TODAY, Johnnie Walker launches a new extremely rare Scotch celebrating the fine art of whisky making – Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour.
This exceptional Scotch is crafted from the finest maturing whiskies in the Johnnie Walker reserves, all of the whiskies used to create Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour are aged for at least 48 years and only 288 bottles will be released – an extremely limited run of an incredibly rare Scotch.
Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge says: “It is fascinating to craft a Scotch that pays tribute to each of the four main steps in whisky making – malting, distilling, cask maturation and blending – to shine a light on how each craft contributes something very special to the extraordinary flavours that Scotch has to offer, from grain to glass.”
In one of his final releases before he retires at the end of the year, Jim brought together three masters of the whisky world who he has worked with over many years, Malt Master – Donna Anderson, Cask Master – James Carson and Distillation Master – Douglas Murray, to create something that paid tribute to the skill of whisky making.
“This incredible blend showcases how masters of the art of whisky making combine generations of Scotch knowledge and craftmanship with their own expertise of malting, distillation, cask maturation and, of course, blending, to create a truly exceptional Scotch.”
Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour is the third and final whisky in the Johnnie Walker Masters series of extremely rare Scotch.
The series includes last year’s incredible Johnnie Walker Master’s Ruby Reserve, a celebration of Jim Beveridge’s 30 years working in whisky. Before that, the John Walker Masters’ Edition, was a whisky crafted using Scotch aged for a minimum of 50 years from distilleries that were operational during the lifetime of Johnnie Walker founder John Walker. All three are presented in a Baccarat crystal decanter within a bespoke oak cabinet.
For Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour, Jim worked closely with his team of expert whisky makers, to hand select fleetingly rare expressions from the iconic “ghost” distilleries of Glyn Albyn, Port Dundas, Brora* and Glenury Royal, balancing them perfectly together with the iconic distilleries of Cameronbridge, Blair Athol and Dalwhinnie.
Jim adds: “By nurturing close relationships with malt, distillation, and cask masters throughout Scotland, a blend master contributes to creating a unique collaboration of craftmanship in service of making exceptional Scotch, these are relationships that we have nurtured through 30 years of working in whisky. It’s an honour to pay tribute to those experts.”
On the nose, Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour, has a soft and gentle smoke, reminiscent of seaweed and salty air, gives way to rich dried fruits. Notes of molasses linger with leather-bound books before smoke gently weaves back though the senses.
These aromas give way to rich fruit flavours bursting with currants before a gentle spice starts to build on the palate. Cinnamon-infused apples combine with star anise, crushed peppercorn and warming oak embers, enveloped in waves of baked caramel and rich butterscotch before culminating in a gentle and warming smoke in the finish.
Johnnie Walker Masters Of Flavour has an ABV of 41.8% and a RRSP of GBP 20,000 in the UK (including duties and taxes).
* While a new, modern distillery has recently opened on the site of the old Brora distillery and is called Brora, the whiskies it will in time produce will be very different to those laid down decades ago in the original Brora Distillery that closed its doors in 1983.
