Press Releases

Glenkinchie Distillery Launch Sows the Seeds of Future Tourism Growth – Scotch Whisky News

Glenkinchie Distillery launch sows the seeds of future tourism growth

Lowland Home of Johnnie Walker opens safely for visitors after multi-million revamp

New Striding Man statue designed by Edinburgh artist Angela Jane Johnston. The iconic Striding Man is joined in his walk by Bruce the dog, a character from the history of Glenkinchie. Distillery Manager Ramsay Borthwick and the current distillery dog, Skyelar, joined Angela to launch the new statue.

The red bricked building sits nestled in a deep green glen, surrounded by rolling fields of barley. Few whisky distilleries are as immersed in their environment and every ingredient as Glenkinchie.

It is here in East Lothian, in an area known as ‘the garden of Scotland’, that the seeds have been sown for a new future for Scotland’s whisky tourism industry with the opening of a new multi-million pound visitor attraction.

Whisky has long-stood as one of the country’s greatest exports, drawing visitors and enthusiasts from every corner of the world. A tried and trusted tour experience has now been completely re-imagined at Glenkinchie, which officially opened this week (26 October 2020) and represents another significant step in Diageo’s £185million investment in Scotch whisky tourism.

Created by BRC Imagination Arts, a global design and production agency renowned for its work on major visitor experiences including the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin –  the new Glenkinchie brand home is a full sensory experience, immersing visitors in the history, craft and flavour of the spirit.

 

It also brings to life the story of the local community and people who have worked here and the story of the world’s most popular whisky, Johnnie Walker.

Glenkinchie stands as the Lowland Home of Johnnie Walker, adding a floral note to the blend, alongside the other Four Corner Distilleries, Caol Ila, Clynelish and Cardhu. As part of Diageo’s investment, the Four Corners will form a network of tourist attractions which all link to the new global centrepiece Johnnie Walker Princes Street visitor experience in Edinburgh, which is due to open next summer.

Each location will offer something completely new to whisky enthusiasts and also bring the spirit to life for first time visitors or drinkers and people were able to savour a first taste of this as Glenkinchie opened its doors this week.

The extraordinary immersive tourist experience in the distillery’s traditional Victorian red brick warehouses sits alongside a beautifully landscaped garden – carefully curated to reflect the stunning local rural environment.

Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Brand Homes for Diageo in Scotland, officially declared the new visitor experience open with the ceremonial planting of a tree to complete the garden and to represent the future growth of Scotch whisky and tourism.

“The opening of the wonderful new visitor experience and garden at Glenkinchie is the first step in our long-term £185million investment in whisky tourism in Scotland. We are acutely aware of the difficult times many people are going through, particularly our colleagues in the tourism and hospitality sector across Scotland. We know there’s a long way to go and a lot of uncertainty ahead. Still, we believe in the resilience of our business and our communities, and we will be doing all we can through our investment to sow the seeds of recovery and future growth.”

Barbara SmithManaging Director of Brand Homes for Diageo in Scotland

“Glenkinchie will give people a thrilling first taste of the new visitor experiences we are creating across Scotland. We will be offering people an experience like no other distillery in Scotland at Glenkinchie and that will be followed as we transform Clynelish, Cardhu and Caol Ila over the coming months, and as we build towards the opening of our global Johnnie Walker Princes Street attraction in Edinburgh next summer.”

Ramsay BorthwickGlenkinchie Distillery Manager

Subject to government guidance on COVID-19, Glenkinchie will open to the public on Thursday 29th October. Along with Diageo’s full network of distillery visitor experiences across Scotland, tours operate according to strict COVID protocols to protect guests, employees and the local community. The distillery is accredited by VisitScotland’s “Good To Go” scheme in the verification of its COVID procedures (https://www.visitscotland.org/news/2020/launch-of-were-good-to-go).

The Past, Savoured in the Present Bowmore 30yo – Scotch Whisky News

The Past, Savoured in the Present 

“A Timeless Creation. Defined, Shaped and Crafted by the Sands of Time” are the words etched into the packaging encasing Bowmore’s first annual limited edition 30-year-old single malt release.

Taking inspiration from the terrain that surrounds the Islay distillery, with cues from the detailed markings on driftwood and whisky casks to the refined polish of seaglass, the packaging solution, manufactured by IPL Packaging, is in perfect congruence with Bowmore’s “The Art of Time” campaign. .

Launched earlier this year, the global campaign introduced a striking new colour palette and visual feel, inspired by both Islay’s varied and diverse coastal landscape and the very essence of the whisky itself.

The packaging solution for the 30 YO reinforces the story of how Bowmore whiskies benefit from the power of time, becoming more beautiful and precious over the years.

