Monday, March 27, 2017

Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch experiment comes ashore

Depending on where you have been traveling in the past year, you may have come across the Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch release of Red Rye Finish. Now, the line officially has hit the U.S. market with the introduction here of the brand's Triple Grain American Oak.

The Blenders' Batch portfolio was created to market a few of the hundreds of experiments the distiller tries out. The Triple Grain American Oak, for example, comes from focusing on the influence of bourbon and rye whiskey flavors on Scotch.

Says the distiller of the newcomer: "Aged for at least 10 years in American oak, including bourbon casks, Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Triple Grain American Oak is crafted using five whiskies including grain from the now-closed Port Dundas distillery and malt from Mortlach on Speyside. This combination creates a whisky that is uniquely smooth, with notes of sweet fresh fruit and gentle spice. This style of whisky is excellent as the foundation for classic and signature cocktails.”

Jim Beveridge, Walker's master blender, explained in a prepared statement what the thinking was  behind the Blenders' Batch program.

“Experimentation is the key to innovation and has been at the heart of Johnnie Walker from the
very beginning. Our founder John Walker’s first experiments were with flavors inspired by teas and spices from the New World. Walker’s first blends weren’t bound by the traditional styles of particular whisky producing regions in Scotland, but were experiments in flavor using casks from all over the country and later the world. What we’re doing today is what we’ve done for nearly 200 years and we are thrilled to be opening our doors, allowing people to experience the vast array of flavor experiments happening every day.”

This limited-supply blend will retail for about $30 per 750ml bottle. Walker plans to make future releases of experimental blends.

• Go here to visit the Capital Region Brew Trail
• Go here to visit Notes On Napkins
• Go here to visit Dowd's New York Wines Notebook

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