Experiment, tradition, and daring are the traits that describe Johnnie Walker’s new collaboration with Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director of Balmain. He collaborated with Dr. Emma Walker, a renowned blender, to develop a limited-edition whisky that brings together two seemingly unrelated worlds: distillation and fashion
Edinburgh’s underground and creative atelier
“The Couture Blend” was born at the Johnnie Walker Vault, a one-of-a-kind “atelier” concealed beneath Princes Street in Edinburgh, designed to experiment with whisky in the same way that designers experiment with fabrics. This is Rousteing and Walker’s second collaboration, following the success of their “Couture Expression” collection.
A whisky like a haute couture collection
The new mix is a flowing manifestation that pays tribute to Rousteing’s artistic growth while also celebrating Rousteing’s 40th birthday. It contains whiskies older than 40 years, ghost whiskies from shuttered distilleries such as Port Dundas and Caledonian, and more recent releases from Cardhu and Roseisle. Each has its own distinct flavor profile, ranging from tropical fruits and chocolate tonka bean to Port Ellen’s smokey undertones.
Dr. Walker highlights that Olivier’s path, from his search for identity to his audacity in reimagining haute couture, has influenced her. “I wanted to create a blend that, like him, pushes boundaries and blends old and new,” according to her.
Architecture housed in a decanter
Rousteing’s bottle design is more than just packaging; it’s a sculpture that combines simplicity and maximalism. The massive crystal decanter, with its powerful shoulders and square stopper, is adorned with gold details. It’s a design that catches the eye like a stunning gown on a haute couture catwalk.
Rousteing notes, “Every couture collection has a signature—a look that will take your breath away. For me, The Couture Blend represents that moment”.
Limited edition luxury
Only 1,500 individually numbered decanters will be available worldwide at a suggested retail price of $2,500. Each decanter is not only a whisky bottle, but also a collectible work of art—a piece of history where tradition meets imaginative design.
Source: PR Newswire
