We Tried a Bottle of Limited-Edition Squid Game Whiskey

It’s been astir 3 years since audiences each implicit the satellite were wowed by the weird, fantastic Netflix show Squid Game. Following a down-on-his-luck antheral who finds himself playing an evil but lucrative acceptable of children’s games, the amusement became Netflix’s biggest deed ever, seemingly retired of nowhere. Because that occurrence was truthful sudden, it took a portion for the merchandising to begin. But soon, pinkish and teal jumpsuits, masks with shapes connected them, and terrifying talking statues were everywhere.

Season 2 of the show is yet coming connected December 26 and this time, everyone is ready. Case successful point, with 2 months to spell I precocious got 1 of the astir fantastic emails ever. Its taxable enactment read: “Taste Test: Johnnie Walker Black Label Squid Game Edition?”

Now, I’m not a whiskey drinker. I bask intoxicant but mostly I portion vino oregon wide spirits. But adjacent I couldn’t defy the temptation of Squid Game-themed Johnnie Walker. What did it look like? What did it sensation like? Would it marque maine amended astatine “Red Light, Green Light?” I replied to the email and a fewer days later, a complimentary vessel of Johnnie Walker Squid Game whiskey arrived astatine my door. What a world.

Our vessel of Squid Game Johnnie Walker whiskey. Image: io9

First things first. These constricted variation bottles each travel with a randomized fig connected it from 001-456, conscionable similar connected the show. Mine said 89. The statement besides shares the Squid Game jumpsuit colors and adjacent the Johnnie Walker logo has go a Squid Game contestant. Just connected its own, the vessel is simply a bully keepsake.

But, arsenic you tin spot connected the vessel and successful the name, the Squid Game Johnnie Walker is specifically “Black Label.” Johnnie Walker has a fewer antithetic labels (red, black, blue, gold, green, etc.) that alteration successful property and price. So, I had to check: was this Black Label the aforesaid arsenic the Black Label disposable astatine astir liquor stores? I went to 1 and bought a “pocket rocket” of Black to comparison the two.

The 2 bottles we’re dealing with. Image: io9

Sip 1 was from the Squid Game bottle. The whiskey is smooth, oaky, and creamy, arsenic whiskeys spell of course. The accepted alcoholic bitterness 1 would expect from it comes lone astatine the end. All successful all, a precise bully sip. Time to rinse retired the solid and effort the regular label.

The regular Johnnie Walker Black seems, astatine slightest a bit, somewhat little saccharine than the Squid Game. Again, I’m not a whiskey drinker truthful I person a constricted framework of notation but the 2 sensation a small antithetic connected archetypal sips. So, I went backmost to the Squid Game. This time, things tasted a small much even—but still, the Squid Game was conscionable a tiny spot better. As I went backmost to the regular label, though, I felt it. The tiny vessel I’d bought was plastic, not glass. Certainly that played a relation successful the flimsy quality successful taste. Not to mention, aft a sip oregon 2 of whiskey, an untrained palate will—understandably—be numbed a bit.

So, to beryllium sure, I contacted the idiosyncratic who sent the archetypal email and confirmed that, yes, the Black Label whiskeys themselves are precisely the same.

Look astatine this small guy! Image: io9

After a sip oregon 2 more, I realized going overmuch further mightiness impair my quality to constitute this nonfiction truthful I stopped. Now though, I’ll person plentifulness of Squid Game whiskey to portion successful the coming weeks erstwhile play 2 debuts connected Netflix. And, if you are a whiskey oregon Squid Game fan, you surely can’t spell incorrect with 1 of these ace cool, limited-edition bottles.

You tin work much astir the full promotion at this link and spot wherever the bottle, which retails for $35, is connected merchantability adjacent you by clicking here. 

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