

Johnnie Walker Black Ruby

Following a series of soft-launches in 2024, Johnnie Walker unveiled their latest permanent expression worldwide – Black Ruby.

This was a special release for Johnnie Walker for many reasons, particularly due to the fact that it was the first core range creation from Master Blender Dr Emma Walker, who took on the role in 2022.

Described by Johnnie Walker as a ‘deliciously indulgent, fruity, and sweet whisky’ this blended whisky brings together several big hitters in the world of whisky, creating a sweet, jammy, fruity, lightly smoked delight.

Combining whiskies from Clynelish, Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Caol Ila, and Cameron Bridge, the end result is a complex whisky made from a selection of whiskies matured in a variety of different casks. Predominantly however, you have first-fill red wine casks, coupled with PX and Oloroso sherry casks, and bourbon barrels. Each cask that Walker choose, she selected for a reason, as each one compliments the last perfectly.

What I love about this blended whisky is the fact that it has been designed with mixing in mind. Sure, it’s a fantastic sipper, but at the same time it also works in a variety of different whisky-based cocktails, including a Black Ruby Negroni, as well as a Black Ruby Sweet and Sour.

The whisky has an amazing crimson red colour. The bottle looks equally as impressive, with the deep purple colour of the label contrasting beautifully with the dark glass bottle. At 40% ABV, it’s a very smooth dram, with just a hint of fire.

On the nose, you immediately pick up prominent notes of blackcurrant and raspberry, almost like a summer berry compote. As these aromas dissipate, they make way for scents of heather honey, cinder toffee, spiced apple pie, and a hint of seaweed and light smoke, as if the burning embers of a beach BBQ were left to smoulder as the tide gently rolled in. This, no doubt, is thanks to Islay’s Caol Ila. As you know, a little Islay goes a heck of a long way.

On the palate, those fruity, jammy, berry flavours really make their presence felt. That first mouthful should reveal stewed plums and apricot jam, coupled with honey-drizzled dates, fig newtons, sea salted caramel and dark chocolate. Lingering in the background, you should also pick up notes of cinnamon and black liquorice, maraschino cherries, mint and basil. There is also a touch of charred oak. Whereas the Islay expressions influenced the nose, it’s the Speyside expressions here that really dominate the palate.

The finish is relatively short and sweet, with impressive mouthfeel. Expect dark chocolate cherry liqueurs, citrus zest, candied apple slices, and an oaky, ashy, charred smoke finish.

At between £35 and £40 per bottle, it’s a very reasonably priced whisky, which is exactly what you’d expect of a Johnnie Walker expression. It could also potentially be my drink of the summer/autumn, though it’s still a little early to say for certain. It is, however, a definite contender.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Tags: Black RubyJohnnie Walker

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.