The Taste of Innovation: Introducing Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish to Diageo Global Travel

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This is the test the ingenious blending team at Johnnie Walker, the world's number one best-selling Scotch Whisky brand^[1], set themselves in crafting Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish. The limited edition new blend is the second and latest innovation in the Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch portfolio - a series of experimental Scotch Whiskies that challenge convention and lift the lid on the skill and never-ending pursuit of flavour that has driven the small team of expert blenders at Johnnie Walker for over 200 years.

Inspired by the time master blender Dr Jim Beveridge, whose personal journey making whisky began over 40 years ago, spent blending bourbons and ryes in Kentucky in the 1990s, Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish pushes the boundaries of blending like never before.

It took more than 50 experiments exploring over 200 whisky samples to hit upon the blend - Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish - which features whiskies from just five distilleries including Dufftown and the now closed Port Dundas. The final blend, which is rich and warming with an intense honeyed sweetness, is aged in first-fill bourbon casks and finished for up to six months in former rye casks. It is available only in a small number of selected markets, including Travel Retail. 

The magic, creativity and experimentation brought to life in the whisky making process, is what drives the blending team at Johnnie Walker to experiment with new and surprising taste experiences, resulting in this latest addition to the Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch series. The on-going flavour experiments that Beveridge and his team study at the brand's home in Scotland are a crucial part of their work, focussing on developing and understanding alternative flavours including wine, coffee and chocolate.

"Experimentation is the key to innovation," says Dr Beveridge. "It's something that has been at the heart of Johnnie Walker from the very beginning and which has enabled us to consistently create perfect whiskies like Johnnie WalkerRed Label and Johnnie Walker Black Label for generations.

"What we're doing today is what we've done for almost 200 years, experimenting with flavours and flavour influences to make sure that the whisky we make every day is the very best it can be. Right now, interest in whisky is higher than it's ever been and it's the right time to let people try some of the innovative - sometimes seemingly weird - things we're experimenting with. We think people will love these whiskies and more than that, they'll love knowing the story of how they came about."

Dayalan Nayager, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel, said: "Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish is the perfect purchase for travellers looking for new and surprising taste experiences, Johnnie Walker fans or those seeking to explore the category.

"Travellers are looking for brands that have discovery, authenticity, craftsmanship and real human stories behind them. Johnnie Walker has a truly unique story to tell and we are thrilled to offer shoppers a glimpse into the world of flavour exploration from the world's biggest Scotch Whisky brand. As this is also a limited edition product, it is truly an exciting addition to the Johnnie Walker range in duty free."

When making whisky, the blenders at Johnnie Walker think 'from the bar back,' ensuring bartenders and whisky fans at home have the perfect liquids at hand to serve neat, on the rocks, or as the foundation of a flawless Scotch-based cocktail.

Inspired by the recent success of Johnnie WalkerSelect Casks - Rye Cask Finish, travellers can pick up a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish in selected duty free stores worldwide now.

Notes to Editors: 

Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish has a RRP of $52.50/£32.00

Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish has an ABV of 40%

Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish is available in 1L bottle.

Johnnie Walker Expert Blenders 

Our blenders' passion, skill and commitment to innovation has enabled them to consistently create perfect whiskies like Johnnie Walker Red Label and Johnnie Walker Black Label for generations.

Our blenders can choose from more than eight million casks of carefully crafted Scotch Whisky drawn from more than 30 distilleries across Scotland, meaning that Johnnie Walker is crafted from a flavour palette that none of our competitors can match.

For almost two centuries, six generations of our blenders - starting with John Walker himself - have been bold visionaries, playing and experimenting with flavour not out of duty or necessity but because they love what they do. It's this skill and vision that has enabled our blenders to consistently create perfect whiskies like Johnnie Walker Red Label and Johnnie Walker Black Label for generations. This latest expression comes from a brand that has always been committed to the importance of innovation to drive sales globally.

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1. IWSR, 2015

About Diageo 

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories.  These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff and Cîroc vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.  The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).  For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com.  Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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