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Johnnie Walker Launches its first 50-year-old Whisky
Scotch whisky maker Johnnie Walker has launched its first ever 50-year-old whisky drawn from distilleries that existed during the lifetime of its eponymous founder.
Called The John Walker Masters’ Edition, the whiskies were distilled in location such as the Glen Albyn and Glenury Royal distilleries – which are now closed – and the much-celebrated Blair Athol distillery, which stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.
The three grain whiskies used in its crafting are drawn from the ghost distilleries of Caledonian, Cambus and Port Dundas.
Just 100 bottles of this rare Scotch have been created, each presented in a bespoke, individually numbered, rare double-cased black crystal Baccarat decanter and housed in a cabinet made by N.E.J. Stevenson, Cabinet Makers by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen.
Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge said, “Each drop of this whisky has been hand-selected from some of the most valuable and precious casks of malt and grain whiskies to be found in our reserves.
“About 20 years ago, Johnnie Walker blenders recognised that these individual whiskies were very special and the decision was made to put them aside for special use, allowing each of them to continue to mature in their casks, knowing that, in time, something even more remarkable would emerge.
“Our goal was to pay tribute to the whisky masters who worked with these whiskies such a long time ago and, with the creation of The Masters’ Edition, I believe we’ve done that.”
The John Walker Masters’ Edition is priced at $25,000 and is available only in select markets. One bottle will be auctioned at Bonhams, Hong Kong in 2019.