“It’s lovely. I get a sort of berry freshness, like raspberries,” Dr Emma Walker pronounced, after nosing my first-ever attempt at creating a Johnnie Walker blend. The Scotch whisky brand’s first female master blender—no relation to the founding family—has worked at Diageo, which produces Johnnie Walker and over 23 other brands, since 2008.
She was in Singapore to introduce the Johnnie Walker Vault to single malt and blended whisky enthusiasts, describing it as the pinnacle of the brand’s blending artistry and a platform for the future of luxury spirits.
Johnnie Walker’s Edinburgh home on Princes Street hosts a variety of extraordinary experiences, including creative collaborations with cultural fashion icons, in the Johnnie Walker Vault. For invite-only guests, the esteemed master blender conducts Private Blend experiences, where guests can select from 500 expressions spanning rare, aged, and ghost casks. Each is showcased in a Baccarat crystal decanter.
Along with other media representatives, I attended a private Blending Artistry session in Singapore as part of the Southeast Asian reveal of the Johnnie Walker Vault at Diageo’s Private Client Suite. Dr Walker and Ewan Gunn, Senior Global Brand Ambassador – Luxury Scotch Whisky, and a Master of the Quaich—a respected title in the Keepers of the Quaich, which is dedicated to the Scotch whisky industry—assisted us in blending Diageo’s most rare and high-age single malts.
Using a blender flavour wheel chart as my guide, I quickly learnt that a well-balanced blend requires complementary notes across different taste profiles, such as fresh, fruity, peaty, spicy, woody, and malty. Later, as I worked on my fruity brew of Cardhu 2007, Glenkinchie 1996, Mortlach 1999, and Singleton of Dufftown 21 Year Old, Walker gently suggested adding “a peaty single malt like Port Ellen 1979 to give some earthy smoke”.
Since I’ll be sticking to my day job for now, on to my questions.
What makes the Johnnie Walker Vault so special and why was it important to introduce it to Singapore?
It epitomises the exceptional level of personalisation we can achieve through our blending artistry and amazing selection of whiskies. I work one-on-one with every guest in Edinburgh, listening to their stories and translating them into bespoke blends.
However, it’s not just about adding their chapter to the Johnnie Walker story. Each recipe is archived in the Johnnie Walker Vault as a legacy for future commissions. Besides Michelin-starred dining and staying at the historic Gleneagles Hotel, Johnnie Walker Vault visits can be customised to meet individual desires, such as a private Diageo Archive tour.
With its vibrant culture and appreciation of craftsmanship, Singapore’s perfect blend of tradition and innovation mirrors the essence of our bespoke blending experience.
In your role as Johnnie Walker’s first female master blender, what do you bring to the craft?
My approach to blending comes from scientific curiosity and a deep respect for the craft. I trained in organic chemistry, which gave me a fundamental understanding of how flavours can be created, interact and behave.
I appreciate the beautiful complexity that unfolds when we bring different whiskies together. Blending is as much a science as it is an art. It requires sensory expertise, experience, intuition, and creativity to produce something so beautiful and balanced.
You mentioned whisky can tell stories. What is the best way to create a blend that connects emotionally with others?
It all begins with listening. My goal when crafting a bespoke blend for the Johnnie Walker Vault is not only to understand flavour preferences, but also the moments, memories, and stories that matter to each guest.
Whisky has this remarkable ability to transport us through space and time. That is why I love being in the lab, nosing glasses of whisky and discovering the different flavours that emerge.
There is more to this than just flavour—these are emotional touch points associated with cherished memories. While one of them can bring back memories of holidays at the beach, another can bring back childhood feelings associated with the apple pies baking in my granny’s kitchen.
When it comes to crystal ball gazing, what lies ahead for blended Scotch whisky?
From on the rocks to highballs and creative cocktails, people are enjoying Johnnie Walker in more diverse ways. To truly connect with whisky enthusiasts, we’ve gone beyond traditional tastings to create immersive, multi-sensory experiences. It excites me that whisky draws on art, fashion, music, and culture from all over the world. The beauty of this is that you never really know where it’s going to lead.
