Johnnie Walker celebrated 200 years as a brand with four limited-edition releases.
Each of these 200th anniversary releases — a new bottle design and three newly crafted whiskies — reflects the journey of two centuries for this iconic global brand. The new bottlings are:
Johnnie Walker Blue Label 200th Anniversary Limited Edition Design
This limited-edition design has illustrations that capture the 200-year journey of John Walker & Sons and Johnnie Walker, paying homage to some of the cities and countries that have been part of this story since 1820.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Legendary Eight
This release is a “smooth, mellow” Scotch crafted using whisky from eight distilleries that all existed in 1820, including some rare expressions from long-closed “ghost” distilleries, the company says.
John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend
This is inspired by a breakthrough moment in John Walker & Sons’ history: the launch of Old Highland Whisky in the 1860s. This “rich and complex” Scotch mirrors the flavors found in the Walker family’s grocery store during that period, the company explains, and is made with whiskies from distilleries operating at the time.
John Walker & Sons Bicentenary Blend
This whisky contains whiskies all aged for at least 28 years, including whiskies from long-closed “ghost” distilleries such as Pittyvaich, Cambus and soon-to-be-reopened Port Ellen.
“Each of these exclusive releases bring a fresh perspective to our 200th anniversary story and are the perfect way to celebrate this moment for Johnnie Walker,” says Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Jim Beveridge. “It feels very apt to be announcing them this week to coincide with John Walker’s birthday.”
All four exclusive releases will launch from October onwards, subject to market distribution and availability, for a limited period only.
The launch of these 200th anniversary releases follows the announcement of a $143 million investment in Scotch tourism from parent company, Diageo, with a host of new multi-sensory, immersive whisky experiences across Scotland, as well as their most recent announcement of a new paper-based bottle launching with Johnnie Walker in 2021.
