Johnnie Walker’s ‘Rarest Whiskies’ Tapped For New Designer Blend

• French creative director Olivier Rousteing has been announced as the first Johnnie Walker Vault cultural collaborator.
• Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing comprises a collection of four couture blends inspired by a sensorial journey through the seasons.
• Prices start at USD$20,000 with just 25 bottles of each expression to be released globally on May 26.

Scotch whisky label Johnnie Walker has made a surprising move into the world of high fashion, unveiling a bold new collaboration with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing. The visionary designer has partnered with the newly founded Johnnie Walker Vault to produce a limited-edition collection of four blends, each crafted “in the spirit” of their celebrated couture collections. Hand-crafted in every sense of the world, the latest Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing bridges the gap between art and whisky in a collaboration that can only be described as the perfect blend.

Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing

For whisky fans, the new collection marks an important milestone, representing the first official launch under the newly announced Johnnie Walker Vault moniker. Created by master blender Dr Emma Walker and announced earlier this year, the project aims to help the whisky sector explore uncharted territory, pulling inspiration from areas outside the traditionally secular industry. To bring the idea to life, Walker worked hand in hand with Rousteing to craft the four new expressions, pulling from a back catalogue that included “500 of the rarest whiskies” contained within the Johnnie Walker archives.

“Pushing boundaries through blending artistry has always been at the heart of my work, and opening the doors of the Johnnie Walker Vault to welcome such a progressive, creative talent of Olivier’s magnitude has been something that will stay with me forever,” Dr Walker said.

“Olivier brought an emotional language to the blending creation, and we worked together to explore what whisky can express – technically, sensorially and artistically. We deliberately chose to use the same whiskies across several of the seasons, playing with proportions, textures and seasonal notes to create four distinct expressions of whiskies.”

Couture Expression

Each of the four blends in the collection opens similarly, with base parcels that feature ultra-rare liquid from ghost distilleries such as Brora and Port Dundas. From there, Walker reportedly layered hand-selected whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Vault, pulling from the library of rare, aged and ghost whiskies, to translate Rousteing’s personal narrative into four “sensorial journeys through flavour and time”.

• Spring – Refreshing and floral. A celebration of renewal and transformation, with brightness drawn from a selection of rare whiskies including a 1985 Cragganmore, a rarely seen 1977 Caledonian and minerality from a treasured 1978 Port Ellen.
• Summer – Vibrant. An ode to summer with tropical fruit notes from a selection of rare whiskies including an experimental Cardhu Wine Cask Finish, and a 1990 Clynelish wrapped in the richness of 1988 Benrinnes.
• Fall – Textured and bold. A time of self-reflection and the relentless pursuit of excellence, this expression features an experimental Teaninich chocolate malt, layered with smoke from the 1978 Port Ellen.
• Winter – Deep and contemplative. Reflecting ‘coming home’ and the warmth of sharing time and moments with family and friends. The richest of the four, dialling up Islay malts from Port Ellen and Brora with a mulled wine, sweetness from the 1988 Benrinnes.

As you would expect from an ultra-rare collection, the latest Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing Couture Expression doesn’t arrive in your stock-standard bottle. Referencing the iconic square bottle created by Alexander Walker in the late 1800s, each expression is presented in a square crystal decanter handcrafted by French luxury house Baccarat.

Johnnie Walker has confirmed that the decanters have been draped in four different metallic shades, each inspired by the seasons, creating a “nod to the past and a desire for an iconic and timeless progressive silhouette”. From there, each bottle is topped off with a sculptural wing stopper, the creative director’s articulation of the Johnnie Walker ‘Keep Walking’ ethos evolved into flight.

“I was really given the freedom to push boundaries with the bottle design, using the couture technique of drapé to capture the seasons in gold, silver, rose gold and metallic black,” Rousteing said. “I wanted to create a structured armour reflecting strength and perseverance, but for it to be swathed like silk to bring softness and reveal the beautiful liquid inside. I hope these bottles will remain as pieces of art in the legacy of Johnnie Walker Vault.”

The collection marks the first official launch under the Johnnie Walker Vault, arriving just months after the new initiative was unveiled to the public. According to Julie Bramham, managing director of Diageo Luxury Group, the project is designed to unite bespoke blends and bridge collaborative boundaries under one banner.

“Johnnie Walker Vault is allowing us to make our mark on the world of luxury spirits in an exciting new way, as well as opening the door to a new era of progress for the brand,” Bramham said. “Through colliding the blending artistry of Dr Emma Walker with the creative genius of Olivier Rousteing we are pushing the boundaries of what a luxury Scotch whisky can look, taste and feel like.”

With only 25 bottles of each season available worldwide and a liquid that is crafted from Johnnie Walker’s most in-demand reserves, the chances of getting your hands on the latest Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing Couture Expression releases are pretty slim. The collection starts with a pre-launch at Harrods on May 5, including the full collection of decanters numbered 1. The global launch will follow on May 26, with each bottle priced at USD$20,000.