In combining the naturally weathered look of wood on the exterior of the box with an oceanic-toned side panel reminiscent of seaglass, the packaging is a reflection of how natural elements are able to work in harmony with one another to shape complexity and richness of character.

Communicating quality at every touchpoint, copper hinges allow for 180 degree opening of the pack, and reveal a recessed copper plaque located in the interior lid. Evocative of the distillery’s copper stills, the plaque details the tasting notes of the burnished gold spirit contained within.

David Turner, Bowmore Distillery Manager, commented: “By adding an ongoing 30-Year-Old Bowmore to the portfolio, we are able to showcase how vital time spent in cask shapes and influences our spirit, making it even more exceptional and characterful.  Each annual release will tell the rich stories of Bowmore, but importantly each will have their own unique style and character.

“As for this release, this is another perfect example of classic Bowmore but with boundless depth and intrigue reflecting the long standing interaction of spirit and wood,” he concludes.

Limited to only 2580 bottles, Bowmore 30 YO is now available across a select number of whisky specialist customers.

Sazerac’s Last Drop Distillers Launches First Autumn Collection – American Whiskey News

Sazerac’s Last Drop Distillers Launches First Autumn Collection,

Bourbon Offering Distilled in 1980

LONDON (Oct. 28, 2020) The Last Drop Distillers, curators of the world’s most remarkable spirits, will introduce its first Autumn Collection of rare, aged spirits, which will consist of three very limited releases including a Bourbon distilled in 1980.

Taking a page from parent company Sazerac’s annual Antique Collection release, the Last Drop Autumn Collection is available in very limited quantities and offers some of the rarest spirits in the world.

The 1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey was distilled in 1980, at what was then George T. Stagg Distillery, now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery.  In 1992 Sazerac Company purchased the Distillery in Frankfort, Ky, buying the whole site lock, stock, and literally barrel(s).

Quietly hiding away in one of Buffalo Trace’s warehouses, a few barrels rested until a complete inventory was taken in 1998, at which point the barrels were 18 years old. For two years, the barrels remained in place, until at twenty years old they were vatted into stainless steel, which is a very common process distillers use to halt the aging effects of the barrel on the whiskey.

However, as Sazerac knows from its experience with prolonging its Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey, the taste and characteristics will change over time. After another 20 years in stainless, Sazerac and The Last Drop believe the forty years total maturation has produced one of the finest bourbons ever made.

Tasting notes describe this bourbon as “the definition of flamboyant, with an orchestra of flavors, each flavor harmoniously mingled. It transforms miraculously from a dark chocolate, almond, leather, caramel and oak to a gentle warming spiciness, concluding with a virtual symphony on your palate.”

The 1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey is release number 19 from The Last Drop and its second bourbon release, both of which hail from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Only 240 bottles of the ultra-rare bourbon are available worldwide.  It is 90 proof.  Suggested retail price is $4,600; state taxes will vary per market.

About The Last Drop Distillers 

The Last Drop has a passion for discovery and an equal passion for sharing. The sheer pleasure of tasting great old spirits in good company was what inspired two icons of the industry, Tom Jago and James Espey, to begin scouting the globe for its most remarkable spirits. Establishing their innovative business in 2008, following long, illustrious careers and ground-breaking releases which changed the trade forever, they began a personal hunt for the best aged spirits in the world. Tom and James’ daughters, Rebecca Jago and Beanie Geraedts-Espey, joined The Last Drop in 2014 to share their fathers’ vision with a wider audience. Now, as Rebecca takes the helm, a staunch advocacy for excellence remains as much a personal mantra as a professional one. The Last Drop is driven by integrity, and each of its small batch releases is saturated with stories of the journey.

Laphroaig® unveils the Second Instalment In The Ian Hunter Series – Scotch Whisky News

Laphroaig® unveils the Second Instalment In The Ian Hunter Series

Introducing Book Two of The Ian Hunter Story™, a rare collectable in Laphroaig®’s series of Super-Premium Whiskies

Following the huge success and popularity of Ian Hunter Book One, Beam Suntory’s Laphroaig has announced the second instalment in the fascinating Ian Hunter Story™ that continues to honour the legacy of the icon and last founding member of the Johnston family to run the Laphroaig® Distillery.

The Ian Hunter Story™ will consist of five annual releases, the first of which was launched in 2019, set into beautifully crafted books that document the story of Ian’s incredibly rich legacy. Every year a new chapter is unveiled, uncovering the extensive history behind Laphroaig® and the characters who created it.

Following on from Book One: ‘Unique Character’, Book Two is entitled ‘Building an Icon’ and is limited to just four hundred cases, meaning this incredibly rare liquid will be a highly sought after collectable from whisky enthusiasts all over the world.

This collection is unlike any other and one that is sure to be treasured by Laphroaig® passionate fans across the world.

