Diageo takes you behind the scenes to uncover Scotch, from Scotland to the world

Today Diageo launches ‘Scotch: from Scotland to the world’, a new behind the scenes look at the heritage and making of Johnnie Walker, the world’s favourite whisky. This short film takes viewers to the places where Johnnie Walker is made and introduces them to the talented people who make it.

For two centuries Johnnie Walker has been made by craftsmen and craftswomen, creating a distinct, centuries-old blend that is recognised as a benchmark in excellence. The brand was established by John Walker, a grocer, in 1820. By 1920 Johnnie Walker was in 120 countries - taking blended Scotch whisky from the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world. Today this quality and authenticity is maintained by a small team of 12 expert blenders whose skill, dedication and knowledge of whisky goes into every single blend of Johnnie Walker.

Dominic Redfearn, Global Brand and Communications Director for Diageo said: “We produce some of the best grain and malt whiskies from our 29 distilleries across the length and breadth of Scotland. Johnnie Walker is at the heart of our business and in producing this film, we want viewers to hear from the heroes of our business, as they reveal how they make the world’s favourite whisky.”

Whisky from Diageo’s distilleries all over Scotland contribute to Johnnie Walker and earlier this year, Diageo announced a £150 million investment to transform Scotch whisky visitor experiences. The centre-piece of the investment will be a new state-of-the-art Johnnie Walker immersive visitor experience based in Edinburgh. Four distilleries, Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Caol Ila and Clynelish, will be linked directly to the Johnnie Walker venue in Edinburgh, creating a unique Johnnie Walker tour of Scotland.

Two of the people featured in the film are Emma Walker, a member of Diageo’s whisky specialist team, who ensures the consistent quality of Johnnie Walker and works on new innovative blends, and Alan McGee who works closely in the distillation process of Caol Ila, on the North Eastern coast of Islay.

Emma Walker, Whisky Blender, commented:

“There’s nearly 200 years of heritage, history and the craft of blending that we are now responsible for. It comes from across the four corners, it’s intrinsically linked with the people and the places where it’s made and to see that all come together in the blend and then that to be shipped all round the world and enjoyed.”

Alan McGee, Distiller, Coal Ila added:

“We take great pride in our place, in the whole history associated with Scotch whisky and more so with Johnnie Walker…It really goes to the whole core of who we are and what we’re all about”.

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Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). 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.

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