Macallan vs Johnnie Walker | Choose between these whisky giants.

Last updated on August 13th, 2024

Are you trying to choose between Macallan and Johnnie Walker? Both Scotch brands have a long history of producing quality whisky, but it can be difficult to decide which one will best suit your taste and budget.

In this blog post, we’ll compare Macallan vs Johnnie Walker whiskies across their different age groups and price points so that you can make an informed decision when selecting the right whisky for you. We’ll take a look at each brand’s core range of bottles, including 12 year olds, 15 year olds, 18 year olds as well as their premium offerings aged 25 years or more. We’ll also discuss what these whiskies taste like and their unique styles from each distillery.

What’s the main difference between Macallan & Johnnie Walker?

Both The Macallan and Johnnie Walker are Scotch whisky brands. However, Macallan primarily produce single malts whilst Johnnie Walker make blends.

The Macallan distillery and estate is based in Aberlour, Moray, Scotland. There, they distil their core and rare Speyside single malts which range between 12 and 40 years old, free from any artificial colourings. Macallan are best known for their Jerez Oloroso oak sherry seasoned cask whiskies which is generally regarded as their signature maturation style. This type of ageing vessel generally delivers flavours of sweet dried fruit, oak and spice.

Johnnie Walker blended whiskies are made of vast variety of single malts and grain whiskies from all around Scotland. As many as 40 varieties are used in a single blend such as their world-famous Black Label bottle. Designed to express ‘the 4 corners of Scotland’ their core range of 7 blends balances light Lowlands, smooth Speysides, robust smoky Islays and floral Highland whiskies.

Quick heads up

Macallan’s range is enormous, consisting of multiple aged whiskies across three maturation styles; Sherry Oak, Double Cask and Triple Cask matured. So to keep things simple, I’ve made 4 age categories which you can navigate via the links below.

• Compare the 12 year olds
• Compare the 15 year olds
• Compare the 18 year olds
• The 25+ Premium Category

Johnnie Walker Red Label

Prior to the age categories, I didn’t want to exclude the famous Red Label by Johnnie Walker. In my opinion, this whisky isn’t really worth comparing to any of the Macallan single malts, simply becuase it’s their entry-level blend designed primarily for soda mixing and cocktails.

Red Label is classic blend of 30 single malt and grain whiskies. It has a bold and full-bodied flavour with citrussy, smoky notes. Its unique blend marries light whiskies from Scotland’s East Coast with more peaty whiskies from the West. It’s a no age statement whisky, therefore the youngest whiskies used to make it are at least 3 years old.

---

The 12 Year Olds – Macallan vs Johnnie Walker

These comparisons feature the youngest offerings from both brands. Amongst the Macallan 12 year olds are their Sherry Oak, Double Cask and Triple Cask matured expressions. These are primarily sherry cask matured, but with one, two or three types of timbers being used.

The main Johnnie Walker contender for this category is their renowned Black Label bottle. This entry level blend is aged for a minimum of 12 years containing 30 malt and grain whiskies from around Scotland. (In addition to the Back Label is the NAS Double Black Label from Johnnie Walker.)

• Sherry Oak 12 Years Old
• Double Cask 12 Years Old
• Triple Cask Matured 12 Years Old
• Johnnie Walker Black Label
• Johnnie Walker Double Black Label

Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old

The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 year old Single Malt is a complex whisky, offering a deep and intense flavour profile. Matured in Oloroso casks for a minimum of 12 years, it offers aromas of honey, dried fruits, ginger and spice, along with light oak notes. The palate has a full-bodied feel to it, with flavours of vanilla, dried apricot, dates, toffee and chocolate, giving way to a long finish of dry fruits, oak and spice.

Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old single malt whisky is matured in both European and American sherry seasoned oak casks. On the nose, there’s notes of butterscotch, toffee apple, candied orange and vanilla custard, as well as a scent of freshly cut oak. On the palate, it is delightfully honeyed with flavours of wood spice and citrus which is balanced out by raisins and caramel. It has a smooth mouthfeel before giving way to an oaky finish that lingers on the mouth pleasantly – warm, sweet and drying.