Ian Hunter: Book Two

With Book One reflecting on Ian Hunter’s formidable character, Book Two is dedicated to the hours of tireless work Ian Hunter committed to the Laphroaig® brand whilst at the helm. Matured in Sherry casks for 30 years, this non-chill filtered whisky is beautifully rounded with a combination of sweet, spiced and medicinal notes. Ian’s innovative approach to whisky-making is especially notable here, resulting in Laphroaig®’s iconic signature flavour: complex, smokey and often polarizing.

For whisky lovers who have always wondered who built the undeniably iconic Laphroaig® distillery on a craggy shore on the Isle of Islay, the latest chapter of the Ian Hunter Story™ answers that very question. Who else but Ian Hunter? The second book of Ian’s story is dedicated to his tireless work building Laphroaig®’s distillery and infrastructure, and therefore, Laphroaig®’s icon.

The latest instalment delves deeper into Ian’s innovation in the very fabric of the distillery. Having introduced American oak, ex-Bourbon barrels to the maturation process, Ian realised the distillery itself would have to expand to keep pace with the changes he was to make. Although he may not have realised it at the time, Ian’s expansion of the Laphroaig® distillery would one day become a worldwide icon.

Ian’s tireless work on building the Laphroaig®’s iconic infrastructure ensured that the exquisite and distinctive whisky, that matures gently inside the warehouse while drawing on the flavour of the wood and breathing in the stormy Atlantic climate over 30 years, reaches its friends the world over.

The legendary Ian Hunter

At times polarising but highly regarded and loved by those who knew him best, Ian Hunter is one of the most important figures in the history of single malt whisky. His influence on Islay – one of the most famous whisky-producing regions – cannot be overstated.

Ian joined the distillery in 1908 as the youngest member of the Johnston family. His relatives, the brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston had founded the distillery in 1815. His arrival had a lasting legacy on the distillery that is still used to this day as he is credited with doubling the production and successfully exporting Laphroaig® whisky around the world.

One of his biggest successes was managing to sell Laphroaig® to America during Prohibition. Ian managed to do this by leveraging the spirit’s unique character, which meant that it could be sold for medicinal purposes.

John Campbell, Laphroaig® distillery manager, comments: “You cannot enjoy Laphroaig®’s exquisitely smokey and complex liquid, without paying homage to the legendary Ian Hunter. His influence in our whisky production techniques and our iconic brand as a whole is undeniable. The second book in our Ian Hunter Story™ celebrates his legacy in shaping Laphroaig® to what it is today.”

The limited edition whisky will be available from selected retailers for an RRP of £760.

Tasting Notes

Nose:

Dried Dates and Figs, Cigar box with Toffee and Dark Chocolate, liquorice with medicinal notes, pink peppercorns and all spice. Adding water brings out pipe tobacco and orange peel

Taste:

Manuka Honey Sweet, Smoked Stone Fruit

Finish:

Long and mouth drying

Colour:

Burnt Umber

ABV:

48.2%

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Gordon & MacPhail unveils The Cairn – Scotch Whisky News


Gordon & MacPhail unveils The Cairn 

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the brand for its new distillery being built in the Cairngorms National Park.

The distillery is to be named The Cairn, reflecting its stunning location overlooking the Cairngorm mountains, at the gateway to Speyside.

The family owned whisky specialists were granted planning permission for the new distillery last year and work started on site in July this year.

Unveiling the new brand Ian Chapman, Brands Director said: “We have put the consumer right at the heart of the process of creating the brand, as we have with the design of the distillery itself. We wanted to make sure it was clearly Scottish, but easy for consumers to pronounce and to spell. This will be particularly important for our international markets when English is not the first language.

“We also had to be mindful of Benromach, our other distillery. We wanted the new brand to complement, not compete.”

Benromach is positioned as a traditional, hand crafted brand so the new brand had to broadly occupy more contemporary territory.

Working with Glasgow based branding agency Good, the company cast its net wide looking for ideas for a name, asking staff and shareholders for suggestions.  More than 300 ideas were eventually whittled down to a shortlist which met select criteria.

As well as the name, the identity needed to have icons and graphical elements to make it unmistakable for non-English speaking consumers. An icon has been developed to symbolise the brand; the fragmented shape representing the coming together of many pieces to form a cairn.  The typography used for the words “The Cairn” is ultra-modern and premium, yet it is complemented by the use of a Serif font for the word “Distillery” to represent contemporary craft cues that imply heritage and legacy.

Ian Chapman added; “The brand is eye-catching and contemporary and the approach to develop it put the consumer at the centre of our thinking. It is the same approach we have taken to designing The Cairn Distillery itself. The modern building takes advantage of the outstanding views across the River Spey to the Cairngorms and has been designed with the customer at the centre of the experience.”

