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Diageo
announce that Emma Walker will take over
as the new Master Blender for Johnnie
Walker when Jim Beveridge OBE retires at
the end of the year.
Johnnie Walker, the world’s
best-selling Scotch Whisky, has
announced that Dr Emma Walker will take
over from Dr Jim Beveridge OBE as
Johnnie Walker Master Blender. Jim is
set to retire at the end of this year
after more than 40 years at Diageo, the
last 20
of which as Master Blender. Jim will
remain with the business until the end
of the year when he will hand over the
reins to Emma who will officially hold
the title of Master Blender from 1
January 2022.
Emma will be one of a small, select
group of people, and the first female,
to take on the coveted role of Master
Blender in more than two centuries of
the business’s existence, the first
being founder John Walker.
Although very aptly named to take over
the reins at Johnnie Walker I can tell
you that Emma has no relation to the
Walker family. Emma has been with Diageo
13 years and in that time has gained
extensive knowledge and experience of
Scotch production and the innovation it
takes to become a highly respected
blender, she has worked extensively on
Johnnie Walker for the last six years.
Johnnie Walker fans will already be
familiar with some of Emma's creative
Johnnie Walker innovations already,
these include the Johnnie
Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare series
and Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker.
The role of Johnnie Walker Master
Blender is one of the most coveted in
the whisky industry, and Emma will lead
the 12-strong team of expert whisky
makers in the pursuit of exceptional
flavour, crafting and blending whisky
from the four corners of Scotland to
create the numerous Johnnie Walker
variants which are sold in more than 180
countries around the world.
During her career, Emma has worked in
different areas of whisky production;
gaining experience and understanding of
how flavour develops in fermentation,
distillation, and maturation, striving
to ensure quality at every stage of the
process. She has spent several years
working with Jim to develop an
encyclopaedic understanding and
knowledge of whisky.
In July, Diageo reported that global
Scotch organic net sales grew 15%
year-on-year with Johnnie Walker organic
net sales up 12%, as the category
benefited from the growing trend of
premiumisation amongst consumers.
New Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Dr
Emma Walker, says: "I am honoured to
take on the title of Master Blender of
Johnnie Walker, and at an exciting time
for the brand as we embark on the next
step of our journey looking ahead to the
next 200 years. I love experimenting and
innovating with flavour and we’ll be
working hard to not only continue to
deliver the unrivalled quality that we
are renowned for but also introducing
blends to appeal to a new generation of
Scotch Whisky fans."
She adds: "I have learnt so much over my
career working with Jim - whose
knowledge and generosity of spirit is
unsurpassed in the world of whisky."
The announcement comes as Jim Beveridge
retires after a four-decade career in
whisky during which time he has been
responsible for some of the world’s most
popular and acclaimed Scotch whisky
blends including Johnnie Walker Blue
Label.
His commitment to developing the
ultimate whisky flavours began when he
started his career with Johnnie Walker
as an analytical chemist 42 years ago.
He has gone on to establish himself as
one of the most highly respected figures
in the industry, renowned for his skill
and dedication to quality. In 2019, he
was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the
Queen for his services to the Scotch
Whisky industry.
Dr Jim Beveridge OBE says: "It is with
pleasure and confidence that I pass on
this privilege to Emma. I know she will
do a wonderful job as she possesses the
knowledge, expertise, and dedication to
make an amazing Master Blender. On a
personal level I am delighted for her,
and I know that her wonderfully
infectious personality, that made
working with her so enjoyable, will
bring something exciting and different
to the team and, indeed, to the wider
Scotch industry."
Julie Bramham, Global Brand Director for
Johnnie Walker, comments: “It is through
Jim’s tireless work, incredible
expertise and dedication to quality that
the iconic flavours of the Johnnie
Walker portfolio are so popular today
and we thank him for his outstanding
contribution over the last four decades.
Emma takes over at an exciting time,
Scotch is being enjoyed in so many
different ways by people from all over
the world and I know that Emma and her
team will continue to develop the
exceptional tastes, textures and
flavours that we are renowned for."
You
will find the Johnnie Walker whisky
range available from specialist
online whisky retailers such as
The Whisky Exchange,
Amazon
and
Master of Malt
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