“This has been the most crazy, emotional journey,” says Rousteing. “What started as a collaboration to create one special release became a creative exploration of four seasons, just like a couture collection. For me, the seasons bring different energy and emotions – the hazy freedom of summer, the self-reflection of fall, the coziness of home in winter, and a rebirth in spring – and we all have our own personal stories and connections to these moments.”

In an innovative process, spanning almost 12 months, Dr. Walker translated Rousteing’s creative direction into four sensorial journeys through flavour and time: Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing Couture Expression. Each of the four blends in the collection begins with the same rare ‘heart’: a foundation including ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas, setting a marker for the rarity of the collection.

Building on this unique core, Dr. Walker layered additional rare and experimental whiskies from Johnnie Walker Vault: a library of 500 rare, aged and ghost whiskies, personally curated and rotated to showcase the very best of the 10 million casks of Scotch available to her as Master Blender.

Dr. Walker says Rousteing brought an emotional language to the blending process. The two master artisans worked together to push the boundaries of what whisky can express — technically, sensorially and artistically.

“We deliberately chose to use the same whiskies across several of the seasons, playing with proportions, textures and seasonal notes to create four really distinct whiskies.”

Each rare blend is housed in a crystal decanter handcrafted by artisans from the renowned French luxury house Baccarat. These are exquisitely draped in a metallic finish designed by Rousteing and topped with a sculptural winged stopper: his reinterpretation of the brand’s Keep Walking ethos: “Keep walking until you fly.”

“I was given the freedom to push boundaries with the bottle design, using the couture technique of drapé to capture the seasons in gold, silver, rose gold and black metallic,” Rousteing divulges. “I wanted to create a structured armour reflecting strength and perseverance, but for it to be swathed softly like silk to bring softness and reveal the beautiful liquid inside. And for the stopper, I wanted gold wings, like a phoenix rising from the ashes to touch the sky, just how I’ve felt at certain times in my life. These designs bring my legacy to Johnnie Walker Vault.”