The history of whisky
The water of life
The history of whisky goes back hundreds of years. The practice of distilling alcohol made its way to Europe in the 12th Century, but the earliest written evidence of distillation in Scotland is from the 15th Century. Records show an order from the king in 1494 for enough malt whisky to make 500 bottles of aqua vitae, Latin for 'the water of life'.
THE WATER OF LIFE IN SCOTTISH GAELIC IS UISGE BEATHA. 'UISGE' WAS MISPRONOUNCED AND BECAME 'WHISKY'.
The earliest whisky was bracing stuff, distilled almost exclusively by monks. It was never left to mature and mainly seen as a medicine to treat everything from pox to palsy. Then Henry VIII came along and dissolved the monasteries and turfed out the monks. Whisky production then made its way into the homes of regular Scots, who refined the process over time and discovered whisky could actually be enjoyable.
Fast-forward to the early 19th Century and a dram of Scotch Whisky was a staple of life. The trouble was that these whiskies tasted different every time.
For one young man named John Walker – the owner of a grocer's in Kilmarnock – this inconsistency wasn't good enough. He wanted his customers to enjoy the same quality and flavour in Scotch Whisky time after time. So he started to blend them together until he created a whisky he was happy to put his name to. And the rest, as they say, is history.
THOSE PIONEERING
WHISKY BLENDS
HAVE LED US
TO THE ICONIC
RANGE OF
TODAY.
JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL
Johnnie Walker Black Label is an unrivalled masterpiece – an exquisite combination of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies.
JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL
Flowers that bloom into flames. Johnnie Walker Red Label is the world’s best-selling Blended Scotch Whisky. And is made for mixing, both in exhilarating cocktails and with your favourite people. It brings together whiskies specially chosen for their bold, vibrant flavours that add a fiery kick to any mix.
DOUBLE BLACK BY JOHNNIE WALKER
Johnnie Walker Double Black is our boldest whisky yet. It’s the rebellious younger sibling of Johnnie Walker Black Label with a deep, brooding intensity. Whiskies from the west coast of Scotland, chosen for their naturally smoky flavour and aged in charred barrels, come together in a full-bodied blend.
JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL RESERVE WHISKY
Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is a whisky that plays nicely with others but always holds its own. This award-winning Scotch is made from vibrant whiskies chosen for their sweet, honeyed qualities. Discover vivid flavour in every drop.
JOHNNIE WALKER GREEN LABEL
Our only Blended Scotch Whisky made entirely with single malts. Johnnie Walker Green Label is a hidden gem with vibrant secrets to reveal. And with malts from the four corners of Scotland, aged for at least 15 years, it captures the distinct flavours of each landscape in perfect balance. A whisky that’s in harmony with nature.
JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL
Where velvety smooth flavours blossom on the tongue. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky comes from hand-selecting rare Scotch Whiskies with a remarkable depth of flavour. Only one in 10,000 casks make the cut. Best served neat, along with an ice-cold water to enhance its powerful character.
VISIT THE
JOHNNIE WALKER
FLAGSHIP
IN EDINBURGH
AND DISCOVER
OUR WHISKY
MAKING STORY