Three new limited edition expressions of Johnnie Walker have been created as part of a series of flavour experiments, starting with Johnnie Walker Red Rye Finish.<\/p>\n
The blending team at Johnnie Walker, led by master blender Jim Beveridge, have been investigating the impact of various brewing, distillation and maturation techniques on the flavour of Scotch whisky.<\/p>\n
Following hundreds of trials, the brand will release about three new experimental expressions every year within the Johnnie Walker Blenders\u2019 Batch series.<\/p>\n
The first release, Johnnie Walker Red Rye Finish<\/strong>, is a blend of three grains \u2013 including whisky from the now silent Port Dundas distillery \u2013 and malt whisky from Cardhu that have been matured in first-fill Bourbon casks and finished in rye casks.<\/p>\n Beveridge said the expression was designed to be \u2018a light style, along the lines of an Irish or Japanese whisky\u2019, but with \u2018American whisky signifiers\u2019.<\/p>\n In addition, Red Rye Finish marks the first time that the blending team has considered a whisky\u2019s application in cocktails as a key part of the production process.<\/p>\n \u2018Considering what the serve will be was very much behind how we created this,\u2019 Beveridge said. \u2018This was a very new approach for us.\u2019<\/p>\n The signature serve for Johnnie Walker Red Rye is a Scotch whisky Manhattan \u2013\u00a0also known as a Rob Roy \u2013 with\u00a02oz Scotch,\u00a01\/2oz sweet vermouth, 1\/2oz dry vermouth, dash Angostura bitters. The taste, Beveridge claimed, was more similar to that of a Manhattan made with American or Canadian rye whiskey, than a Rob Roy made with Scotch.<\/p>\n Also coming soon in the Blenders\u2019 Batch series are \u2018Bourbon Cask and Rye Finish<\/strong>\u2019 \u2013 a 40% abv blend of malt and grain whiskies matured in American oak and finished in rye casks \u2013 and \u2018Triple Grain American Oak<\/strong>\u2019, a 41.3% abv blend of barley, wheat and maize whiskies matured in first-fill Bourbon casks.<\/p>\n All three will be available in select global markets, with Red Rye available at a similar price to Red Label, and the others at a price similar to Black Label.<\/strong><\/p>\n Beveridge added that the next series of Blenders\u2019 Batch will feature other experiments conducted by the team\u00a0which, although still under wraps, could include the use of chocolate malt, different cut points\u00a0and different yeast strains.<\/p>\n \u2018For the next batch we are going somewhere completely different, with no real connection to the first three.,\u2019 he said. \u2018They will be expressions completely new to Johnnie Walker.\u2019\u00a0However, Beveridge did rule out the possibility of a grain-only whisky, as \u2018Johnnie Walker needs malt whisky for its flavour\u2019.<\/p>\n