Johnie Walker celebrates 200th bday

Company Release , July 28

New Delhi

Johnnie Walker the world’s no.1 whisky brand pays a tribute to its founder John Walker on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth.

John Walker was born on 25th July, 1805 at Todriggs Farm, near Kilmarnock, Scotland. As a young man of 15, he established a small grocery business in Kilmarnock, tacking the first step on a journey that would span generations and circle the planet. John Walker used his specialist tea blending skills to create the original recipe for what is now the world’s leading deluxe Scotch whisky – Johnnie Walker.

John Walker’s legacy was assured as the Walker family remained at the forefront of the Scotch whisky industry, working hard to set the standards of quality and business practise to create what is now a truly global iconic brand.

The Walker family values – commitment to hard work, honesty, a relentless pursuit of excellence and the willingness tot take risks in pursuit of dearly held objectives – are still at the heart of Johnnie Walker today. Today the Johnnie Walker symbol of the “Striding man” is an icon of personal progress all over the world.

Over the decades Johnnie Walker brands have picked up an array of prestigious awards. The trend continued in 2005 at the recently held Monde selection awards where Johnnie Walker Black Label won a gold medal and Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Johnnie Walker Gold Label won a grand gold medal.

This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Walker and his ambitions continue to inspire. To mark this memorable occasion and as a tribute to John Walker, two special, ultra exclusive whiskies have been specially created by Jim Beveridge, Master Blender at Johnnie Walker.

The first is aptly named 1805. The blend is housed in stylish packaging and only 200 bottles have been created making it an unbelievably exclusive whisky. It is one-off bespoke blend and is a combination of some of the rarest and finest whiskies in the world. Given its rarity, the value of the whisky alone is estimated to be well over 10,000 GBP.

This ultra limited edition whisky is housed in a hand made Victorian style writing case and comes with an antique nib pen. In addition, 200 replicas of the original hand-written recipe book of Alexander Walker, John Walker’s grandson (with all the ingredients except, of course, the quantities), have been made and is included in this astounding commemorative gift.

None of the 200 bottles will be available for retail sale. The bottles will be presented to 200 individuals deemed to have made the most significant contribution to modern life.

The second edition is a cask strength blend of Blue Label to celebrate John Walker’s pioneering spirit and groundbreaking style. The full power of the whisky flavours can be experienced, each true to the Johnnie Walker tradition, and only 4,000 bottles will be available world-wide. It is packaged in an exclusive decanter that was specially designed by Baccarat to mark the occasion. This exclusive pack will only be sold in very top end outlets such as Harrods in London or La Fayette Gourmet in Paris.

Commenting on the new blends, Ben Anderson, Global Category Director – Status, Discernment & Scotch Whisky, said:

“Johnnie Walker has always been about inspiring others to reach for their dreams, to follow their own personal progress. The fact that these 200 bottles will go to individuals that have made an exceptional contribution to modern life is exactly what John Walker would have wanted.

I am delighted and proud that we are able to honour the 200th anniversary of his birth with this extra special blend. I truly believe that we have excelled here. Today, we have again honoured his grandson, Alexander Walker’s mission statement made in 1887, ‘to make our whisky of such quality that nothing in the market shall come before it.’

For further information please contact: PERFECT RELATIONS, Shilpi : 9818003639