Macallan Triple Cask Matured 12 Years Old

Originally called their ‘Fine Oak’ collection, The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 12 Years Old single malt whisky is their entry level bottle to this range. It’s matured in both European and American sherry seasoned oak casks, as well as ex-bourbon American oak casks. This creates a lighter, sweeter whisky with hints of coconut and citrus. On the nose, it offers complex aromas of vanilla, melon, and lemon zest, along with hints of sweet honey and light spices. The palate is medium-bodied and well balanced, featuring flavours of lemon citrus, creamy vanilla, toasted oak and nutmeg, giving way to a lingering finish with notes of ripe melon, papaya and fresh oak spice. The finish is long-lasting with subtle sweetness that lingers on the tongue.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Johnnie Walker Black Label blended whisky has an assertive aroma that combines sweet vanilla, ripe fruits and a hint of smoke. On the palate, the whisky is creamy and velvety with notes of toffee, sweet fruit and spice, while smoky notes linger at the back. The mouthfeel is soft and inviting with a pleasant warmth that stays on the tongue. The finish is full-bodied and smoky with a lingering sweetness that coats the mouth.

Johnnie Walker Double Black Label

Designed as a bolder, peatier blend than its older Black Label sibling, Johnnie Walker Double Black label is a much smokier blend made primarily of whiskies from Scotland’s West coast. Its full bodied with a deep, smoky intensity. On the nose, it has sweet aromas of smoke and spices, such as cloves, cinnamon and pepper. On the palate it is richly peaty with notes of dried fruits and creamy vanilla. The finish is powerful and long-lasting, with a warming sensation that lingers for some time on the tongue. If you’re a fan of potent Islay drams, this sweet blend is the one for you.

---

The 15 Year Olds – Macallan vs Johnnie Walker

These age bracket is a little more evenly spread, as the Johnnie Walker Green label is made entirely of single malts of at least 15 years old. From The Macallan side, this category examines their Double Cask and Triple Cask 15 year old expressions. Again, these have been aged in a combination of sherry matured European and American oak casks, with the Triple using an additional cask of American ex-bourbon.

• Double Cask 15 Years Old
• Triple Cask Matured 15 Years Old
• Johnnie Walker Green Label (made of entirely 15yo single malts)

Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old

The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old single malt whisky has a beautiful golden butterscotch colour. Upon first sniff, you will be met with sweet aromas of dried fruits, toffee, vanilla and oak wood, accompanied by subtle notes of honey and chocolate. On the palate it is sweet and full-bodied, with flavours of raisins, sultana and hints of vanilla, wood spice and citrus. The finish is warm and inviting; ginger notes that turn into caramel and citrus with a creamy mouthfeel that lingers on the tongue.

Macallan’s Double Cask series has been finely crafted over 15 years in two types of oak barrels seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry; American oak for delicate flavours of vanilla, citrus and butterscotch while European oak conveys its distinctive subtle spice.

Macallan Triple Cask Matured 15 Years Old

Originally known as the Fine Oak 15, The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 15 Years Old single malt whisky has a distinct and complex bouquet, featuring notes of sweet rose, subtle cinnamon and dried fruits. The aroma is rich, full-bodied and delicately balanced. On the palate, Macallan’s Tripe Cask trademarks of orange and chocolate stand out immediately—the sweetness of the orange intermingles with the deep complexity of the chocolate. The roundness and fullness in the mouthfeel is balanced by a lingering finish of dried fruit, oranges and raisins.

Macallan’s Triple Cask Matured 15 Years Old single malt whisky is an exquisite marriage of three different types of cask—European oak seasoned with sherry, American oak seasoned with sherry and ex-bourbon American oak. It possesses a natural rich straw colour that adds to its characterful allure. Enjoy Macallan’s Triple Cask Matured 15 Years Old in a classic whisky tumbler, neat, to truly appreciate its unmistakable flavour profile.

