Johnnie Walker, the world’s Number One Scotch Whisky, launches Johnnie Walker Black Ruby in Global Travel Retail following a successful pilot launch in 2024.
A fruit-forward whisky bursting with notes of bold berries, Johnnie Walker Black Ruby unapologetically explores the rich depth of sweetness inspired by the iconic Johnnie Walker Black Label – the sweetest expression of Johnnie Walker Black Label yet.
This permanent addition to the Johnnie Walker portfolio of Blended Scotch Whiskies made a bold entrance in 2024 with eye-catching pilot activations in Mexico City (Mexico), Sydney (Australia), and San Juan (Puerto Rico) and was announced by Diageo Global Travel at TFWA Cannes 2024. From CGI-driven stunts by Ian Padgham (AKA Origiful) to unforgettable launch parties – the buzz set the stage for its global debut.
Iconic activations in major airports – including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Madrid, Paris, Bangalore, and Mumbai – teased the new whisky through engaging sampling experiences over recent months. UK travellers enjoyed tastings in both neat and simple serves, while February’s cocktail campaign introduced the ‘Ruby Ramble’ serve, aligning with peak travel periods and Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is now set to roll out in airports across the Americas, MENA, and APAC in the coming months, with large-scale activations planned in key hubs such as Montreal, New York, Panama, Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, and Auckland.
This is the first innovation inspired by Johnnie Walker Black Label from Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker and her dedicated team of expert whisky makers since she assumed the role of Master Blender in early 2022.
Carefully selected whiskies from Highland distilleries such as Clynelish create a rich creamy taste, expressions from Lowland distilleries such as Glenkinchie and Cameronbridge bring delicate vanilla notes and sweet fruitiness with light notes of persimmon respectively. Speyside whiskies such as Cardhu charge this Scotch with notes of red apples and berries before specially hand-selected whiskies from distilleries such as Caol Ila, from the famed whisky-making island of Islay, deliver a delicate sweet smokey finish.
Dr. Emma Walker says: “With vibrant notes of rich raspberry jam, blackberry pie, and deep honeyed sweetness, Johnnie Walker Black Ruby tantalises the palate with bold accents of figs, plums, and maraschino cherries. There is a subtle hint of spice and delicate smoke that adds to the complexity, creating a unique and vibrant energy in every sip.
“At the heart of Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is an expression from the boldly progressive distillery of Roseisle. Its sweet red berry notes and light, delicate green grass character are driven by our newest and one of our most innovative Single Malt distilleries. The team and I experimented with different distillation techniques at Roseisle, eventually focusing on a uniquely fruity distillate. This experimental whisky-making involved running fermentation for longer than usual to create amplified fruity notes. We also experimented with a longer distillation period for more copper contact in the whisky-making process, which allowed the team to remove some heavier notes in the expression.”
