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Johnnie Walker debuts 52YO blend
Diageo-owned Johnnie Walker has released a limited edition 52-year-old blended whisky that contains liquid from closed distilleries.
Limited to 200 bottles, Johnnie Walker Aged 52 Years blends six rare malt whiskies and two grain whiskies from some of the oldest casks in the brand’s reserves.
The new blend honours the lifetimes of Johnnie Walker founder John Walker and his son Alexander Walker by choosing blends that have reached at least the same age – 52 – as both whisky masters.
Dr Emma Walker, Johnnie Walker master blender, said: “Alongside my small team of whisky experts, we hand-selected some of our oldest and most precious casks of Highland single malt and Lowland single grain whiskies for my first ultra-rare release as master blender.
“With this deceptively simple cask combination, our intention was to create a new, masterful blend in homage to our founders’ achievements.
“The rare aromas, flavours, and character in this blend, combined with their shared age and small number, make this super-limited edition a testament to the art of whisky blending.”
The single grain whiskies from Cambus and Carsebridge introduce ‘rich vanilla, butterscotch, and spice’ to the blend, while tea leaves and menthol add layers of depth.
The addition of liquid from Blair Athol provides ‘intensity with fruit-forward notes of raisins, currants, and orange peel, balanced by wood spice and tropical fruit’.
After putting Glenury Royal and Glenlochy liquid into the blend, the resulting whisky gains ‘richness and texture, with flavours of berries, confectionery fruits, and oiliness’.
Glen Albyn and Dalwhinnie contribute ‘salinity, cured meat, and cacao’, while the whisky from Brora imparts ‘soft smoke, blue cheese, and deep complexity’ into the final blend.
Bottled at 41.2% ABV, the 52-year-old blend retails for £23,500 (US$25,000) and can be purchased through Diageo private client teams and selected luxury retail outlets.
Last month, Johnnie Walker unveiled a limited edition design for its Lunar New Year Blue Label release.
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