Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and produced in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.
Johnnie Walker Red Label is the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky. It’s renowned for its bold, characterful taste – balanced to shine through even when mixed. It’s a flavor the Walker family has never compromised on.
Red Label is enjoyed in a variety of ways worldwide – neat, on the rocks or combined with your favorite mixer.
Each bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label is two decades in the planning, draws whisky from the finest distilleries across Scotland and is aged in the finest whisky casks. Each whisky is matured in a slightly different way, due to the intricacies of wood, climate and location. The Master Blender’s skill is in blending these whiskies together to create a whisky with an extraordinary range of flavor.
It can be enjoyed on its own, with a dash of still or sparkling water, or with soda or ginger ale as a long drink.
Johnnie Walker Green Label is a rich blend using only malts drawn from the four corners of Scotland – the naturally vibrant flavors provide unparalleled depth, substance and intensity. Each of the malts is specially selected by the Master Blender to create the perfect balance in the whisky. Each malt whisky is matured for a minimum of 15 years to deliver rich, full layers of flavor.
With its rich gold amber appearance, this medium-full malt summons up a multiplicity of complex natural aromas. It starts on the seashore and drifts inland over moist moss and through evergreen forest. Then come the exotic notes of orange peel, stewed peaches, cooked black fruits and sour cherry.
Johnnie Walker Gold Label was blended to celebrate the first 100 years of the House of Walker in 1920. A well-kept secret, it’s only been available outside the company since the 1990s. Its palate is rich and broad with full malt flavors and honeyed spices with almonds and marzipan, which leads to a distinctive creaminess.
There are notes of soft raisins and toffee, fresh malt and light cream – Gold Label is as enticing as it is sensuous. The finish is multidimensional and satisfyingly long.
The character of Blue Label is truly unique; it is complex, powerful, incredibly smooth and retains the Johnnie Walker signature smokiness. No other whisky house comes close to the spectrum of flavor that forms the basis of the extraordinary character of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
The signature serve represents the best way to fully appreciate the extraordinary taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. It’s a slow, intense, rich, deep and multilayered experience. Start by serving Blue Label neat in a tumbler, nosing the whisky carefully.
The layers of flavor develop and unfold and the finish continues with more and more flavors developing. Then there’s a rich and uniquely long and satisfying finish of smoke and pepper, ending with a glorious touch of spice.
Bottle 750 ml $225
Bottle 1.75 Liter $550
Johnnie Walker Swing was originally created by Sir Alexander Walker, Master Blender par excellence and grandson of John Walker, during the golden age of travel in 1932. On transatlantic voyages, barmen desperately stowed loose bottles onto racks to prevent breakages caused by the unrelenting pitch and roll of stormy weather on the high seas. Its unique glass decanter allows it to swing to and fro on a convex base. And cradled within this bottle lay a blend of Scotch whisky with a light yet luxurious depth of flavor.
Samini, formerly known as Batman, hails from Ghana West Africa and has a whole “signature tune” to himself called “KPOOI”. Asked what the meaning of ‘Kpooi’ is, he says its a gunshot sound and that is his signal. It comes with every composition that he does. The gunshot is meant for all the back bitters. “We kill them dead”. Samini who keeps dread locks says he just wants to portray the African in him.” Before the white man brought a comb, there was dread. Africa has gone through a lot of changes and it has become very difficult for us to portray the real African in us.”
His debut album, Linda, was an instant success. It won him two Ghana Music Awards for Hiplife Artist of the Year and New Hiplife Artist of the Year. In 2006, he followed suit with his sophomore album, Samini, which can boast of smash hits like Odo. The self-titled album was to set the stage for his gradual emergence as Samini, an identity that would portray him as an authentic African artist.
Samini can pride himself as a consummate musician with several Ghana Music Awards including Best Artiste of 2007, and a Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Award. He also won the 2008 Hip Hop World Award for Best African Artist in Nigeria.
He has performed Canada, UK, Holland and Italy, Nigeria. He has shared the stage with artists like shaggy and Ja Rule; and he has collaborated with artists from all over Africa. He has featured close to 50 tracks with other musicians (both released and unreleased).
Shane Brown’s Juke Boxx Productions has released its own 2010 version of the immortal Stalag riddim (often referred to as the Stagalag riddim), undoubtedly one of the most revisited and popular riddims in dancehall history. This incarnation of the Stalag features tracks by Busy Signal, Romain Virgo, Tarrus Riley, I-Octane, G-Whizz, Assassin (Agent Sasco), Bugle, Kiprich, Chino, Elephant Man, Demarco and Chuck Fenda. Check out the preview mix below.
