KEEP WALKING
Johnnie Walker is one of the oldest whisky brands and the most well-known. It is easily the most popular, widely distributed, and best-selling Scotch Whisky in the world.
If you’re new to the whisky world, this is a great starter as it is the drinkers’ choice for something smooth and palatable to enjoy.
The History Of Johnnie Walker
There is a rich of history behind Johnnie Walker himself that we can't possibly cover in one page. But in short, he started out as a respected businessman, local leader of the trade association and a Freemason. Funnily enough, he was also a teetotaler and abstained from alcohol despite trading mainly in whisky.
Johnnie Walker Whiskies used to be custom made as they didn't have a brand yet. But the brand became popular after John's son, Alex, inherited the business.
The first commercial blend was made in 1865 and named it Old Highland Whisky which was then later rebranded to the Red and Black labels in 1909.
The Branding of Johnnie Walker
Alex introduced the square bottle in 1860. It was because of this the bottles were more fitting in the same space which meant fewer broken bottles.
The label is also one of the most identifying characteristics of Johnnie Walker as the label is applied at a 24 degree angle. This allows the text to be made larger and more visible, that way consumers can identify the bottle and brand at a distance.
The mascot we know on the bottle was created by cartoonist, Tom Brown in 1909 for rebranding. He has gone through many changes through the years as well as a female counterpart, Jane Walker, the first label blended by the company's first female master blender.
The Johnnie Walker Labels
All these different labels (colours) all have a different blend and flavour. Here are the main ones to know:
Red Label: The first and original blend. This has been the bestselling scotch whiskey in the world since 1945. Primarily used for mixed drinks.
Black Label: The Black label is a 12-year-old whisky. It is the most intense flavoured whisky and is best enjoyed on the rocks.
Double Black: This wasn't made available for general release until 2011 after a successful launch in travel retail. This one was created from the original black label, but more intensely flavoured.
Blue Label: The most expensive and exceptional of the label. The Blue Label is made by the master distiller who handpicks every whisky according to their quality and mixes them to create the Blue Label. This makes the Blue Label the most complex and smoothest of all the labels.
Green Label: This label is a 15 year old blend and is made by blending the best malts from all four regions of Scotland which were all carefully chosen. Green Label is one of the rarest of Johnnie Walker that it isn't available in some markets.
Other collections include their John Walker & Sons, Explorers’ Club Collection as well as a wide range of others. Johnnie Walker is unlimited.
Johnnie Walker Today
After 200+ years of bringing us one of the world's greatest whiskies, we know that Johnnie Walker is going to keep walking, and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
Today Johnnie Walker is pushing boundaries through innovation. Johnnie Walker is becoming a more sustainable brand to help restore and protect the natural landscapes of Scotland and beyond. Johnnie Walker is committed to reducing their carbon footprint while planning to reduce their impact globally.
The goal is to restore, reduce and reinvent. With new ideas like the first recyclable paper-based spirit bottle, a commitment to water sustainability, aiming to use 100% renewable energy by 2030, adopting new practices for their farmers and beyond.