Celebrating this Chinese New Year, Johnnie Walker Blue Label announces the launch of Year of The Dog.

This limited edition design is inspired by the Dog as a symbol of prosperity and tells the story of Johnnie Walker and his clever canine companion journeying around the world, bringing good fortune to all as they rejoice in the arrival of the new year.

First launched to mark the opening of Johnnie Walker House in China, the coveted collection captures the auspicious delights of the 12 animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

Bringing together Scotland?s whisky heritage and stunning Chinese art in perfect harmony, each of the 12 bottles depicts one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. From the Rat to the Dragon and Rooster, each animal is elegantly engraved in 18K gold on Johnnie Walker?s signature square bottles.

First launched to mark the opening of Johnnie Walker House in China, the coveted collection captures the auspicious delights of the 12 animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

Bringing together Scotland’s whisky heritage and stunning Chinese art in perfect harmony, each of the 12 bottles depicts one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. From the Rat to the Dragon and Rooster, each animal is elegantly engraved in 18K gold on Johnnie Walker’s signature square bottles.

First launched to mark the opening of Johnnie Walker House in China, the coveted collection captures the auspicious delights of the 12 animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

Bringing together Scotland’s whisky heritage and stunning Chinese art in perfect harmony, each of the 12 bottles depicts one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. From the Rat to the Dragon and Rooster, each animal is elegantly engraved in 18K gold on Johnnie Walker’s signature square bottles.

Distilled in 1972 and aged in a single sherry butt until August 2015, this is one of 565 bottles produced from cask number 3551. These bottles were released in the Winter 2015 batch of Family Casks.

This eight year old expression was aged in ex-pot still Caribbean rum casks - a first for the distillery. It's a big whisky served at 57.9% with smoke, fruit and the distillery's trademark peppery spice and meatiness all singing in harmony. Smoke, molasses and stewed tropical fruits on the nose align nicely with the palate leading to a feisty, spicy finish.

The oldest of three Royal Brackla single malts launched in 2015. Distillation at Royal Brackla is slow, with plenty of reflux and this whisky is matured in Oloroso Sherry casks. The result is a rich whisky with notes of dark chocolate, anise and sweet summer berries.

This is a 21 year old unpeated single malt from Tobermory, which has enjoyed 3 years finishing in oloroso sherry casks before being bottled. 

The nose offers clove-studded orange, dark chocolate, florals and vanilla leading to a palate of prunes walnuts and dark chocolate and a long spice and leather finish.

It's called Dark Oak for a reason and that reason is maturation in a combo of oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and bourbon casks. Auchentoshan are famous for their light, triple distilled, Lowland style... but here it combines beautifully with the wood influence and the result is a single malt packed full of stewed fruit and warming Christmas spice notes.

Distilled in 1989, this rare single malt whisky has been carefully nurtured for three decades in our finest sherry hogsheads and bourbon barrels. Bottled at a cask strength of 45.3%, this 30-Year-Old is a celebration of Bowmore’s rich fruity and subtly smoky style. With only 2580 bottles available in 2020, Bowmore 30-Year-Old inspired by the terrain that surrounds the Bowmore Distillery and the legendary landscape that defines our whisky. Capturing the art of time, this whisky takes cues from the detailed markings on driftwood and the refined polish of sea glass, reflecting its eternal connection with Islay .

45.3% ABV

This is a 25 year old single malt, which was initially matured in 10 American and European oak casks before being married and finished in first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks. The 2015 edition is presented in a 700ml bottle and also comes with a 50ML miniature of the whisky, as well as a section of a stave from one of the casks that matured the whisky!

A feast of tropical fruits, berries and creamy toffee blooms into sweet oak, vanilla and toasted nuts; this is a whisky to truly behold.

Four long decades have crawled by as this precious whisky slowly and silently matured within our warehouses by the sea. Indeed, the casks that this whisky was maturing in were all but forgotten, until our blending team discovered them whilst reviewing the warehouse ledgers. Sourced from the legendary wines and spirit merchant, J.G Turney, these casks have been home to this stunning whisky for the past forty years.

This unique 40 Year Old is as rare as it is prized – if you’re ever lucky enough to hold one, be gentle, you’re holding a piece of history!  As with all our single malt whiskies, this is non-chill filtered and natural colour.

Colour

Rich lemony gold

Nose
Hints of tropical fruits, banana, berries, creamy toffee, vanilla, rich nuttiness and delicate sweet oak.

Palate
Sweet malt, creamy caramel, vanilla, creamy berries, with hints of toasted nuts, tropical fruit, banana and pineapple.

Finish
Long, sweet and fruity.

The newest, oldest whisky to join the core range. This supreme expression proves unequivocally that age cannot tame Ardbeg's smoky power. But it can yield some of the most complex and majestic flavours ever to burst forth from Ardbeg Distillery.

Bottled from incredibly rare casks filled during some of the Distillery's darkest days, this is Ardbeg at its most intricate, balanced and beguiling.

Majestic aromas of smoked cream and earthy bonfires are masterfully interwoven with layers of pine and fragrant candle wax. Hot pepper rises on the palate, twisting around lemon sherbet sweetness, while hints of carbolic soap and tar flow into a long aftertaste characterised by delicate aniseed entwined with lingering cream and fudge.

Non chill-filtered with a strength of 46%

Cladach means 'coastline' and this whisky is a blend of Diageo's coastal distilleries; Inchgower, Clynelish, Talisker, Oban, Caol Ila and Lagavulin. As you would expect from so many distilleries, there is a superb variety of casks in the final mix first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, refill American oak hogsheads, refill European oak butts and ex-bodega European oak butts. 

The nose is driven by gentle savoury smoke, seaweed and petrichor before citrus, vanilla and caramel all appear and lead you to a palate that is much smokier and offers darker fruits and licorice. A delightful coastal number offered at a robust abv.