Johnnie Walker has announced the launch of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare in Australia.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare – Photo Supplied
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare (46% ABV) is the first in a brand-new series of special releases, crafted using irreplaceable whiskies from ‘ghost’ distilleries that have long since closed, blended with other rare malt and grain Scotch whiskies. Each of these special editions will focus on one remarkably rare whisky from a distillery that shapes the distinctive flavours of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Eight component whiskies make up the release: six malt whiskies and two grain whiskies which come from three ghost distilleries and five existing and rare distilleries.
At the heart of the first edition is whisky from the Highland distillery of Brora. The distillery started as Clynelish 1819 but as its whisky became popular, they built another distillery across the road from the original in 1968 then closed the distillery for one year and reopened it as Brora. In the 1970s, due to a drought on Islay, they began making heavily peated coastal Highland whisky from 1972 to 1977. Then in 1983, the distillery fell silent and closed its doors.
According to Simon McGoram, Diageo’s Australian National Whisky Ambassador, Brora brings light peatiness and subtle sweetness to the blend. Pittyvaich from the Speyside region, the second ghost distillery in the blend, first opened in 1975 for use in the Bells whisky and produced a nutty spicy spirit. It adds a marked nuttiness on the finish of this new release. Cambus, the third ghost distillery which was a grain whisky distillery that opened in 1906, adopted continuous distillation then closed in 1993, is an important part of the Johnnie Walker blend.
From the remaining five distilleries, Clynelish is knows for its honeyed, waxy and citrusy profile which adds creaminess to the blend. Glenlossie from Speyside produces more of a grassy new style spirit. Royal Lochnagar, the smallest of 29 distilleries, produces a grassy style new spirit with a rich fruity mid palate. The remaining two are Glenkinchie and Cameronbridge which are both Lowland distilleries.
Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Jim Beveridge, (Master Blender of the Year in 2015 and 2016) has chosen few uniquely full-bodied expressions of these precious malts and grains to let people explore the richness found in the whisky in a new way.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Tasting Notes
- ABV: 46%
- Colour: bright gold
- Nose: honeyed aromas upfront followed by citrus notes and rich fruit with a tropical note such as sweet pineapple, a subtle nuttiness follows along with hazelnut and dark chocolate
- Palate: rich, creamy and luxurious with initial sweetness leading onto a spicy and dryer note, rich fruits, dark chocolate and subtle smoke
- Finish: the higher ABV extends the finish with a lingering nuttiness and earthy smoke
In summary, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare is a rich and luxuriant blend that stands out form the rest of the Johnnie Walker collection no doubt aided by the higher ABV. When compared to the Johnnie Walker Blue Label, it’s a richer, fruitier style of whisky, full-flavoured, layered and complex with a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering nuttiness on the finish with only a hint of smoke – a most enjoyable sipping dram for special occasions.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare is presented in a custom design dark blue 750ml bottle, showing the distilleries used in the blend, on a map of Scotland on the side of the bottle.
This article was originally published on February 20, 2018 on our sister website Gourmantic.
