Red and Ginger (Johnnie Walker Red Label) - A Highball Drink Review

Well, the blog name does says books, booze and box-office, but doesn’t look like enough booze has happened on these pages. 

Time to fix that!

Starting with talking of my recent favourite discovery that folks are calling ‘Red Ginger’.

Akin to a possible MCU superhero (think Black Widow), this one too has secret powers that only show themselves when we engage with it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s just a pretty redhead. The experience reveals itself, the more we look for it.

Reminiscent of the most remembered (to me anyway!) Geri Ginger Spice Girl from the 90s, this one too brings that desirable in-your-face zing, that stands out of a crowd, where everything and everyone looks and tastes the same.

And like its namesake, the Red Ginger plant, which is a thing of beauty that needs a nuanced appreciation, this one too is not something to be taken lightly, it demands attention and commands a presence.

Welcome to the experience of Red and Ginger. 

A simple yet impactful drink, that can be ordered at your favourite bar, or easily fixed at home.

A tall glass, lots of ice, pour of Johnnie Walker Red Label, ginger ale and topped up with soda. And that’s it.

Just what you need to make an evening revibe one notch higher.

As a wine lover (check out my reviews on the Vivino app) and a beer drinker, blended Scotch whiskey has not been my go-to drink for an evening of celebration. Labelled as a drink of my father’s generation, it’s been stereotyped in a corner of the bar, that’s visited only when a drinker friend asks for it.

But 'Red Ginger’ changes all that. 

It turns the notion of a classic-but-dated drink completely on its head. 

Like the remix of a classic song that is as enjoyable as the original, Red and Ginger takes Scotch and puts it boldly in the centre of a socially charged evening. Who says whiskey is a sit-down drink! 

A great balance of complex-yet-gentle, sweet-yet-smoky taste of the original Red Label liquid, mixed with the sweet and spicy spark of fresh ginger ale, lifted by the zest of a soda, makes this the perfect drink for boys and girls looking for a grown-up social drink. 

Teeny-boppers, stay away!

For everyone, who thinks whiskey is not for me, ‘Red and Ginger’ is a great way to start.

And once that’s done, we talk about ‘Black Ginger’. 

But that’s a whole different story, for next time!