Johnnie Walker Green Label

A unique specimen amongst the Johnnie Walker line up, their Green Label blend is their only bottle which solely uses single malts from the four corners of Scotland. Excluding any grain whiskies, it has an earthy aroma with hints of light garden fruits and florals, making for a pleasant, inviting scent. The whisky carries a rich woody flavour that is balanced perfectly with the distinct hints of Highlands oak and cedar, providing an intense yet enjoyable taste. On the palate, it has a medium-bodied mouthfeel that is slightly smoky from the presence of peated island whiskies. This adds complexity and depth to the blend’s flavour profile. The finish is smooth and smoky, lingering with a hint of sweet maltiness on the palate.

---

The 18 Year Olds – Macallan vs Johnnie Walker

By far, this is the most competitive tier between Macallan vs Johnnie Walker. Each brand brings multiple whiskies to this high-end category. The Speyside behemoth has three separate 18 year olds, one from each of their ranges; Sherry, Double and Triple cask matured. From Johnnie Walker, they bring their Gold Label and 18 year old blends which are positioned as their upper-end bottles.

• Sherry Oak 18 Years Old
• Double Cask 18 Years Old
• Triple Cask Matured 18 Years Old
• Johnnie Walker Gold Label (formerly Platinum Label)
• Johnnie Walker 18

Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old

The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old single malt whisky is a rich and complex whisky, featuring an inviting mahogany colour. The nose is full of dried fruits and ginger, with subtle hints of vanilla and cinnamon. On the palate, Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old offers a soft yet intense flavour, with notes of spice, clove, orange and mature oak. The finish is long-lasting, leaving you with a lingering taste of dried fruits, ginger and orange zest. Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks give this whisky an exquisite balance between maturity and sweetness.

Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old

Aged for 18 years in sherry matured European and American oak casks The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old single malt whisky has a rich amber honey hue. On the nose, it offers an alluring bouquet of dried fruits like raisins and sultanas, accompanied by sweet toffee, along with spicy ginger. On the palate, it reveals ripe orange notes intertwined with subtle clove and nutmeg spices, further complemented by caramel and vanilla sweetness. The mouthfeel is balanced with woody spice and zesty citrus accents. The finish lingers on the tongue, leaving a warm oak spice tinged with hints of ginger that slowly fades into sweet orange undertones.

Macallan Triple Cask Matured 18 Years Old

The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 18 Years Old is a single malt whisky that has been crafted in a unique triple maturation process. It combines European and American sherry seasoned oak casks with ex-bourbon American oak casks, providing an excellent level of complexity and flavour. The result is a light amber coloured whisky with exotic dried petals on the nose, accompanied by coconut and vanilla orange citrus.

On the palate, this 18 year old Macallan expression offers velvety notes of orange citrus, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and chocolate orange. The finish is long lasting and carries hints of wood smoke to complete this delightful whisky experience. Its texture is soft yet full-bodied with a pleasant lingering aftertaste. This Macallan expression provides an elegant marriage between different cask types that results in a truly high-end whisky experience for any connoisseur.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve (formerly Platinum Label)

Made of 15 different whiskies, this premium Scotch blend pays homage to the light, sweet character of Highland and Speyside spirits. Structured around a smoky sweet single malt from the Clynelish distillery in Brora, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve has a warm, inviting aroma of heather honey and woody notes. On the palate, it delivers vibrant, tropical fruit notes with smooth creamy vanilla that coats the mouth. Using a small amount of West coast malts, there’s a hint of smoky sweetness on the finish that lingers pleasantly. If you enjoy a sweeter dram, this whisky is complex yet balanced and rewarding on every sip.

