Johnnie Walker has released the final expression in its John Walker series of limited edition ‘triple matured’ blended Scotch whiskies, the John Walker Last Cask.
The blend is composed of grain whiskies from the silent distilleries of Port Dundas and Cambus in addition to the operational Cameronbridge, as well as malt whiskies from Cardhu, Mortlach, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Talisker and the closed Glen Albyn.
Bottled at 40% abv, the malt and grain whiskies that make up the blend were vatted separately before marrying in the ‘last cask’, an oak cask comprising of 100-year-old staves which has now been retired from use
Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker master blender, said: ‘We combined extremely rare grain expressions from Cambus, Port Dundas and Cameronbridge, which creates delicate flavours including subtle spice and soft fruits.
‘A vatting of exceptional single malt whiskies offers deeper, more robust aromas with waves of unfolding citrus fruits.’
Just 330 decanters of the John Walker Last Cask have been produced, bearing a hand-drawn design unique to each bottle by Philip Lawson Johnston, the hand engraver of glass to Her Majesty the Queen.
Priced at 21,835¥ (approximately £2,550), the whisky is currently only available in China, although it will be released in other select markets, including travel retail, in October.
Although this is the final expression of the John Walker series, a spokesperson for Johnnie Walker stated the brand may decide to continue using the John Walker name for a different series of whiskies in the future.
The John Walker & Sons Private Collection, a selection of limited edition age-stated blends bearing the John Walker name, also came to a close in November 2018 with the release of the Midnight Blend.
