Diageo has released the highly anticipated 2017 Edition of the John Walker & Sons Private Collection, a portfolio of rare and innovative blended Scotch whiskies from Johnnie Walker. Titled Mastery of Oak, this year’s edition boasts ample oak and fruit notes, celebrating the full richness that cask character can bring to blended Scotch whiskies.
The limited release created by Master Blender Jim Beveridge is fourth in the series, with only 5,588 individually numbered decanters available worldwide.
Mastery of Oak features malt and grain whiskies handpicked by Beveridge. Aged in American oaks casks, refill casks and experimental casks, each unique blend was chosen on their mastery of oak, maturation and distinctive flavours.
“Every whisky starts out full of the promise of its distillery character. Oak casks offer us an astonishing number of ways to differentiate these styles further as they mature, broadening our palette of flavours for blending,” said Beveridge.
“For Mastery of Oak, we assembled some of our finest casks into three main styles of oak effects. Each vatting, brimming with complexity, was re-casked into blending puncheons for the flavours to combine. We’re delighted to have been able to bring them together to such great effect in the 2017 Edition, a sumptuous blend of oak-rich fruit notes.”
On the nose are toffee, vanilla and ripe orchard fruit notes that translate on the palate. Dark berries, soft peach skin and stewed apple flavours also emerge, with a hint of green apples from the refill casks and leather from the European oak casks. Experimental oak casks give the whisky a deep, rich vanilla finish.
Of the edition, Diageo Whisky Ambassador Simon McGoram said, “This year’s edition of the JOHN WALKER & SONS Private Collection is another excellent example of Jim Beveridge’s outstanding artistry and passion for whisky. The 2017 Edition is best served neat or with a few drops of water to really accentuate the vibrant fruit notes.”
The John Walker & Sons Private Collection 2017 Edition is now available for RRP $995.