Johnnie Walker Origins Series

Johnnie Walker has announced the Johnnie Walker Black Label Origin Series – a range of four new regional expressions designed to celebrate the ‘four corners’ of Scotland. The limited-edition range, unveiled by brand owner Diageo, comprises Islay, Highlands, Lowlands and Speyside Origin expressions, all aged for 12 years, in line with Johnnie Walker Black Label.

The Islay, Highlands and Speyside Origin whiskies are all blended malts, while the Lowlands Origin expression is a blended Scotch whisky, combining malt with grain whisky from Cameronbridge. All expressions only feature whiskies from their particular regions, while the packaging highlights hero distilleries, including Caol Ila, Glenkinchie, Cardhu and Clynelish. All are bottled at 42% abv. 

The range aims to show off the regions that contribute to Johnnie Walker Black Label. The series focuses on smoke (Islay), fresh fruits (Speyside), rich fruits (Highlands) and creaminess (Lowlands). The idea is to pull the whisky apart and really focus in on those four flavours. 

• The Islay Origin expression uses 100% refill casks to avoid too much woodiness
• Highlands Origin expression features ex-European oak and ex-Sherry casks.
• Lowlands Origin ex-Bourbon casks were used for their ‘sweet, vanilla, toffee’ characteristics
• Speyside Origin whisky is aged in refills and first-fill Bourbon casks. 

The range is equivalent to an artist’s study of the flavours you would find in Black Label.