Johnnie Walker 18 year old

Johnnie Walker 18 is a blended whisky made from 18 different malt and grain whiskies, hand-picked by master distillers for their distinctive individual characteristics. The selection of whiskies include those from Cardhu, Glen Elgin, Auchroisk, and Blair Athol which are all aged for 18 years in oak casks. On the nose there is an inviting aroma of sweet fruit and spices with subtle hints of smokiness. Upon sipping, the whisky has a smooth mouthfeel with an intense richness balanced by creamy notes of vanilla and honey from the aging process. On the finish it’s long and sumptuous; its flavours lingering on the palette for some time after being enjoyed.

---

The 25+ Premium Category

At the top-end of each brands hierarchies, is the ultra-premium whisky category of 25 years or older. This luxury tier features each brands’ oldest and most mature core expressions, offering whisky connoisseurs a ‘tip of the spear’ drinking experience.

From Macallan, they offer 25, 30 and 40 year old whiskies. The 25 and 30 year olds have each been matured in the distillery’s signature Oloroso Sherry Oak casks. Laying undisturbed for more than a quarter of a century, these whiskies are at the top end of Macallan’s core range. (Read on for the 40 year old!)

From Johnnie Walker, their top-tier blend is the widely coveted Blue Label whisky. This ultra-premium blend contains whiskies ranging between 28 and 60 years old , balancing an incredible flavour profile that consistently makes it one of the most luxurious Scotch blends on the market.

If your budget allows, check out these masterful malts in the description below. (Not that I’m jealous or anything.)

• Sherry Oak 25 Years Old
• Sherry Oak 30 Years Old
• Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Macallan Sherry Oak 25 Years Old

The Macallan Sherry Oak 25 Years Old single malt whisky is an exquisite, luxurious spirit. It has a captivating rich mahogany colour. On the nose, it carries aromas of citrus, cinnamon, sherry and wood smoke that combine to create a complex and inviting bouquet. On the palate, Macallan’s Sherry Oak 25 Years Old offers a full-bodied flavour packed with dried fruit, wood smoke and subtle spice notes. The long finish carries these flavours through and lingers with a pleasant warmth. Macallan’s Sherry Oak 25 Years Old is an indulgent dram that will transport you to another realm of enjoyment due to its sublime aroma and palate.

Macallan Sherry Oak 30 Years Old

Macallan Sherry Oak 30 Years Old is a luxurious single malt whisky that has been patiently matured in hand-picked sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain to reveal its complex and flavourful character. Its natural dark mahogany colour is the richest of Macallan’s range. On the nose, there’s a rich aroma of sherry, orange clove, nutmeg and wood smoke. The palate is smooth and flavoursome with notes of dried fruits, sherry and orange, followed by a long and rich finish with lingering touches of orange spice. Macallan Sherry Oak 30 Years Old is a truly exquisite whisky from Speyside.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label 

Blue Label is the most exquisite whiskey from the renowned Johnnie Walker core range. It is a high-end blend of some of the rarest and most exceptional whiskeys from across Scotland, each hand-selected with remarkable depth to bring out its velvety smooth notes. Only one in ten thousand casks meet the standard to be selected for making this ultra premium Scotch.

With its incomparably rich texture and smoky flavour profile, this Scotch whisky is considered the pinnacle of blended Scotch. Blue Label has spicy, vanilla and honey flavours that mix together with caramel, hazelnuts and dark chocolate. It also has a long, warm and smoky finish which keeps you coming back for more.

---

Macallan vs Johnnie Walker FAQ’s

Is Johnnie Walker or Macallan better?

Johnnie Walker’s blends are consistently ranked some of the best in the market. However, Macallan make some of the finest single malts in Scotland. Depending on your tastes (and budget) either of these Scotch brands are exceptional quality offered in numerous ages and styles.

For a sweeter, fruitier drinking experience, Macallan’s Sherry Oak series is a wonderful way to enjoy this Speyside distillery’s character. It balances dried fruit, oak and a small touch of smoke for a wonderfully smooth dram.

