Johnnie Walker

For other uses, see Johnnie Walker (disambiguation).
Johnnie Walker
Type Scotch Whisky
Manufacturer Diageo
Country of origin Kilmarnock, Scotland
Introduced 1820: Grocery store
1865: Scotch blending
Discontinued White Label, Green Label
Variants Red Label, Black Label, Double Black Label, Swing, Swing Superior Label, Pure Malt Label, Green Label, Gold Label, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label, XR 21 Years Label, Blue Label, Blue Label King George V, The John Walker
Related products Ballantine's, Buchanan's, Chivas Regal, Cutty Sark, Dewar's, Vat 69

Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky owned by Diageo that originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country, with annual sales of over 130 million bottles.[1]

History

Underground to Wood Lane to anywhere: International Advertising Exhibition at White City, 29 November to 4 December 1920. Advertising poster by Frederick Charles Herrick for London Underground transportation to an exhibition at White City, showing an assemblage of characters representing various advertising trademarks and emblems, including Bibendum, the Michelin Man; Johnnie Walker; and the Kodak Girl, in an Underground station displaying advertising posters.

Originally known as Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky, the Johnnie Walker brand is a legacy left by John "Johnnie" Walker after he started to sell whisky in his grocer's shop in Ayrshire, Scotland. The brand became popular, but after Walker's death in 1857 it was his son Alexander Walker and grandson Alexander Walker II who were largely responsible for establishing the whisky as a popular brand. Under John Walker, whisky sales represented eight percent of the firm's income; by the time Alexander was ready to pass on the company to his own sons, that figure had increased to between 90 and 95 percent.[2]

In Britain prior to 1860, it was illegal to sell blended whisky.[3][4] During that time John Walker sold a number of whiskies—notably his own Walker's Kilmarnock. In 1865, John's son Alexander produced their first blend, Walker's Old Highland.

Alexander Walker introduced the iconic square bottle in 1860. This meant more bottles fitting the same space and resulted in fewer broken bottles. The other identifying characteristic of the Johnnie Walker bottle is the label, which is applied at an angle of 24 degrees and allows text to be made larger and more visible.[5]

From 1906 to 1909, John's grandsons George and Alexander II expanded the line and introduced the colour names. In 1908, when James Stevenson was the Managing Director, there was a re-branding of sorts. The whisky was renamed from Walker's Kilmarnock Whiskies to Johnnie Walker Whisky. In addition, the slogan "Born 1820—Still going Strong!" was created, along with the Striding Man logo, a figure used in their advertisements to this day, created by illustrator Tom Browne, in honour of the founder, and given the same name.

Johnnie Walker White was dropped during World War I.[6] In 1932, Alexander II added Johnnie Walker Swing to the line, the name originating from the unusual shape of the bottle, which allowed it to rock back and forth.

The company joined Distillers Company in 1925. Distillers was acquired by Guinness in 1986, and Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo in 1997.

Johnnie Walker is no longer blended in Kilmarnock, and has not been for many years. The bonded warehouses and company offices (now local authority) can still be seen in Strand Street and John Finnie Street. On 1 July 2009, Bryan Donaghey, Diageo Managing Director for Global Supply Scotland, announced that Diageo intended to cease production at the plant in Kilmarnock. Under a restructuring programme across Scotland, production would be moved from the brand's original home to Diageo plants in Leven, Fife, and Shieldhall, Glasgow.

News of the planned closure had widespread media attention and condemnation. Following the decision, a public campaign was waged to try to persuade Diageo to reverse this decision. However, on 9 September 2009 Diageo stated that they intended to press ahead with the move away from Kilmarnock and that the matter was "closed".[7]

The Johnnie Walker plant, the largest employer in the town of Kilmarnock, closed its doors in March 2012.[8]

Blends

For most of its history Johnnie Walker only offered a few blends. In recent years there have been several special and limited bottlings. The strength of alcohol as also the volume of the bottle is rated uniquely in the USA vis a vis the rest of the world. A Johnnie Walker Red Label blended Scotch whisky sold in the U.S. will normally be in a 750-millilitre bottle at an ABV of 40%, 80 proof. In the USA, the proof value of any alcoholic drink is twice the percentage ABV. Elsewhere, the proof value is %ABV x 7/4. Thus a 40% ABV whisky, 80 proof in the USA, will be only 70 proof across the rest of the world. When Scotch whisky is produced for consumption within the EU, it has to conform to EU laws thereon; the bottle will contain only 700 ml of whisky, the strength of which will be 40% ABV, i.e. 70 proof. Whisky meant for Duty Free shops may exceed 700 ml. These are mostly 1.0-litre bottles at 75 proof, and the corresponding ABV is 42.8%, often rounded off to 43%. The latter criteria generally apply to Traveller Editions of that brand of whisky.

