Johnnie Walker Vault Blends Pre- & Post-Reopening Brora

Diageo Unveils Permanent Johnnie Walker Vault Expression Blending 1983 Pre-Closure Stocks and 2021 Post-Reopening Casks

Diageo has officially launched the first permanent luxury whisky in its Johnnie Walker Vault series, featuring newly distilled spirit from the revived Highland distillery Brora as a core permanent offering. Crafted by Master Blender Dr Emma Walker, this blended Scotch brings together whiskies from across Scotland.

A defining hallmark of this release is the inclusion of two distinct whiskies from the Highland Brora distillery: rare spirit filled into casks prior to the distillery's closure in 1983, and new spirit casked after its revival in 2021 following a 38-year hiatus. In addition, the blend incorporates single malts from several closed ghost distilleries as well as contemporary malts never before used in a blend, bottled at 43.8% ABV.

Flavour Profile and Tasting Notes

On the nose, the whisky offers aromas of butterscotch and salted caramel, followed by Highland summer wildflowers, green hills, and barley, intertwined with toasted oak and driftwood bonfire smoke. The palate reveals vanilla, crushed almonds, frangipane, and Scottish raspberries, layered with tropical fruits, delicate incense, charred oak, and malty sweetness, accented by antique leather and pipe tobacco. The finish is well-structured, unfolding integrated notes of apricot, sweet raspberry, and crème fraîche, balanced by gentle spices and complex layers.

Master Blender's Vision and the Vault Platform

Master Blender Dr Emma Walker shared that this Johnnie Walker Vault expression is her love letter to Scotland—a place to which she feels deeply connected. Through hand-selecting rare whiskies from across the nation, she sought to share this passion with whisky enthusiasts.

Diageo launched the Johnnie Walker Vault platform in March 2025, housing a curated collection of 500 rare, aged, and ghost casks overseen and rotated by Dr Emma Walker. The platform previously partnered with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing to release an haute couture whisky. Diageo had announced its revival programme in 2017 to reopen the Brora distillery on the east coast of Sutherland, Scotland, an ambitious initiative that also included Islay's Port Ellen distillery.

📅 Release Date: 2026-10-14

🔗 Source: The Spirits Business