All good things must come to an end. Even the most exquisitely crafted things. Johnnie Walker announced that the latest release of The John Walker will be the last ever in this masterclass in whisky making. Only 330 bottles have been released worldwide as a limited edition – The John Walker, Last Cask.
The Last Cask
This exquisite whisky is presented in a handblown Baccarat crystal decanter, with a bespoke design by Hand Engraver of Glass to Her Majesty the Queen, Philip Lawson Johnston. Every beautifully hand-drawn image decorating the bottles is unique, with no two engravings the same – making this a truly unique offering.
For over a decade, The John Walker has been crafted with some of the finest and most valuable casks of whisky from the unparalleled Johnnie Walker reserves. These whiskies are hand-selected from just nine distilleries that were in existence during the lifetime of Johnnie Walker founder John Walker (1805 – 1857). The whiskies are then matured with a special triple maturation technique, which includes a final marrying in a bespoke cask made from 100 year old oak staves.
The John Walker is intricately crafted using six exceptional single malt whiskies and three extremely rare grain whiskies that are expertly combined to ensure exceptional depth of flavour. The process begins with a long, first maturation in individual casks allowing the specific flavours unique to each distillery to develop. A second maturation step then brings the single malts and grains together in two separate vattings, before the final marrying step.
“We combine extremely rare grain expressions from Cambus, Port Dundas and Cameronbridge, which creates delicate flavours including notes of honey sweetness, subtle spice and soft fruit character.” says Beveridge, “A vatting of exceptional single malt whiskies offers deeper, more robust aromas of dried fruits, with waves of citrus fruits unfolding from the distilleries of Glen Albyn, Cardhu, Mortlach, Clynelish and Dailuaine before culminating in the unmistakably warm and peppery smokiness of Talisker,”.
The nine whiskies are then married in the bespoke The John Walker cask, allowing the flavours to mellow and integrate, providing further depth and layers of character. The result is a wonderfully elegant Scotch with flavours that slowly unfold.
The John Walker, Last Cask is bottled at an ABV of 40% and is available in selected markets
The Experiential Retail Store
If you’re travelling through Madrid anytime soon, you’ll be able to experience the first-of-its kind whisky retail store which opened in November last year. The launch of the new retail experience follows the announcement of a 150 million investment in Scotch whisky tourism by Diageo throughout Scotland – including plans for the opening of a new state-of-the-art Johnnie Walker visitor experience in Edinburgh, as part of the biggest concerted programme ever seen in Scotland’s whisky tourism sector and is the latest announcement from Johnnie Walker as the brand prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary year in 2020.
The exciting new space is set to become a leading destination for Scotch lovers and whisky novices alike, plays host to a wide variety of immersive experiences, including whisky appreciation classes and tastings designed to help people explore the world of Johnnie Walker and Scotch.
Visitors will be able to choose from a special collection of Johnnie Walker whiskies, purchase some of the rarest and most exceptional single malts from which Johnnie Walker is crafted and explore limited edition curated collaborations exclusive to the new store. Among the experiences on offer is an interactive hosting area where guests can discover the craft of cocktail making, a tasting table where they can deep dive into the flavours that lie at the heart of Johnnie Walker and a personalisation station where people can find unique gifts and add bespoke engravings and labels to purchases.
The cutting-edge store offers virtual experiences such as Discover Scotland through Johnnie Walker allowing visitors to discover Johnnie Walker by taking a tour to the four corners of Scotland, discovering the breathtaking Highlands, the intrigue of the Islands, the lush Lowlands and the secrets of Speyside, culminating in a taste of Johnnie Walker.