Standard blends

A variety of blends.
Johnnie Walker Blue label bottle in a gift box.
Johnnie Walker blends, by years of production, and from least expensive to most expensive. Note : While most of the whiskies with name changes are the same Old Highland/White Label is NOT the same as Red & Cola
Age 1865–1905 1906–1908 1909–1911 1912–1931 1932–1991 1992–1996 1997–2012 2013–
young
(blended)
Old Highland Johnnie Walker
White Label
Red & Cola
none given
(blended)
Special
Old Highland
Johnnie Walker
Red Label
12
(blended)
Walker’s
Old Highland
Extra Special
Old Highland
Johnnie Walker
Black Label
none given (min. 12)[12]
(blended)
Johnnie Walker
Double Black Label
none given[21]
(blended)
Johnnie Walker
Swing
15
(blended malt)
Johnnie Walker
Green Label
15/18/none
(blended malt)
Johnnie Walker
Gold Label
"The Centenary Blend"
Johnnie Walker
Gold Label Reserve
18
(blended)
Johnnie Walker
Platinum Label
none given
(blended)
Johnnie Walker
Blue Label

Special/limited bottlings

Marketing

Every type of Johnnie Walker scotch has a label colour as previously noted, except for the aforementioned Swing label. The purpose is to denote the different types of scotch and to position them to be used for different occasions. For example, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is rare and expensive, and so it is intended to be used for special occasions.

A key feature of every bottle of Johnnie Walker scotch is the Striding Man logo. It was created in 1908 by illustrator Tom Browne to be a likeness of John Walker in traditional, upscale attire. In the logo, the man is walking forward, which Diageo says symbolises forward thinking and the pursuit of excellence. Diageo has created a members club for Johnnie Walker drinkers, called "The Striding Man Society".[32]

Another key aspect of its marketing is the slanted label, which is angled at exactly 24 degrees. This was an advertising tool developed by Alexander Walker, who thought it would help his bottles stand out on the shelf. The slanted label also accommodates more text than would a traditionally oriented label.[33]

In 2009, the advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) created a new short film, starring Robert Carlyle and directed by Jamie Rafn, titled The Man Who Walked Around the World, which outlined the history of the Johnnie Walker brand.[5][34][35]

In 2013, ahead of the sixth season of Mad Men, the firm launched an ad campaign featuring Christina Hendricks.

Johnnie Walker also launched the international John Walker & Sons Voyager tour in order to market its higher variants in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and Caribbean markets. The Voyager tour was developed in order to promote the special edition Odyssey blend and pay tribute to the original trade routes and sea voyages by which Johnnie Walker was distributed throughout the world. The final leg of the tour was completed in 2014 visiting 6 Caribbean countries onboard the Regina Yacht (featured in the major motion picture, SkyFall).

Controversies

2015 Forged Kosher Certification Allegations

Up until 2015 Johnnie walker black label bottles had a Kosher sign, naming the OK Kosher organization as one that provide Kosher tests for the product. IBBL and Paneco groups export Johnny Walker to Israel.[36]

Following an inquiry by the Israeli Rabbinical authority, Rabbi Aharon Hesskel from the OK organization conducted an investigation and published that only IBBLS marks are genuine while the Paneco group did not get their certification.[37] The Israeli Rabbinical authority released a statement that urged customers to verify the producer and stated that the Paneco group is suspected of certificate forgery. Paneco representatives stated that they do have a Kosher certificate (from the Israeli rabbinical authority) and asked the Israeli police to perform an investigation.[38] A representative told IBTimes, "All products sold on Paneco.com are completely and solely original. The Johnnie Walker whisky products sold on the site are created by the primary manufacturer at the Diageo distillery in Scotland and is exactly the same product marketed by a competing company in Israel, which holds the kosher certification for the product."[36]

Accolades

Johnnie Walker spirits have received strong scores at international spirit ratings competitions and from liquor review bodies. The Green Label received a string of three double gold medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition between 2005 and 2007.[39] The Gold Label received double gold medals from the San Francisco competition in 2008 and 2009 and won a gold in 2010.[40] Spirits ratings aggregator proof66.com, which averages scores from the San Francisco Spirits Competition, Wine Enthusiast, and others, puts the Black, Blue, Gold and Green Labels in its highest performance category ("Tier 1" Spirits).[41] Johnnie Walker spirits have several times taken part in the Monde Selection’s World Quality Selections and have received a Gold and Grand Gold Quality Award.[42] Johnnie Walker was voted India's Most Trusted Premium Whisky Brand according to the Brand Trust Report 2014, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory.[43]

In popular culture

Literature

In his history of the battle of Midway, Incredible Victory (1967), Walter Lord tells of the Imperial Japanese Naval staff of Admiral Yamamoto planning the invasion of Midway while imbibing from a bottle of Johnny Walker Red "liberated" from Singapore.

Celebrities

Film

Music

Television

Sponsorships

As well being the official whisky of Formula One,[53] Johnnie Walker also sponsors the Johnnie Walker Classic, an Asia-Pacific golf tournament, and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, a golf tournament in Scotland.

