The John Walker

[John]

Diageo and DFS launch travel-retail exclusive whisky. The John Walker is a new expression of Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky and proceeds from its sale will be donated to The Smile Train.

Diageo has unveiled a new expression of its Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch whisky exclusively in travel-retail with DFS Group. The John Walker was created from rare and exclusive whiskies from distilleries that operated in the 1800s, during its namesake's lifetime. The whiskies are matured together in a 100-year-old wooden cask and each barrel fills 330 individually-numbered, hand-blown Baccarat crystal decanters.

The blend's official launch is in September, but five bottles released from the vaulted Blender's Reserve will be auctioned before that to raise funds for The Smile Train cleft palate surgery charity. The first is available at Singapore Changi airport terminal two for two weeks from July 24, with bids starting at the recommended retail price of $3,000. Interested parties can join the bidding in person or online at www.dfsgalleria.com.

Diageo Travel Retail Asia Pacific general manager Jay Woo said: "The House of Johnnie Walker is built on foundations that are nearly 200 years old. It is with the utmost respect for this heritage and with constant endeavour to maintain these foundations that Johnnie Walker has progressed through the last two centuries to become the greatest whisky house in the world. The John Walker is a celebration of our progress and a tribute to our history, tying together our passion for perfection and mastery of the art of blending fine whisky."?

John

Source: Duty Free News Online

[Bookie]

The launch of this new bottle by Diageo is very poorly timed and a bit of a slap in the face for the Johnnie Walker workers in Kilmarnock who face losing their jobs. I know the profits are going to a good cause with ths first batch of the John Walker, but this could just be a brand repair marketing trick.

Jay Woo's statement mentions "respect for this heritage", where is Diageos respect for their workers.

Bookie

[Finlay]

Well said Bookie, the workers are as much a part of Johnnie Walkers heritage as the whisky itself and they are being shown little respect.

Finlay