The biggest selling spirits brand, Johnnie Walker, released their travel retail exclusive malt whiskey earlier this year — Johnnie Walker Island Green. This rare blend of rich malt whiskeys was released in June 2016 and has been flying off the shelves ever since.
Johnnie Walker Island Green Flavors
Jim Beveridge, Master Blender at Johnnie Walker, said: «As whisky makers, we’re passionate about flavour, and creating this exclusive travel retail variant of our blended malt whisky has given us an opportunity to showcase a rare blend of rich malts. We wanted to preserve the character of each of the malts in this whisky but at the same time create a different, more intense flavour experience for travellers.»
Stuart Morrison of the Johnnie Walker blending team, added «The added prominence of the smoky, maritime nature of Caol Ila has been very carefully balanced with robust fruity Highland malts including Clynelish, lighter Lowland malts represented by Glenkinchie and the characteristically sweet and fragrant Speyside style of Cardhu. We’re fortunate to have access to so many classic malt whiskies and we’ve been able to make a unique, full bodied blend where flavours of peat-smoke combine with a rich, fruity sweetness and the comforting warmth of pepper and spice – flavours that are characteristic of single malt but with greater depth and complexity amplified by the unique island style. It’s a flavour profile that is best explored either neat or on the rocks.»
The Managing Director of Diageo GTME, Doug Bagley said: «The launch of Johnnie Walker Island Green is a true game-changer for the Scotch Whisky category in travel retail. For the first time ever, we are able to offer our customers an exclusive blended malt whisky from the biggest spirits brand in the channel, strongly supported with the backing of Johnnie Walker investment and marketing activation. Malts is the fastest growing category in travel retail, growing at twice the rate of the overall Scotch category, but the scale of variants, ages and flavours can be overwhelming to shoppers. Research shows that 7 out of 10 malt shoppers drank blended Scotch before entering into malts, so we believe the launch of Johnnie Walker Island Green will act as an incredible signpost for those shoppers who want to explore the category. As a travel retail exclusive, Johnnie Walker Island Green also offers these consumers access to something special which they cannot buy elsewhere. Thanks to the immense skill of the whisky makers at Johnnie Walker, and our unrivalled access to over 40% of the industry’s inventory of Malts, we believe we have an incredible special blended malt that will be immensely popular with consumers either as a treat for themselves or as a special gift.»
Where to buy Johnnie Walker Island Green
If you want to pick up a bottle of this fantastic whiskey, then you can get it from travel retail outlets at most major airports. Prices are $60 for a 1 litre bottle. Look out for it in any duty free store that sells alcohol , e.g. Heinemann.
About Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch whisky brand, enjoyed by people in over 180 countries around the world. Since the time of its founder, John Walker, those who blend its whiskies have pursued flavour and quality above all else.
Six generations of skilled Master Blenders have pioneered and crafted bold new flavours that have transformed a small Scottish grocery store business, founded in 1820, into an international whisky business selling stylish, authentic, and iconic blends.
Today’s range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label®, Black Label®, Double Black™, Green Label™, Gold Label Reserve®, Platinum Label® and Blue Label®. Together they account for nearly 19 million cases sold annually (IWSR, 2014), making Johnnie Walker the most popular Scotch whisky in the world.