Scheduled to open in spring 2022, The Cairn Distillery will include a visitor experience, tasting rooms, retail space and coffee shop.

Notes  

Gordon & MacPhail is a family owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distillery, Benromach, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door and the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits, along with a high-quality retail outlet.

The company owns Benromach Distillery located in Forres in Moray.  Benromach Single Malt Scotch Whisky is handcrafted using traditional methods by a small team of distillers using the finest Scottish barley and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. The multi award-winning portfolio of single malts is enjoyed by whisky drinkers worldwide.

The company launched Red Door in the summer of 2018. Created at Benromach Distillery, this award winning, small batch Scottish gin now forms a strategic part of the company’s product portfolio.

Work commenced in July 2020 on the company’s second distillery, overlooking the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  The new site will add further distillation capacity and brand ownership to the company’s asset base and is a key part of the plans to continue building a long-term sustainable business.  A high-quality visitor experience offering tours and tastings will also attract visitors from around the world.

Since the founding of the business in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has sent casks to Scotch whisky distilleries throughout Scotland to be filled with new-make spirit, before being left to mature for many years either at the distillery or in their bonded warehouses in Elgin.  The Gordon & MacPhail portfolio offers some of the world’s rarest and most sought-after Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to discerning whisky drinkers globally.

The company’s wholesale business serves customers throughout the United Kingdom selling Benromach Single Malt, Red Door gin and Gordon & MacPhail whiskies into the on and off trade. The business also exclusively represents a number of ‘distributor’ brands and stocks premium whiskies and spirits.

The retail shop in Elgin remains the ‘spiritual home’ of the business, 125 years after it was first established in 1895.  The shop is home to a large selection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and is a destination for many whisky aficionados from around the world.

PENULTIMATE WHISKY REVEALED IN GORDON & MACPHAIL’S 125th ANNIVERSARY SERIES – Scotch Whisky News

PENULTIMATE WHISKY REVEALED IN GORDON & MACPHAIL’S 125th ANNIVERSARY SERIES 

— 40YO Mosstowie is third of four ‘last cask’ single malts —

Gordon & MacPhail has revealed its third commemorative whisky released to mark the company’s 125th anniversary.

And continuing the theme, the remarkably rare Gordon & MacPhail 1979 Mosstowie from Miltonduff Distillery constitutes the independent bottler’s last remaining cask from the distillery, matured with spirit from the now-removed Lomond Stills.

Located within Miltonduff Distillery in Morayshire, Mosstowie was founded in 1964 under the ownership of industry pioneer Hiram Walker – who championed the use of longer, more versatile Lomond Stills to give a variety of flavour profiles.

The stills, which produced Mosstowie’s smoky, soft spirit, operated for just 17 years before being removed in 1981 due to the longer arms of the stills being notoriously difficult to clean.

Gordon & MacPhail 1979 from Mosstowie Distillery [RSP £1500*] 

Only 164 bottles are available worldwide of this full-bodied whisky, full of sherry influences and dark chocolate notes. The 40-year-old whisky was laid down in Gordon & MacPhail’s Elgin warehouse on Thursday 13 September 1979 in cask number 20323, a refill Sherry Hogshead.

Bottled at 49.8% ABV, the whisky is dark gold in colour, with aromas of vanilla pod, butterscotch and stewed apples. On the palate, flavours of black pepper are complemented by spiced grapefruit, dark chocolate and raspberries, before giving way to a long and medium-bodied finish with hints of fresh mint leaves.

Stephen Rankin, a fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail’s owning family and the company’s Director of Prestige, said: “Each of the extremely rare whiskies released to commemorate our 125th anniversary is truly unique as they are the last cask of that particular make we have maturing in our warehouse. With no official bottling ever available of the elusive Mosstowie malt, we are particularly excited to bring this special whisky to the market.”   

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

#GordonandMacPhail

*Prices in international markets may vary due to local taxes and import duties.

Tasting notes:

Gordon & MacPhail 1979 Mosstowie from Miltonduff Distillery

Matured in cask 20323, a refill Sherry Hogshead, and bottled at 49.8% ABV. Outturn of 164 bottles. 

COLOUR: Dark Gold 

AROMA: Fragrant VANILLA POD and BUTTERSCOTCH aromas lead to CANDIED PEEL and hedgerow BLOSSOM. LEATHER and STEWED APPLE notes come to the fore alongside BLACKCURRANT LEAVES. 

TASTE: Flavours of BLACK PEPPER complement SPICED GRAPEFRUIT and subtle SHERRY influences. DARK CHOCOLATE undertones develop accompanied by tart RASPBERRIES and STRAWBERRY LIQUORICE. 

FINISH: Long and medium-bodied with a hint of fresh MINT LEAVES on the finish. 

