Whisky Focus - Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Review

Here is one for the Johnnie Walker fans amongst you, Diageo has announced the launch of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare the first edition in a new series of Special Releases.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare has been crafted using just 8 whiskies including irreplaceable whiskies from "ghost" distilleries that have long since closed, together with other rare malt and grain scotch.

Each edition will be crafted with one incredible whisky at its heart and at the heart of this first edition is Brora single malt which was last produced back in 1983 and as knowledgeable whisky drinkers will know bottles of this Highland single malt can fetch £1,000's today.

Crafted by Johnnie Walker Master Distiller, Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare is described as a rich, velvety smooth blend of eight treasured Scotch whiskies, including three "ghost" whiskies from the silent distilleries of Cambus, Pittyvaich and the Highland Single Malt, Brora, which lies at the heart of this special release bringing a light peatiness and sophisticated subtle sweetness. The additional five whiskies are rare expressions of malt and grains from the existing distilleries of Royal Lochnagar, Clynelish, Glenkinchie, Glenlossie and Cameronbridge. Johnnie Walker tell me the result is a smooth Scotch, with the fruity sweetness of pineapple, rich notes of hazelnut and dark chocolate, and a subtle smoky finish.

Commenting on the special release, Jim said: "Over the years of crafting fine Scotch whiskies, I've had the remarkable privilege of working with some of the rarest spirits ever to come out of Scotland. I'm lucky that we have stocks from more than 30 distilleries from every region of Scotland from which to choose the perfect casks to craft each blend. It gives us a richness of character, flavour and age that no other scotch can match.

"Whiskies from these ghost distilleries are becoming increasingly rare. From our library of irreplaceable casks that we keep exclusively for Johnnie Walker Blue Label, I've chosen a few uniquely full-bodied expressions of these precious malts and grains to let people explore, in a new way, the extraordinary richness found in our pinnacle whisky.”

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare is bottled at an ABV of 46%. Each bottle is individually numbered and is available now at a RRP of £220 for 70cl from specialist online whisky shops such as Master of Malt
 

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