"johnnie walker" news and stories

While attending the opening of Johnnie Walker's House of Walker private lounge, in New York's Soho, we were fortunate enough to speak with the evening's luminous hostess, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks. Her visage has become increasingly associated with whiskey (with a name like Hendricks, we'd have guessed she'd be a gin girl), whether due to her hosting another Walker event in Los Angeles this summer or because her character, the comely secretary Joan Harris, pours copious amounts of it for all the well-dressed alcoholics on the show. With that in mind, we wondered how she started her not-so-clandestine love affair with Scotch.

"This happened very naturally," Hendricks explained. "It's very sexy when my husband orders a Scotch." That lucky gentleman, actor Geoffrey Arend, was also on hand, and she credits him with introducing her to the drink. "He enjoys it, my male friends really, really enjoy it, but we're introducing it to our lady friends [too]."

For those still unfamiliar with whiskey, Hendricks recommends a professionally led tasting as the best way to learn about the "process, the aging... it's really interesting." Before leaving Hendricks to her hosting duties, we just had to ask: How does she take hers? "On the rocks."

I've never been able to afford Johnnie Walker Blue, though I am partial to the Black variety. Russians, though, seem to have no problem affording it. The land of vodka and harsh winters is now the biggest market for the world's priciest Scotch whisky according to the Financial Times.

Vodka still accounts for more than 90 per cent of the country's spirits sales, largely because Russians are not used to the taste of whisky or gin. Despite this barrier sales of costly libations have been rising largely due to the populations increased wealth.

Last year Russia became the first European country to import the "King George V" edition of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, which can go for up to $1,000. That's quite a markup over the everyday version, which sells for a mere $180 a bottle.

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Did you know that the first print ad for Johnnie Walker, which appeared in 1883, featured a Scotsman bawling over a broken bottle at his feet? Me neither, until I read Modern Drunkard's Ten Greatest Alcohol Icons of All Time. The jaunty chap with the top hat, tails and walking stick didn't appear until 1909. Originally known as the "Regency Buck," the iconic figure underwent a name change to become "The Striding Man." I also learned that Johnnie Walker is Superman's libation of choice.

It comes as no surprise that the whimsical Guinness Toucan appears on MD's list. The bird was introduced in the 1930s and had a 50-year run until its retirement in 1982. While many a tippler is familiar with this brightly colored fellow sporting a pint of the black stuff balanced on his beak, few know the little poem that accompanied the original advertisement: "If he can say as you can/'Guinness is good for you'/How grand to be a Toucan!/Just think what Toucan do."

Most of the other icons on the list, including Mr. Boston, the Bacardi Bat and The Wild Turkey were familiar to me with the exception of The Hamm's Bear. Heck, I've never even heard of Hamm's Beer much less the wacky cartoon bear that represented the brand in a series of commercials that involved all sorts of high jinks ranging from pie fights and such to more serious capers such as robbery and arson. Rather than list all of the icons here I thought I'd let folks read through the MD piece.

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Over at NYC-based blog Eater, they've started a new series inviting local restaurant and bar owners to write a column. This week, William Tigertt from Freemans walks readers through the math that determines the markup on an order of Johnnie Walker Blue, a premium whiskey. According to his calculations, a place like the SoHo Grand is marking up that drink by 441%!! Tigertt creates the JWBI, the Johnnie Walker Blue Index, and determines that the average markup is 275% around the downtown hotels.

Wow. You're better off laying down a good 200 dollars for the whole bottle yourself.

Over in Hawaii, the Halekulani resort (think luxury) is giving whisky  aficionados an opportunity to sip a bit of history. The hotel’s La Mer restaurant is offering the exceedingly rare Johnnie Walker Blue Label 1805 Anniversary Pack at $325 for a 1½ ounce pour.

Halekulani is the only hotel in Hawaii featuring this unique spirit, of which only 200 bottles are available worldwide. The whisky - a cask-strength blend - is a mix of nine whiskies, most of which are from distilleries that no longer exist. Each whisky is between 45 and 70 years old, adding to the 1805 Anniversary Pack’s distinct allure. The scotch whisky was created to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of Johnnie Walker.

“Halekulani attracts the world’s most discriminating clientele, and part of what makes these travelers return year after year is the ability to have experiences that can be had nowhere else,” they said - which probably means I won't be allowed through the door; being a tad scruffy an' all.