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its own bespoke casks. It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

  • ‘Discovery ’– This flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies
  • ‘Distillery Labels ’– A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries
  • ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ – The heart of our portfolio. Always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
  • ‘Private Collection ’– Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family

‘Generations’ – A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces

Bimber unveils ‘Country Collection’ of 20 Single Cask Whiskies – English Whisky News

Bimber Distillery unveils its 2020 Country Collection 

Range of twenty Country Editions crafted to meet growing demand for Bimber’s single malt whiskies

Expressions produced for distributors across Europe, Asia, Australia and the US

Cask strength, single cask releases drawn from the distillery’s stock of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, virgin American oak and ex-peated casks

London’s Bimber Distillery today announced the upcoming release of its 2020 ‘Country Collection’ of single cask, single malt whiskies.

Following increasing international demand for Bimber’s products over the past twelve months, twenty cask strength, single cask ‘editions’ been bottled exclusively for Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Taiwan and the USA.

Each exceptional cask was hand-selected to showcase Bimber’s award-winning single malt spirit with the unique personalities derived from four different cask types – ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, virgin American oak and ex-peated casks.

Bimber’s Country Collection marks a significant expansion of the London-based distillery’s global reach – and a recognition of the burgeoning demand for the craft producer’s single malt whiskies.

The ‘French Edition’ bottled for La Maison du Whisky was released in early October 2020 as a precursor to the remaining 19 single cask editions which will be available from November 2020.

Each of the Country Collection Editions were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills, which possess an increased copper surface area, resulting in a light and fruity, but layered new make spirit.

Speaking of the upcoming release of the Country Collection, Bimber Distillery spokesperson Matt McKay said: “We’re delighted to see the budding worldwide excitement for our London single malt whiskies. As a small, field to glass producer, we hope that in releasing our Country Editions we’re able to meet some of the demand from Bimber enthusiasts who are located outside of the UK. We’re excited to be witnessing the continued emerging interest in English whisky – and we’re thrilled to be playing our part in driving that thriving interest forward.”

Notes to editors

Bimber 2020 Country Collection

The twenty expressions in the 2020 Bimber Country Collection are comprised of:              

Cask #137 (Ex-sherry), 57.7% ABV                              – Produced for Australia

Cask #140 (Virgin American Oak) 58.1% ABV               – Produced for Australia 

Cask #135 (Ex-sherry), 57.7% ABV                              – Produced for Top Malts, Belgium

Cask #142 (Virgin American oak), 58.1% ABV               – Produced for Top Malts, Belgium

Cask #169 (Ex-bourbon), 58.9% ABV                           – Produced for CRT Spirits, Denmark

Cask #93 (Virgin American oak), 58.5% ABV                – Produced for La Maison du Whisky, France

Cask #96 (Virgin American oak), 58.3% ABV                – Produced for Kirsch Import E.K., Germany

Cask #128 (Ex-bourbon), 58.1% ABV                           – Produced for Kirsch Import E.K., Germany

Cask #66 (Ex-bourbon), 58.8% ABV                             – Produced for Beija-Flor, Italy

Cask #133 (Ex-sherry), 51.9% ABV                              – Produced for Beija-Flor, Italy

Cask #139 (Virgin American oak), 58.2% ABV              – Produced for Beija-Flor, Italy

Cask #87 (Ex-bourbon), 59.7% ABV                             – Produced for Whiskysite.nl, the Netherlands

Cask #168 (Ex-bourbon), 58.9% ABV                           – Produced for Bresser & Timmer, the Netherlands

Cask #115 (Ex-sherry), 58.2% ABV                              – Produced for Tudor House, Poland

Cask #141 (Virgin American Oak), 58.1% ABV              – Produced for ARen Trading, Taiwan

Cask #138 (Virgin American Oak), 58.3% ABV              – Produced for ARen Trading, Taiwan

Cask #125/9 (Ex-Peated Cask), 54.1% ABV                  – Produced for ARen Trading, Taiwan

Cask #45 (Ex-sherry), 58.9% ABV                                – Produced for the USA

Cask #95 (Virgin American Oak), 58.6% ABV                – Produced for the USA

Cask #154 (Ex-bourbon), 58.6% ABV                           – Produced for the USA

About Bimber

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage, with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

‘Born in 1820 – Still going Strong’: 200 years of brand building on Johnnie Walker – Scotch Whisky News

‘Born in 1820 – Still going Strong’: 200 years of brand building on Johnnie Walker

Global Brand Director Julie Bramham

Hear from our Global Brand Director Julie Bramham on Johnnie Walker’s 200-year journey

It is 200 years since John Walker sold up the family farm to open a grocery store, and quickly turned his hand to making high quality whisky. As I transition from CMO of Diageo India to Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker, I’m reflecting on how John’s leap of faith led Johnnie Walker to become the world’s favourite whisky, and how we ensure Johnnie Walker’s success for the next 200 years.