For something a little smokier, Johnnie Walker’s Double Black label is a great blended Scotch option. Using more whiskies from the West coast and Islay, there’s a stronger peatier, smoky element to this whisky.

Why is Macallan whisky so popular?

The Macallan whisky’s popularity reflects their investments towards their vigorous cask selection and maturation techniques. The Macallan’s own in-house cask specialist ‘Master of Wood’ (Stuart MacPherson) painstakingly sources oak trees in Spain and the USA which are made and sherry-seasoned specifically for Macallan. At nearly 10x the cost of typical cask maturation, The Macallan’s dedication to their ageing vessels makes their whiskies so incredibly sought after, desirable and popular amongst whisky drinkers.

Is Macallan worth the money?

Macallan is consistently regarded as one of the best single malts in Scotland, so it’s worth paying the premium for their whiskies. The Macallan carefully distils their spirits with unparalleled maturation techniques, resulting in fine quality whiskies that are highly sought after. With Macallan whisky you will experience a smooth, sherry-led flavour profile, which lends a complexity and robustness to Macallan’s whiskies. Macallan is definitely worth the money in terms of taste, quality and their investment into whisky making techniques.

What is the difference between Macallan and Black Label?

Macallan is a single malt whisky, made from 100% malted barley and aged in sherry seasoned oak cask. Macallan’s whiskies are characterised by their sweet, fruity profile with a touch of smoke and oakiness.

Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blended Scotch whisky consisting of 40 different whiskies. It draws upon Scotch whisky from the four corners of Scotland, mixing them together to create a blended whisky that is smooth and smoky with hints of honey, vanilla and oak. Black Label has higher level of smokiness than Macallan.

What is the highest quality Johnnie Walker?

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the highest quality whisky from Johnnie Walker. It has been crafted using only the finest Scotch whiskies from Diageo’s vast reserves. With a richly layered and deeply smoky flavour profile, this Scotch whisky is considered the pinnacle of blended Scotch. Blue Label has spicy, vanilla and smoky notes, with a long and luxurious finish. It is the perfect choice for whisky connoisseurs and lovers of fine Scotch whisky.

What are the ranks of Johnnie Walker?

Johnnie Walker’s blended Scotch whiskies are easily navigated and categorised by their coloured label system. From their entry level Red Label, through to their coveted premium Blue Label, their bottle hierarchy is structured as follows;

• Red Label (standing for a bold and smoky flavour)
• Black Label (for smoothness and complexity)
• Double Black Label (for smokier, peatier profile)
• Gold Label Reserve (a rich, creamy whisky with hints of honey sweetness)
• 18 Year Old (robust and full-bodied with subtle floral and sweet notes)
• Blue Label (richly layered and deeply smoky flavour profile)

Which Johnnie Walker is the smoothest?

Due to the masterful balancing by Diageo’s Master Blender (Jim Beveridge) each of Johnnie Walker’s blended whiskies are all considerably smooth to drink. Their Red and Black labels mix effortlessly in cocktails, whilst their Gold and Blue Labels are revered for their incredible balance of sweet, smokiness. For most whisky drinkers, the Black Label or 18 year old are very easy to drink with a smooth drinking experience.

Why is Johnnie Walker Blue so expensive?

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is crafted using only the rarest and finest Scotch whiskies from Diageo’s vast reserves, making it a highly sought after and premium blend. The complexity and balance of all its ingredients results in an incredibly smooth and luxurious whisky. It is due to the rarity of these ingredients, as well as its smoky, spicy and sweet profile that makes this blend so expensive.

Is Johnnie Walker a true Scotch?

Yes, Johnnie Walker is a true Scotch whisky. All their whiskies are crafted entirely in Scotland, according to strict standards and practices. Combining single malts and grain whiskies from Scotland’s finest distilleries, they create various blends of different ages and regions. This makes them 100% Scotch whisky and consistently one of the best selling brands worldwide.

Related posts: Jack Daniels vs Johnnie Walker