NEW YORK – Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, is proud to support its Craftswomen program, celebrating the talented, bold and pioneering women who make some of the world’s most beloved spirits. From Johnnie Walker Master Blender Emma Walker to Bulleit Blender Eboni Major, Crown Royal Master Whisky Blender Joanna Scandella and Ron Zacapa Master Blender Lorena Vasquez, as well as Buchanan’s Master Blender Maureen Robinson, Cascade Hollow General Manager and Distiller Nicole Austin, and many others, these skilled Craftswomen are creating spirits enjoyed around the world and are among the diverse blenders leading the industry.
Coinciding with the launch of Craftswomen, Diageo will introduce two new limited-edition whisky innovations from Johnnie Walker and Bulleit that will hit shelves this Spring. Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker, a new blend from Master Blender Emma Walker and Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select No. 001 from Blender Eboni Major highlight the skill and creativity of the fierce female blenders behind the brands and the range of flavor discovery to be had in Scotch whisky and bourbon. Each Craftswoman’s unique story will be featured a retail, on brand social channels and at key industry events across the country.
“We could not be prouder to debut this fantastic line up of limited-edition whiskies that will introduce more people to the incredibly skilled women behind these iconic brands. This is yet another step in our ongoing commitment to becoming an industry leader in equality and inclusivity through impact driving programming and product innovation,” shared Sophie Kelly, Senior Vice President of Whiskies, Diageo North America.
The new Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker limited edition blend follows the 2018 release of the Jane Walker Edition of our award winning Black Label. The new blend heroes whisky from Cardhu – a nearly 200-year-old distillery in the heart of Speyside that flourished under the leadership of Elizabeth Cumming. This pioneering woman ultimately sold Cardhu to the Walker family in 1893, but played a significant role in the brand’s history. Now, with access to more than ten million casks of maturing whisky from distilleries across Scotland, Emma Walker carries forward this tradition. Combining her extensive scientific research and spirits industry background with a precise palette and understanding of flavor, she brings to life a well-rounded and smooth whisky in Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker, featuring notes of ripe orchard fruit and white peaches, which develop into hints of baked apple and sweet cream, with a lingering dark chocolate finish.
“Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker is a celebration of the pioneering women who stretched boundaries throughout the history of Johnnie Walker, and the whisky is an excellent example of the depth of flavor and innovative blends we can create from our incredible reserves,” said Master Blender Emma Walker.
Created by Bulleit Blender Eboni Major, Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select No. 001 is the latest innovation out of Bulleit Distilling Co. and features the thoughtful mingling of three out of the 10 whiskey types used to make the original Bulleit Bourbon. The exceptional blend includes distinct notes of vanilla bean, honey, dried fruit and toasted oak, as well as a smooth finish with a lingering of sweet cream and fruit wine decadence. This limited-edition offering showcases Eboni’s rich understanding of how the progression of aromas and balance of complimentary flavors elevate the sensory experience, as well as her commitment to innovation and expanding the Bulleit portfolio. Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select No. 001 is the first offering in the new limited-edition Blenders’ Select series, which offers the blending team an opportunity to experiment and flex their creativity in the lab at Bulleit Distilling Co.
“Bulleit is a frontier whiskey, meaning we are always looking for new ways to challenge convention. Being given the creative freedom to take the traditionally higher rye experience that Bulleit is synonymous with and craft something brand new is an incredible honor and is also what makes my job so fun! Fruit-forward, rich and delightfully complex, Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select No. 001 is a true expression of who I am as a blender. I am thrilled to be taking risks and pushing boundaries at Bulleit and in the world of whiskey alongside other women who are also making waves in the industry,” said Bulleit Blender Eboni Major.
To further champion and inspire pioneering women in the food and beverage industries, Johnnie Walker and Bulleit will also kick off a robust Craftswomen partnership with Cherry Bombe this spring. Through the biannual magazine’s Radio Cherry Bombe Podcast tour, and Jubilee conference, Johnnie Walker and Bulleit will connect with the platform’s community of trailblazing women making waves in the food and drink world to reinforce inclusivity, whisky education and responsible drinking.
Additionally, Johnnie Walker will be launching an upcoming industry program and event series under the Craftswomen platform that will support more women entrepreneurs in food and beverage to grow their businesses through access to funding, education, resources and mentorship. More details will be announced in the coming months.
For more information, please visit JohnnieWalker.com and Bulleit.com.
For Johnnie Walker, Hunter PR
whisky@hunterpr.com
For Bulleit, Taylor PR
bulleit@taylorstrategy.com
About Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch Whisky brand, enjoyed by people in over 180 countries around the world. Since the time of its founder, John Walker, those who blend its whiskies have pursued flavour and quality above else.
Six generations of skilled Master Blenders have pioneered and crafted bold new flavours that have transformed a small Scottish grocery store business, founded in 1820, into an international whisky business selling stylish, authentic, and iconic blends.
Today’s range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Aged 18 Years and Blue Label. Together they account for nearly 19 million cases sold annually (IWSR, 2018), making Johnnie Walker the most popular Scotch Whisky brand in the world.
About Bulleit
Bulleit, founded in 1987, is one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America. The brand attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who’ve adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy taste. Most recently, Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon won a Double Gold medal and Best Straight Bourbon at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
In 2017, Bulleit celebrated its 30th anniversary with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art distillery located in Shelbyville, Ky. Constructed with sustainable practices including natural habitat protection, water conservation and local ingredient sourcing, BDC received the Highly Commended award for Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the 2020 Icons of Whisky Awards from Whisky Magazine. In 2019, a Visitor’s Centre at the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville opened to share our modern, technological and sustainable approach to making great whiskey. For more information, visit www.bulleit.com.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, CĂ®roc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.