In celebration of 200 yeas of craft and whiskies, John & Walker & Sons has released its Celebratory Blend, which honours the past when founder John Walker first threw open the doors to a small grocery store in Kilmarnock, Scotland.
Inspired by the release of Old Highland Whisky in the 1860s that took the brand’s whisky from Scotland to all around the world. When demand for the whiskies increased overseas, it was the iconic design of the square bottle and uniquely slanted label which helped the name stand out amongst other whiskies.
In honour of the past, the packaging of the John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend opens to reveal the only image of John Walker’s Kilmarnock grocery store. This detail celebrates the brand’s heritage, while raising a glass to the ‘Keep Walking’ Spirit for another 200 years.
The flavours of this rich blend come inspired by those found in the stock books from the Walker family’s grocery store in the 1860s and whiskies from distilleries that were operating at that time. The blend’s unique strength is similar to the Old Highland Whisky that was also sold during that era.
It features notes of sweet dried raisins peppered with subtle spice and marzipan. These flavours then develop into hints of roasted nuts, gentle peat, enrobed in the plush sweetness of icing sugar with a soft pepper finish. This celebrates the historic moment in the Johnnie Walker story, which Master Blender Jim Beveridge describes as a “Johnnie Walker whisky for true Johnnie Walker lovers.”
“For over 200 years, the Johnnie Walker brand has been the pioneer of delivering exceptional Scotch whiskies to whisky lovers worldwide,” commented Rajesh Joshi, the Marketing Director of Diageo Malaysia. “The John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend shows the brand’s relentless effort to deliver those experiences, while taking the time to appreciate what has been accomplished and what is to come. This is an exceptional whisky with bold, robust flavours that Johnnie Walker fans will love.”
If you too would like to honour 200 years of the brand’s ‘Keep Walking’ spirit, the limited edition John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend is available for purchase at Johnnie Walker Malaysia’s Bar on Shopee for RM320. For more information, visit the official Johnnie Walker website or Johnnie Walker Malaysia on Facebook.
Photos: Diageo Malaysia