Solid whiskey for the non-discerning

At roughly $28.00 a bottle, Johnnie Red is a very decent, respectable whiskey. It has a smokey nose and, predictably, a flavor long on smoke and alcohol, with a fairly long finish full of heat. Other than the smokiness and the heat, there is little else. This is not a complex whiskey that will have you chasing after flavors to identify them: chocolate? Heather? Marshmallow? Forget all that. This is a one-note whiskey that never lets you forget it's "strong drink." For the occasional unfussy Scotch drinker, or for the Bourbon lovers who, like Faulkner, felt that "if it's a choice between nothing and Scotch, I'll take Scotch," JWR is a fine glass. Even a single malt aficionado, faced with nothing but JWR, could do worse than this. Bottom line: if you want to explore Scotch, or you have already acquired the taste, add another $20 to the price, if you can, and get a single malt. On the other hand, if you tipple Scotch only occasionally, and are looking for a respectable blend to have on hand for once-in-awhiles or for guests, this is a perfectly good choice.