There are some critical and consistent themes that have driven the brand’s phenomenal growth, and these are a framework that I believe will be the bedrock for Johnnie Walker’s future.

Dedication to quality

In 1887 Alexander Walker said ‘we are determined to make our whisky, so far as quality is concerned of such a standard that nothing in the market shall come before it’. This unrelenting commitment to quality is at the core of Johnnie Walker’s success. At the heart of a brand that can be found in virtually every country around the world is a small team of 12 expert blenders. Our blenders have curiosity in their veins and a commitment to the highest quality liquids in their hearts. At any one time, there are hundreds of experiments taking place, exploring a wide range of innovative flavours and influences, distillation conditions, cask finishes, and the different types of oak wood and grain used. Our blenders past and present have produced liquids that have been awarded a Royal Warrant by King George V in 1934 and each successive monarch since, taking us to today where all six Johnnie Walker variants received gold at this year’s International Spirits Challenge. As we build the brand for the future, our commitment to the highest quality liquids, packaging and innovation will be unwavering.

Innovation at its heart

Johnnie Walker has been innovative from the start. John Walker created a blended whisky at a time when this was rare and new, packaged the liquid in square bottles when he realised that round bottles broke at sea and created slanting labels to stand out from competitors. It is innovation that drove Johnnie Walker from the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world and over 120 countries by 1920. Innovation continues to be a critical driver of how we build the brand, and we have had success with new liquids, Double Black, Sherry Cask Finish and our limited-edition Blender’s Batch series. In July we announced the creation of the world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle – made entirely from sustainably sourced wood that will debut in early 2021. As we move forwards, we know we cannot stand still. The innovative and entrepreneurial approach that launched the brand must sustain, and we will continue to push the boundaries of flavour innovation to create whiskies and serves that thrill your senses, packaging that’s better for the planet and experiences that are second to none.

Consistent value of progress

The spirit of progress is at the heart of Johnnie Walker – from the icon of the Striding Man, to the message Keep Walking. Our brand icon is in motion, full of momentum and leading the way. This value of progress has paved the way for great storytelling from Keep Walking Brazil, Ode to Lesvos and Without Walls. Some of the early brand advertising in the 1960’s was truly progressive in portrayal for advertising at the time. And the value of progress has opened doors for us to forge cultural partnerships that capture the zeitgeist from Blade Runner to Game of Thrones. And the value of progress inspires us to continue to raise the bar on consumer experiences. We are currently building a ground-breaking new flagship visitor experience on Princes Street at the heart of Edinburgh – eight epic floors, two world class bars and one spectacular roof terrace that will create an unforgettable whisky experience. Johnnie Walker Princes Street and some big brand initiatives in the pipeline will be part of how we will pave the way for the next 200 years. As the Johnnie Walker MD in 1908 James Walker said, ‘we are a progressive company’, and we have no intention of changing.

There is much of the Johnnie Walker story that we can connect to at this moment in time. The Johnnie Walker story is a story of relentless endeavor in the face of adversity. It’s not just a story of business success, but also of business survival. From its early years the business persevered through the great flood of Kilmarnock in 1852; the early death of two generations of its business leaders; exceptional volatility in its first export markets; the First World War, Spanish Flu, Prohibition, and the Great Depression (all within fifteen years); the Second World War and the long and painful road to economic recovery that followed; the Oil Crisis and the global and national recessions that trailed in its wake; and the Great recession of 2007-2009. Johnnie Walker demonstrated resilience, and came back stronger each time. From around a million and a half cases in 1924, to only seven hundred and fifty thousand cases in 1945, to a million in 1955, to ten million in 1975, and twenty million in 2016. The resilience of the brand is a remarkable tribute to that stubborn determination, and self-belief, that has been present since its earliest days.

Everyone who works on Johnnie Walker wants to leave it stronger than they found it, and as the years go on, and the bar is raised higher. So, as I embark on my own Johnnie Walker journey, I will be guided by that enduring 200 year strategy – a commitment to quality, innovation and the consistent value of progress.

Earlier I quoted our 1908 Johnnie Walker MD, and as look to the next 200 years it feels apt to revisit the advertising slogan that made him famous – ‘Born in 1820 – still going strong’.

 

Johnnie Walker Celebrates 200-year Journey – Scotch Whisky News

Johnnie Walker celebrates 200-year journey

Iconic Scotch brand Johnnie Walker is celebrating 200 years since founder John Walker first threw open the doors to a small grocery store in rural Scotland in 1820, beginning a journey that took Johnnie Walker whiskies to the four corners of the world.

