Johnnie Walker has announced the Australian arrival of two new blends from its Blenders’ Batch range of experimental whiskies: Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Espresso Roast and Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Rum Cask Finish.
Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch is a series of limited edition, experimental whiskies. The first Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch series included Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Red Rye Finish, Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish and Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Triple Grain American Oak. These whiskies were inspired by Master Blender Jim Beveridge’s time spent working in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1990s where he blended bourbons and rye.
Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Espresso Roast
Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Espresso Roast (43.2% ABV) is the creation of Aimée Gibson, Johnnie Walker blender . She describes it as a “deliciously rich, smooth and meticulously crafted blended Scotch with punchy notes of rich coffee and dark chocolate.”
The blend is the result of Gibson’s experiments using an inventory of whiskies distilled using barley roasted “more heavily than ever before”. The whiskies have been matured in a combination of rejuvenated casks and first-fill Bourbon casks. To create this whisky, she drew upon almost 200 years of whisky-making experience at Johnnie Walker and took inspiration from some of the world’s best bartenders to explore a new world of flavour.
Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Rum Cask Finish
Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Rum Cask Finish (40.8% ABV) is the result of 10 years of experiments by blender Chris Clark. A blend of whiskies from Speyside and the Lowlands, it’s been finished in casks that previously held Caribbean pot still rum. Smooth, spicy and sweet, Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Rum Cask Finish brings intense fruit notes to the blend.
Each expression is designed to form the foundation of Scotch cocktails and can also be enjoyed neat or over ice.
The limited-edition Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Rum Cask Finish and Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Espresso Roast are available in the Australian on-premise from the end of October 2017 and off-premise in January 2018.
This article was originally published on October 27, 2017 on our sister website Gourmantic.