Gallery

References

  1. "Available". Johnniewalker.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  2. Cigaraficionado.com Archived March 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. Macdonald, F. (2012) Whisky, A Very Peculiar History, Andrews UK Limited
  4. MacLean, Charles. Scotch Whisky: A Liquid History. Charles MacLean & Cassell Illustrated. London, England. 2003. (ISBN 1-84403-078-4)
  5. 1 2 "2009 promotional film: ''The Man Who Walked Around the World''". Youtube.com. 2010-07-18. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  6. "Johnny Walker - History". thewhiskyexchange.com. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  7. "Johnnie Walker jobs plan rejected". BBC News. September 9, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  8. "Johnnie Walker whisky plant closes in Kilmarnock". BBC News. BBC. 23 March 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  9. Mixing use per http://us.johnniewalker.com
  10. Manchester, William (October 1988) [1988]. "The Lion Caged". The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Alone 1932–1940 (Revised ed.). p 10: Little, Brown and Co. p. 756. ISBN 0-316-54512-0.
  11. "Weeklystandard.com". Weeklystandard.com. 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  12. 1 2 Miller, Jared T. (2013-05-10). "Johnnie Walker adds Double Black to whisky line". Daily News. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  13. "Johnnie Walker Green Discontinued". www.scotch-tasting-bums.com. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  14. "Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old". The Whisky Exchange.
  15. Dominic, Roskrow. "Dominic Roskrow's Blog". The Whisky Tasting Club - UK.
  16. "Jason's Scotch Whisky Reviews". Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  17. "Product Information". Lcbo.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  18. "Johnnie Walker - Blue Label - Blended Scotch Whisky - 1 Ltr - 43% ABV: Amazon.co.uk: Grocery". Amazon.co.uk. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  19. "Johnnie Walker Blue Scotland Scotch 750ml". Wineanthology.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  20. https://bottleking.com/main.asp?request=SEARCH&search=johnnie
  21. 1 2 One Sweet Swing | Travel + Leisure Golf
  22. "Explorers' Club Collection". http://www.johnniewalker.com/. Retrieved 2012-12-29. External link in |publisher= (help)
  23. "Tasmanian Whisky Appreciation Society". http://www.twas.com.au/. Retrieved 2012-12-29. External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. Eads, Lauren (22 September 2014). "Explorers' Club settles Diageo lawsuit". The Drinks Business. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  25. Strenio, Andrew (2011-10-14). "That's the Spirit: Johnnie Walker Double Black". Serious Eats. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  26. 1 2 "Johnnie Walker Home Page". johnniewalker.com.
  27. "Johnnie Walker parades $200K Diamond Jubilee Scotch Whisky - The Shout, Hotel News, Liquor News, Bar + Club News". theshout.com.au.
  28. "JOHNNIE WALKER® SELECT CASKS - RYE CASK FINISH".
  29. "John Walker & Sons - Private Collection 2014 Edition | Johnnie Walker". www.johnniewalker.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  30. "John Walker & Sons | Private Collection 2015 Edition | Johnnie Walker". www.johnniewalker.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  31. "John Walker & Sons - Private Collection 2014 Edition | Johnnie Walker". www.johnniewalker.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  32. "Johniewalker.com". Johnniewalker.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  33. "Johnniewalker". Us.johnniewalker.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  34. "HLA AND BBH GO WALKING WITH ROBERT CARLYLE". Shots. August 6, 2009. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  35. Justin Moore (writer, BBH London) & Jamie Rafn (Director) (August 11, 2009). "Johnnie Walker 'the man who walked around the world'". Campaign. HLA (production company).
  36. 1 2 Kumar, Kalyan (22 August 2015). "Johnnie Walker whisky facing kosher row in Israel". International Business Times.
  37. "investigation results for Johnny walker, black label". rotter.net (in Hebrew). 3 August 2015.
  38. "Israeli importer claim that Johnie walker black does have a kosher certificate". ynet. 5 Aug 2015.
  39. "Proof66.com Summary of Green Label Awards". Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  40. "Proof66.com Summary of Gold Label Awards". Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  41. "Proof66.com Website". Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  42. Marc Guison (2012-02-08). "Awards". Slideshare.net. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  43. "India's Most Trusted Alcoholic Beverages 2014". Trust Research Advisory.
  44. Brown, Craig (2012-03-21). "Christopher Hitchens's Diary". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  45. Small, Melvin (2011). A Companion to Richard M. Nixon. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4443-3017-5.
  46. "Blade Runner Whiskey Bottle".
  47. "Marius Müller-Westernhagen - Johnny Walker Live Concert 1989 (on YouTube)".
  48. "Johnny Drama Loves Johnnie Blue".
  49. "ABC Revenge Season 2 Episode 8 recap".
  50. 3.15 Time Is on My Side - Super-wiki. Supernaturalwiki.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-23.
  51. "John Spencer on Scotch".
  52. "Scrubs - Janitor takes a sip of Black Label".
  53. "Johnnie Walker becomes the Official Whisky Of Formula 1". formula1.com. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.

Further reading

External links

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Coordinates: 55°36′52″N 4°30′04″W / 55.61444°N 4.50111°W / 55.61444; -4.50111

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