[#whiskyphFocus] Johnnie Walker.

This brand of whisky is pretty much synonymous with the word "scotch" in the Philippines. It's the most accessible whisky sold at restaurants and practically all groceries and convenience stores. Every Philippine whisky drinker knows this brand and it's likely the first whisky brand that they have ever tasted. It is of course, #JohnnieWalker (JW).

JW is a brand that has mastered the art of blended whisky. A tradition started in 1820 by a liquor grocer, John Walker. At the time, it seems that consistency from batch to batch was a problem for single malt and grain whiskies. John the grocer decided to put his nose and palate to work by blending whiskies together to come up with a more consistent product and his customers loved it. As interest in his whiskies grew, he started putting his name on the label.

But it was the next 2 generations led by John's son, Alec, and his grandson, Alexander, that really developed JW as a global brand. They developed the signature square bottle that reduced breakages and allowed for more bottles to be transportable by ship, as well as color-coded labels to distinguish between blends.

They also began acquiring distilleries and companies to ensure the availability of the single malts that they used for their blends. They bought #Cardhu in 1893, Coleburn in 1915, #Clynelish Distillery Co. & Dailuaine-#Talisker Co. in 1916, and #Mortlach in 1923. There was also the introduction of the striding man, an unmistakable icon of a brand.

Because of their efforts, blended whiskies now account for almost 90% of all scotch whiskies sold, with JW the leading scotch brand.

JW's core range now includes the no age statement (NAS) Red Label, the 12yo #BlackLabel, the NAS Double Black Label, the 15yo #GreenLabel, the 18yo Gold Label, and the NAS #BlueLabel. But they also have limited releases like the 200th Anniversary Celebratory Blend and the White Walker.

If you want to learn more about JW, check out one of the best whisky ads ever made, "The Man Who Walked Around the World" with the amazing Robert Carlyle. 🥃 #KeepWalking!

Image Courtesy of @WhiskyPH

@WhiskyPH

At its core, whisky appreciation is an exercise in memory. Notes of a whisky enthusiast in the Philippines. 🥃🇵🇭