John’s spark, vision and entrepreneurial fire were the impetus to a hugely successful business and ultimately a new future for Scotch whisky. Today, Johnnie Walker whisky is sold in over 180 countries and is the best-selling Scotch whisky in the world.[1] Over the last 200 years Johnnie Walker has been defined by its dedication to quality and its commitment to progress – symbolised by the famous Striding Man logo.

“The Johnnie Walker brand is truly one which has stood the test of time, and the knowledge that Johnnie Walker cuts across cultures, borders, languages, and tastes is a humbling thought. Everyone who works on Johnnie Walker is dedicated to upholding our reputation for quality and continuing our founder’s spirit of innovation. This 200-year milestone allows us to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come already, as well as what more we want to achieve in the next 200 years.”

Julie BramhamGlobal Brand Director for Johnnie Walker

This year and into 2021, Johnnie Walker will be marking this incredible milestone with a series of exciting cultural events, exclusive limited-edition product releases and the opening of a new multi-sensory, immersive Johnnie Walker visitor experience in Edinburgh.

The new Johnnie Walker experience, which is part of a wider £185 million Diageo investment into Scotch whisky tourism, will guide visitors through the 200-year history of Johnnie Walker and take them on a journey through the flavours of Scotland. Rooftop bars will provide visitors with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and across the city skyline.

Johnnie Walker also welcomed the release of four exclusive new Johnnie Walker limited editions hitting shelves globally. Each exclusive release – a new bottle design and three newly crafted whiskies – is a celebration of the incredible journey, pioneering spirit and dedication to quality that was started by John back in those early days.

Johnnie Walker has also unveiled three new limited-edition bottles for its iconic Johnnie Walker Red Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label and Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve whiskies. Each one is a bold and eye-catching reimagining of the classic Johnnie Walker square bottle, fit for the 200th Anniversary.

Next month, the Discovery Channel will air a feature documentary directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Anthony Wonke exploring what has led Johnnie Walker to become an icon in popular culture. And Canongate Books have recently announced the publication of A Long Stride by Nicholas Morgan, a book charting the remarkable story of how Johnnie Walker became the world’s number one Scotch[2].

““Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Johnnie Walker journey is such a proud moment for us all. The company was pioneered by three generations of the Walker family and those who followed in their footsteps, and the business continues to embrace their distinctive spirit. In looking back and celebrating the first steps John Walker took when he founded the business, we are inspired to look forward to the next 200 years as we honour the legacy of John and his family’s achievements and open the door to new possibilities in Scotch for Johnnie Walker.”

Christine McCaffertyArchive Manager at Diageo

[1] IWSR 2020

[2] IWSR 2020

Key Milestones

  • 1820 – The doors to John Walker’s grocery shop are opened and the Johnnie Walker story begins
  • 1857– John’s son Alexander takes over the business following John’s death and transforms the company
  • 1860s – First commercial blend ‘Old Highland Whisky’ created and slanted labels introduced

  • 1870s – The business becomes one of the first to produce whisky in square bottles, changing from the original round bottles
  • 1906 – White, Red and Black Label variants available
  • 1908 – The ‘Striding Man’ figure is drawn by renowned cartoonist Tom Browne, and the first time the business formally adopts the name Johnnie Walker

  • 1920 – Johnnie Walker whisky available in over 120 countries
  • 1934 – John Walker & Sons granted a Royal Warrant by King George V to supply whisky to the royal household, an honour still held today
  • 1945 to 1955 – Johnnie Walker’s exports increased by 115 per cent to just over 1 million cases
  • 1982 – Johnnie Walker appears in the original Blade Runner movie
  • 1992 – Johnnie Walker Blue Label launches, an exquisite combination of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies
  • 1999 – First ever Johnnie Walker global advertising campaign ‘Keep Walking’ launches

  • 1999-2007 – Bottles of Johnnie Walker make regular appearances in The Sopranos, including an episode in which Salvatore Bonpensiero gives a bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold Label as a gift
  • 2005 – Johnnie Walker Green Label is launches, crafted from a palette of Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Island malts matured for at least 15 years
  • 2007 – Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve launches, a tribute to the harmonious partnership of Speyside and Highland whiskies, with just a hint of smouldering embers from the West Coast
  • 2013 – Johnnie Walker sells 20 million cases for the first time.
  • 2017 – Johnnie Walker appears in the Blade Runner sequel Blade Runner 2049
  • 2018 – Johnnie Walker collaborates with HBO to launch White Walker by Johnnie Walker

  • 2018 – Diageo announces biggest single investment in Scotch whisky tourism which includes the creation of a new state-of-the-art Johnnie Walker immersive visitor experience based in Edinburgh
  • 2019 – Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr Jim Beveridge receives an OBE for services to Scotch
  • 2020 – All six Johnnie Walker variants tasted at this year’s International Spirits Challenge received gold medals
  • 2020 – Plans to release new environmentally-friendly paper bottle announced – set to debut in early 2021 to be the world’s first 100% plastic free paper-based spirits’ bottle

