Johnnie Walker marks 200th anniversary with four iconic bottles

A global Scotch whiskey maker, Johnnie Walker, is celebrating its 200th anniversary with limited release of three new spirits and an updated label.

The Johnnie Walker 200th Limited Edition includes Johnnie Walker Blue Label 200th Anniversary Limited Edition Design, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Legendary Eight, John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend and John Walker & Sons Bicentenary Blend.

Johnnie Walker’s new bottling and distribution of the whiskies will launch from October 2020 in a celebration of the brands incredible journey, pioneering spirit in Scotland in 1820 by grocer John Walker.

The announcement coincides with the founder’s birthday and distribution of the whiskeys will launch in October.

“John’s spark, vision and entrepreneurial fire were the impetus to growing the John Walker name, our business and ultimately a new future for Scotch whisky,” said Diageo Global Scotch Director, John Williams in a release by Diageo on its LinkedIn handle.

He stated further: “This year we’re celebrating the steps he first took – steps that have inspired generations of our whisky makers and are at the heart of everything we do today and will do tomorrow.

“Each of these exclusive releases brings a fresh perspective to our 200th anniversary story and are the perfect way to celebrate this huge moment for Johnnie Walker. It feels very apt to be announcing them this week to coincide with John Walker’s birthday.”

He continued: “Our 200th anniversary releases are inspired by the moment our founder, John Walker, first opened the door to his grocer’s store in Kilmarnock, taking the first step on an incredible journey for Johnnie Walker. John’s spark, vision and entrepreneurial fire were the impetus to growing the John Walker name, our business and ultimately a new future for Scotch whisky. This year we’re celebrating the steps he first took, steps that have inspired generations of our whisky makers and are at the heart of everything we do today and will do tomorrow.”

The new 200th Anniversary Limited Edition Design for the iconic Johnnie Walker Blue Label features bespoke illustrations that bring to life the bold journey and pay homage to some of the great cities and countries that have been part of the Johnnie Walker story. There are also incredible illustrations of geographical landmarks and cultural symbols which represent progress in our time in each of their respective countries.

It is a smooth, mellow Scotch crafted using some of the very rarest whiskies in the unparalleled Johnnie Walker reserves. Each whisky is hand selected from only eight legendary distilleries that all existed when John Walker made the first steps on his journey, including some very rare expressions from long-closed “ghost” distilleries

This exclusive release is inspired by a breakthrough moment in John Walker & Sons’ history, the launch of Old Highland Whisky in the 1860s, the company’s first commercial blend to travel from Scotland to the four corners of the world. This rich and complex whisky is inspired by the flavours found in the Walker family’s grocery store in the 1860s and uses whiskies from distilleries which were operating at that time. The exclusive pack design reveals the only existing image of the Kilmarnock grocery store 200 years ago.

A celebration of where it all began; this exceptional whisky is a sensorial journey down the fragrant aisles of John Walker’s original grocery store in Scotland. Master Blender Jim Beveridge and his team have drawn inspiration from John’s store and meticulously crafted a whisky with rich layers that re-imagines the exotic flavours that shaped his imagination. It is crafted with rare and exceptional whiskies, all aged for at least 28 years, including whiskies from long-closed “ghost” distilleries such as Pittyvaich, Cambus and Port Ellen.

First crafted in a humble grocer’s shop, Johnnie Walker has taken blended Scotch whisky from the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world

The brand is now owned by Diageo Global, which also owns Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Cîroc, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness, among others.

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