Fruity, Spicy, Herbal, And Rich: Try 4 Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky Cocktails From World Class 2026

What does it take to craft a cocktail that marries style with substance, highlights distinct flavour notes, and offers a good blend of innovation and familiarity? The answer could be found in the cocktails served at the National Finals of World Class 2026 - the world’s most prestigious bartending competition on March 28, in Gurugram. As part of the theme, “Sip, Savour and Celebrate”, the festival saw multiple cocktail stations, immersive experiences and a buzzing festival atmosphere shaped by accomplished bartenders and mixologists from across India and the world. 

At the Johnnie Walker Black Label bar, innovation was in abundance. The liquid’s smoky finish, and fruity notes were highlighted mixed with myriad of mixers, herbs, and spices to create a range of cocktails with diverse tastes — fruity, spicy, herbal, and nutty were some of the dominant flavours. Find recipes for all four cocktails below. 

Highland Crimson

A berry-forward, fruity drink with a subtle savoury saline twist, highland crimson smartly blends the rich, creamy (with notes of vanilla) notes of Johnnie Walker Black Label with the robust, nutty flavour of Quaffine liqueur (a cold brew coffee liqueur). 

Ingredients:

• Ingredients:

• 60 ml JW Black Label

• 50 ml Cold Brew Cordial

• 4 dashes Saline

• 30 ml Berry Cordial

• Soda, to top up

Method:

1. Add JW Black Label, Cold Brew Cordial, Saline, and Berry Cordial into a shaker with ice and shake briefly.

2. Strain into a glass with fresh ice, then top up with soda and give a light stir.

Asian Affair

Asian Affair uses the spicy Gochujang (from Korean cooking) and mildly sweet mirin (from Japanese cooking) sauces to make a highly layered cocktail with a sweet-spicy-umami complexity. 

Ingredients:

• Ingredients: 

• 45 ml  Johnnie Walker Black Label

• 10 ml Timur Berry Cordial 

• 7 ml Mirin

• Gochujang Guava Soda (acid adjusted) – Top up  

Method:

1. Build the Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky, Timur Berry Cordial and Mirin in a glass

2. Top with Gochujang Guava Soda

Velvety Mango

Creating a perfect balance between sweet and spicy, velvety mango complements the richness of mango with habanero heat and basil freshness. The dynamic "sweet-heat" flavour is balanced by the savoury, sweet, and slightly peppery notes of basil. 

Ingredients:

• 60 ml JW Black Label

• 40 ml Mango Habanero Cordial

Method:

• Add JW Black Label and Mango Habanero Cordial into a mixing glass with ice.

• Stir well until chilled, then strain into a serving glass.

Espresso Martini

While a classic espresso martini cocktail uses vodka as the base, this version makes use of the smoky, rich, and toffee-like notes of Johnnie Walker Black Label. Paired with coffee liqueur and dark roast espresso lend the drink a coffee-forward, bitter yet rich flavour. 

Ingredients:

• 60 ml JW Black Label

• 30 ml Cold Brew & Cherry

• 3 dashes Bitters

• Chocolate Milk Wash

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in a prebatch bottle and mix thoroughly.

• Chill before service, then pour into a glass and serve as required.

*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.