OFFICIAL TRAILER LANDS FOR BAFTA-WINNING DIRECTOR ANTHONY WONKE’S NEW FEATURE DOCUMENTARY – Scotch Whisky News

OFFICIAL TRAILER LANDS FOR BAFTA-WINNING DIRECTOR ANTHONY WONKE’S NEW FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

“To come from nothing and make something of ourselves – that’s iconic in itself” Cappadonna,Wu-Tang Clan

“You’ve got to think about it as a movement, as a part of culture” Sir John Hegarty

Since its announcement back in the summer, anticipation has been building for BAFTA-award winner Anthony Wonke’s upcoming feature documentary about Scotch whisky icon Johnnie Walker – and today the official trailer has arrived. The 60 second preview for The Man Who Walked Around the World – which will premiere globally on Discovery’s portfolio of brands and services on November 12th – features contributions from Wu-Tang Clan’s Cappadonna, actress and activist Sophia Bush, rock musician Zakk Wylde,  88rising’s Sean Miyashiro, advertising legend Sir John Hegarty and many more.

Following his account of the world’s biggest sports star in “Ronaldo” and capturing the journey of Star Wars in “The Director & the Jedi”, Oscar-nominated director Anthony Wonke was inspired to turn his camera to the world’s largest Scotch whisky brand after seeing the famous Striding Man show up time and again in films, music videos and bars wherever he travelled in the world.

He said, “The symbol of the Striding Man seems to be everywhere in some shape or form and has taken on a significance of its own. It kind of transcended a brand to become truly iconic.”

“We’ve been on an amazing journey, going through years’ worth of footage and speaking to people from all walks of life to create this film – actors, musicians, barmen, artists, activists and a whole host more. It’s a fantastic story.”

The Man Who Walked Around the World is an independent feature documentary created by Something™ Originals and produced by multi-award-winning production company Partizan. The film explores everything from the brand’s origins to the part it has played in legendary Hollywood films and in the music that has defined generations. It goes deep into the whisky’s cultural impact globally and looks at how, 200 years into its journey from local grocer to global icon, Johnnie Walker remains as relevant as ever.

Discovery VP Content Sourcing and Acquisitions Myriam Lopez-Otazu said: “We are excited to see the first glimpse of The Man Who Walked Around the World and can’t wait to share the documentary with Discovery’s global audience of passionate fans.”

Diageo Global Scotch Director John Williams added: “We’ve been looking forward to this moment ever since we heard about the documentary’s creation. Johnnie Walker has an amazing story to tell and the way Anthony and Something™ Originals have crafted it is extremely exciting for us.”

Something™ Originals Managing Partner Andy Hewitt commented: “For Johnnie Walker to open themselves up to an independent production in this way was a bold move. It was a leap of faith on their part, but they believed in us and in what we were trying to do. Anthony’s brilliant and we were always confident that together we could create an outstanding documentary feature that will live long in the memory.”

You can watch the trailer for The Man Who Walked Around the World here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKdI6o1Rx9BcFaQ1Ul5Xx6A

The full film will be broadcast on Discovery’s portfolio of brands and services from November 12. For more information visit https://themanwho.film.

Official Hashtag: #TheManWho 

Notes:

About Anthony Wonke

Anthony Wonke is an Emmy and triple BAFTA winning director, and an Oscar nominated and Emmy winning Executive Producer. He’s also won, amongst other awards, the Prix Italia, Peabody, Grierson and RTS for his films. Past documentary subjects include Cristiano Ronaldo, Star Wars and AP McCoy.

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

About Johnnie Walker

2020 marks 200 years since Johnnie Walker founder, John Walker, first threw open the doors to a grocer’s shop in Scotland and began a journey that brought the brand from the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world.

Today, Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch whisky brand (IWSR 2019) enjoyed by people in over 180 countries. Since the time of its founder, those who blend its whiskies have pursued flavour and quality above else. In those early days of John Walker, the business that became Johnnie Walker carried the name of the founder and during the 19th century the business was selling whiskies under the name of John Walker & Sons. Consumers began using Johnnie Walker and the name was  adopted in 1908.

Today’s range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Aged 18 Years and Blue Label. Together they account for over 19 million cases sold annually (IWSR, 2018), making Johnnie Walker the most popular Scotch Whisky brand in the world.

About Something™ Originals:

Something™ is a global platform for creativity, culture & business – part agency, part entertainment company, part product incubator.

About Partizan

Partizan is a multi award-winning production company, and one of the industry’s leading content creators for music videos, commercials, documentaries, feature films, animation, digital and branded content for online as well as interactive events and installations. Partizan has won awards from Cannes Lions, D&AD, British Arrows, and many more.


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