Johnnie Walker and Olivier Rousteing create Couture Blend
Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Vault and French fashion designer Olivier Rousteing have launched their second collaborative blend, featuring whiskies aged for at least 40 years.
In March of this year, Diageo launched its luxury creative collaboration platform, Johnnie Walker Vault, located beneath the brand’s Princes Street flagship store in Edinburgh.
The Vault showcases the art of blending by uniting bespoke blends, luxurious experiences and collaborations with cultural icons all under one visionary banner.
For the platform’s inaugural cultural partnership, Dr Emma Walker, master blender of Johnnie Walker, teamed up with Rousteing, the creative director of French fashion house Balmain. The first whisky of a two-part collaboration with Rousteing, titled Couture Expression, was released in April.
Now, the duo returns with their second and final collaboration, The Couture Blend, as ‘a homage to personal evolution, fearless artistry, and creative tension’.
The release of the limited edition coincides with the designer’s 40th birthday.
Described as ‘a liquid manifesto of style, balance, and spirit’, Couture Blend features some of Scotland’s experimental modern whiskies, alongside vintage and rare whiskies from closed distilleries. Some of these whiskies have been aged for at least 40 years, chosen by Walker to honour Rousteing’s milestone celebration.
Walker chose 10 whiskies from the Vault’s extensive liquid library of 500 rare whiskies. Couture Blend includes grain whiskies from closed distilleries such as Port Dundas and Caledonian, as well as Cameronbridge; single malts from the 1980s and 90s distilled at Benrinnes and Cragganmore, as well as from once-closed Port Ellen; and contemporary expressions from the last two decades from Cardhu, Roseisle, and Teaninich.
Walker described her creative process for developing the blend: “I was very much inspired by Olivier’s story of progress over the last 40 years, from his early years of self-discovery to his modern-day unapologetic and daring approach to creativity.
“In this special blend, I leaned into some of the most progressive and experimental whiskies from the past, and of modern times; whiskies that push the boundaries of flavour just as Olivier pushes the boundaries in couture.”
She added: “I chose rare malts from Roseisle, which have been matured in ex-wine casks for the luscious fruity and tropical flavours, a spicy chocolate malt experiment from Teannich for tonka chocolate notes, and a special ghost cask from Port Ellen for a unique cloak of smoke.
“Blending these with the classic flavours associated with Johnnie Walker has resulted in something completely singular, which I hope captures Olivier’s spirit as he enters his fourth decade.”
The Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing Couture Blend is limited to 1,500 individually numbered decanters worldwide.
In Singapore, 39 bottles will be available exclusively at The Whisky Distillery in Marina Bay Sands, each priced at S$3,700 (US$2,850/£2,140).
The design
For The Couture Blend, Rousteing aimed to reinterpret the proportions of luxury crystal decanters while still honouring the square bottles that have been iconic to Johnnie Walker since the 1800s.
The result is an architectural and sculptural decanter that merges traditional heritage with a more maximalist and contemporary aesthetic.
The pure crystal bottle features an oversized, square crystal stopper that reflects Rousteing’s signature design style while remaining true to the heritage of Johnnie Walker. The decanter is adorned in gold, and select retailers also offer a personalised collar that can be engraved with the collector’s initials.
Rousteing shared his vision for the design: “I wanted to create something that captures the tension between minimalism and maximalism, which sparks conversation and curiosity, and which is anchored in the present but feels futuristic and timeless at the same time.
“I loved playing with the paradox of pure crystal and decadent gold and finishing the decanter with the oversized crystal stopper. For such a unique whisky which blends old with new and traditional with experimental – it felt like the perfect, unexpected piece of art to treasure it.”
He continued: “In every couture show, there is a look designed to take the viewers’ breath away – the signature of the collection. For me, The Couture Blend is just that.”
Alongside 1,500 full-size decanters, Rousteing and Johnnie Walker Vault have also created The Couture Flask, a jewel-like refillable flask that holds 10ml of Scotch.
The wearable mixed-metal luxury flask is set in gold and silver, designed with a removable chain. The Couture Flask is described as a stylish statement piece that can be worn crossbody or used to enhance an outfit or accessory.
The limited edition statement piece will launch alongside The Couture Blend crystal decanter, available only in London for US$500.
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