Dr Emma Walker and Olivier Rousteing in Johnnie Walker Vault

Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing

A New Era in Blended Creativity

Acclaimed French Creative Director Olivier Rousteing has been announced as the first cultural collaborator of Johnnie Walker Vault. Launched earlier this year, Johnnie Walker Vault is a new global luxury platform grounded in blending artistry - uniting bespoke blends, luxurious experiences and collaborations with cultural icons all under one visionary banner.

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THE MOST PROGRESSIVE COUTURE DESIGNER OF OUR TIME

Widely regarded as the most progressive French couture designer of our time, Rousteing’s ability to merge traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics has cemented his status as a trailblazer ever since he took the helm as as Creative Director for Balmain in 2011.

Olivier Rousteing presenting the Autumn Couture Expression bottle

COUTURE EXPRESSION: 
A LIQUID LEGACY

Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing collaboration bottle for Couture Expression: Spring

SPRING

A celebration of renewal and transformation, Spring brings brightness drawn from a selection of rare whiskies including a 1985 Cragganmore, a rarely seen 1977 Caledonian and minerality from a treasured 1978 Port Ellen. Each Couture blend starts with a luxurious 'heart', featuring ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas. 70cl - 45.8% - £16,000

Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing collaboration bottle for Couture Expression: Summer

SUMMER

An ode to sunshine, Summer oozes tropical fruit notes that come from a selection of rare whiskies including an experimental Cardhu Wine Cask Finish, and a 1990 Clynelish wrapped in the richness of 1988 Benrinnes. Each Couture blend starts with a luxurious 'heart', featuring ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas. 70cl - 45.8% - £16,000

Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing collaboration bottle for Couture Expression: FALL

FALL

A feeling of self-reflection and the relentless pursuit of excellence, Fall has an experimental Teaninich malt, which is layered with smoke from the 1978 Port Ellen. Each Couture blend starts with a luxurious 'heart', featuring ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas. 70cl - 45.8% - £16,000

Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing collaboration bottle for Couture Expression: Winter

WINTER

Reflecting ‘coming home’ and the warmth of sharing time and moments with family and friends, this Winter is the richest of the four, dialling up Islay malts from Port Ellen and Brora with a mulled wine sweetness from the 1988 Benrinnes. Each Couture blend starts with a luxurious 'heart', featuring ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas. 70cl - 45.8% - £16,000

THE CREATIVE PROCESS
A Creative Exploration
"This has been the most crazy, emotional journey," says Rousteing. "What started as a collaboration to create one special release became a creative exploration of four seasons, just like a couture collection. For me, the seasons bring different energy and emotions – the hazy freedom of summer, the self-reflection of fall, the coziness of home in winter, and a rebirth in spring – and we all have our own personal stories and connections to these moments."
Olivier Rousteing holding a Couture Expression: Fall bottle in Johnnie Walker Vault
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
A Rare Heart
In an innovative process, spanning almost 12 months, Dr. Walker translated Rousteing’s creative direction into four sensorial journeys through flavour and time: Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing Couture Expression. Each of the four blends in the collection begins with the same rare 'heart': a foundation including ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas, setting a marker for the rarity of the collection. Building on this unique core, Dr. Walker layered additional rare and experimental whiskies from Johnnie Walker Vault: a library of 500 rare, aged and ghost whiskies, personally curated and rotated to showcase the very best of the 10 million casks of Scotch available to her as Master Blender.
Olivier Rousteing holding a glass of whisky
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Pushing Boundaries
Dr. Walker says Rousteing brought an emotional language to the blending process. The two master artisans worked together to push the boundaries of what whisky can express - technically, sensorially and artistically. "We deliberately chose to use the same whiskies across several of the seasons, playing with proportions, textures and seasonal notes to create four really distinct whiskies."
Olivier Rousteing and Dr Emma Walker walking around the Johnnie Walker Vault
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
"Keep Walking Until You Fly"
Each rare blend is housed in a crystal decanter handcrafted by artisans from the renowned French luxury house Baccarat. These are exquisitely draped in a metallic finish designed by Rousteing and topped with a sculptural winged stopper: his reinterpretation of the brand’s Keep Walking ethos: "Keep walking until you fly."
A close up of Couture Expression: Fall bottle cap
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes
"I was given the freedom to push boundaries with the bottle design, using the couture technique of drapé to capture the seasons in gold, silver, rose gold and black metallic," Rousteing divulges. "I wanted to create a structured armour reflecting strength and perseverance, but for it to be swathed softly like silk to bring softness and reveal the beautiful liquid inside. And for the stopper, I wanted gold wings, like a phoenix rising from the ashes to touch the sky, just how I’ve felt at certain times in my life. These designs bring my legacy to Johnnie Walker Vault."
Olivier Rousteing holding a Couture Expression: Fall bottle while closing their eyes and holding the bottle upwards

“I’ve always believed blending is a creative act – an art – and opening the doors of Johnnie Walker Vault to welcome in a creative talent of Olivier’s magnitude has been something that will stay with me forever.”

Dr Emma Walker

Johnnie Walker Master Blender

A room with flasks of whiskies on a table

A WORLD OF BLENDING ARTISTRY AWAITS

Welcome to Johnnie Walker Vault: Johnnie Walker’s most ambitious expression of blending artistry yet. Building on more than 200 years of pioneering craftsmanship, Johnnie Walker has redefined quality whisky blending.

EXPLORE JOHNNIE WALKER VAULT

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