Johnnie Walker
FROM GROCER
TO WHISKY PIONEER
The Johnnie Walker brand was created by John Walker in 1820. John Walker inherited his family's farm following the death of his father and used the money to open a grocery and spirits shop in Kilmarnock. John Walker began combining different single malt whiskies to create his own consistent, smooth-tasting whiskey. After just two years of producing the whiskey, the company sold around 100,000 gallons of blended whisky annually. John Walker passed away in 1857, his son Alexander Walker and grandson, Alexander Walker II, immediately took over the company, improving both production and distribution by mass producing the whiskey.
THE SQUARE BOTTLE
THAT CONQUERED THE WORLD
Alexander Walker first improved the packaging of Johnnie Walker by introducing their iconic square bottles with a slanted label that were easier to pack, store, and transport with less breakage and wasted space. In 1867 they released their first commercial blend of whiskey called Old Highland Whisky. In 1909, the company renamed the whiskey to Johnnie Walker Red Label when they realized that consumers were associating the different whiskeys by their label color. The Extra Special Old Highland Whisky (the original recipe evolved) was then renamed Johnnie Walker Black Label. Over a decade later, in 1920, Johnnie Walker partnered with commercial ship carriers to transport crates of whisky wherever ships could sail, expanding its distribution network to 120 global markets. In 1925, Johnnie Walker merged with The Distillers Company Limited (DCL) to protect the company and try to keep it afloat. Today, Johnnie Walker remains one of the world’s most recognized Scotch whisky brands, known for its global reach and consistent taste.
