It’s been about three years since audiences all over the world were wowed by the weird, wonderful Netflix show Squid Game. Following a down-on-his-luck man who finds himself playing an evil but lucrative set of children’s games, the show became Netflix’s biggest hit ever, seemingly out of nowhere. Because that success was so sudden, it took a while for the merchandising to begin. But soon, pink and teal jumpsuits, masks with shapes on them, and terrifying talking statues were everywhere.
Season two of the show is finally coming on December 26 and this time, everyone is ready. Case in point, with two months to go I recently got one of the most wonderful emails ever. Its subject line read: “Taste Test: Johnnie Walker Black Label Squid Game Edition?”
Now, I’m not a whiskey drinker. I enjoy alcohol but mostly I drink wine or clear spirits. But even I couldn’t resist the temptation of Squid Game-themed Johnnie Walker. What did it look like? What did it taste like? Would it make me better at “Red Light, Green Light?” I replied to the email and a few days later, a complimentary bottle of Johnnie Walker Squid Game whiskey arrived at my door. What a world.
First things first. These limited edition bottles each come with a randomized number on it from 001-456, just like on the show. Mine said 89. The label also shares the Squid Game jumpsuit colors and even the Johnnie Walker logo has become a Squid Game contestant. Just on its own, the bottle is a nice keepsake.
But, as you can see on the bottle and in the name, the Squid Game Johnnie Walker is specifically “Black Label.” Johnnie Walker has a few different labels (red, black, blue, gold, green, etc.) that vary in age and price. So, I had to check: was this Black Label the same as the Black Label available at most liquor stores? I went to one and bought a “pocket rocket” of Black to compare the two.
Sip one was from the Squid Game bottle. The whiskey is smooth, oaky, and creamy, as whiskeys go of course. The traditional alcoholic bitterness one would expect from it comes only at the end. All in all, a very nice sip. Time to rinse out the glass and try the regular label.
The regular Johnnie Walker Black seems, at least a bit, slightly less sweet than the Squid Game. Again, I’m not a whiskey drinker so I have a limited frame of reference but the two taste a little different on initial sips. So, I went back to the Squid Game. This time, things tasted a little more even—but still, the Squid Game was just a tiny bit better. As I went back to the regular label, though, I felt it. The small bottle I’d bought was plastic, not glass. Certainly that played a role in the slight difference in taste. Not to mention, after a sip or two of whiskey, an untrained palate will—understandably—be numbed a bit.
So, to be sure, I contacted the person who sent the initial email and confirmed that, yes, the Black Label whiskeys themselves are exactly the same.
After a sip or two more, I realized going much further might impair my ability to write this article so I stopped. Now though, I’ll have plenty of Squid Game whiskey to drink in the coming weeks when season two debuts on Netflix. And, if you are a whiskey or Squid Game fan, you certainly can’t go wrong with one of these super cool, limited-edition bottles.
You can read more about the entire promotion at this link and see where the bottle, which retails for $35, is on sale near you by clicking here.
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