In an impressive move, a top distiller released its oldest spirit just in time for Christmas. Johnnie Walker celebrated the history of whisky distillation in Scotland on Wednesday by releasing a 52-year-old combination of two-grain whiskies and six rare malt whiskeys. Some of the ghost distillers that supplied the batches had already closed their doors in the 1980s.
With an SRP of £23,500 ($25,000), only 200 bottles of this expression will be available for purchase. This is what the whisky comprises:
Emma Walker, a master distiller, sourced the liquid for the single-grain whiskies from two distilleries that had previously closed: Cambus (1993) and Caresebridge (1983), which had closed a decade prior. Reportedly, the single grains impart butterscotch, spice, tea leaf, and hints of menthol characteristics to the finished product.
Johnnie Walker Rolls Out 52-Year-Old Whisky Ahead of Christmas Festivities
It’s all about the expertise of flavor management. As we get into the single malts, things start to get trickier. Out of the six, five came from defunct distilleries: Brora, Glenury Royal, Glenlochy, and Glen Albyn. Dalwhinnie, which has been distilling its namesake liquor brand since its inception, was responsible for producing the last of the batch’s whisky.
Glen Albyn and Dalwhinnie added “salinity, cured meat, and cacao,” while Glenury Royal and Glenlochy added berry, candied fruit, and oiliness flavors, according to the company. The Brora whisky supposedly imparts “soft smoke, blue cheese, and deep complexity”.
“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,” Walker clarified in a news release.
“With this deceptively simple cask combination, our intention was to create a new, masterful blend in homage to our founders’ achievements.”
The 52-year age declaration on the label represents the youngest liquid in the batch, as is typical with blended spirits. Johnnie Walker has not disclosed the exact amount, but the other whiskies in the blend are likely older.
Currently, the 41.2% ABV bottled spirit is available through Diageo private client services and select luxury shops.
