Diageo Launches Johnnie Walker Select Casks – Rye Cask Finish

5 Oct 2015 --- For nearly 200 years the driving force behind the world’s leading Scotch whisky brand has been its pioneering and innovative spirit. The Johnnie Walker brand continually strives to create new blends of the highest quality. It is in this tradition that Johnnie Walker will introduce its newest Scotch whisky: Johnnie Walker Select Casks – Rye Cask Finish, a 10-year-old, 46%-ABV (92 U.S. proof), chill-filtered blended Scotch whisky. This will be the first in a series of limited edition wood-finished Scotch blends that will be released over the coming years. Each will feature a different wood finish crafted for today’s whisky enthusiast.

Johnnie Walker Select Casks – Rye Cask Finish is a Scotch whisky blend that showcases the best of Scottish blending and maturation expertise. With Cardhu single malt at the heart of the blend, Johnnie Walker’s Master Blender Jim Beveridge used whiskies matured for at least ten years in first-fill American Oak casks.  He finished the Scotch in ex-rye whiskey casks, creating a complex new whisky with rich layers of flavor starting with creamy vanilla notes and transitioning to a more spicy finish.

“From the early days when John Walker first blended whiskies in 1820 to the unique blends created today, Johnnie Walker has always thrived on experimentation. I believe that whisky is ever evolving and experimental in nature and I am pleased to present the first rye cask finished blended Scotch whisky,” said Master Blender Jim Beveridge. “Johnnie Walker Select Casks is a unique style of Scotch that blends the flavor characteristics of bourbon and rye with some of the classic signature notes and smoothness of Johnnie Walker.”

The Master Blender crafted this distinguished blend to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in classic cocktails such as the Manhattan or Old Fashioned. It is bottled at 92 proof, a higher proof than the other marques in the Johnnie Walker portfolio, in order to provide a more distinctive character when used in traditional cocktails. However, it remains chill-filtered in order to maintain Johnnie Walker’s classic texture and mouth-feel.

This innovative blend is crafted to be enjoyed responsibly among friends, colleagues and family for all of life’s occasions.

The suggested retail price of the limited edition Johnnie Walker Select Cask – Rye Cask Finish is $45 (750ml) and will be available fromOctober 2015 in fine wine and spirit stores and bars across the US.

Johnnie Walker reminds you to please drink responsibly.