Johnnie Walker Unveils $20,000 Collaboration with Fashion Icon Olivier Rousteing

Johnnie Walker, the world’s leading blended scotch whisky brand, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with acclaimed French couture designer Olivier Rousteing. The Johnnie Walker Vault is the new luxury platform from the premium scotch brand and it has launched with “Couture Expression.”

Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker and Rousteing worked together for 12 months in a hidden ‘atelier’ beneath Johnnie Walker Princes Street to create the collection. The four bottle collaboration fuses their mastership of high fashion and premium whisky to create a limited collection of seasonal blends priced at $20,000 each.

Seasonal Inspirations Shape Rare Scotch Whisky Collection

The Couture Expression collection interprets the emotional essence of seasons through whisky. Each blend begins from a luxurious “heart” featuring ghost whiskies from legendary distilleries Brora and Port Dundas. Dr. Walker then hand selected the rarest whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Vault—a curated library of the 500 rarest, aged and ghost whiskies from the company’s 10 million casks.

“This has been an emotional journey,” says Rousteing in the official press release. “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 feeling of rebirth in Spring, the hazy freedom of Summer, the self-reflection of Fall and the coziness of home and family in Winter.”

Each expression showcases exceptional components. Spring features a rare 1985 Cragganmore and 1978 Port Ellen, Summer highlights an experimental Cardhu Wine Cask Finish, while Fall incorporates an experimental Teaninich chocolate malt, and Winter embraces the richness of Islay malts from Port Ellen and Brora.

Baccarat Crystal Meets Couture Design

The collection’s visual presentation is equally impressive, with each Couture Expression blend housed in a handcrafted square crystal decanter by luxury French house Baccarat. Rousteing’s distinctive design vision manifests in metallic drapings that envelop each bottle in seasonal colors: gold, silver, rose gold, and metallic black.

Each decanter is crowned with a sculptural wing stopper, representing Rousteing’s interpretation of the Johnnie Walker “Keep Walking” ethos evolved into flight. “When I think of Johnnie Walker and Keep Walking — I think of the pursuit of excellence and no limits — I think of ‘keep walking until you fly’!” explains Rousteing.

Taste The Seasons Through The Johnnie Walker Vault

The tasting notes reveal distinct seasonal characteristics for each edition. Spring offers refreshing floral notes with bright minerality from the rare Port Ellen. Summer delivers vibrant tropical fruits from the experimental Cardhu expressions wrapped in rich Benrinnes. Fall presents a bold, textured experience with chocolate malt depth layered with subtle smoke. Winter creates the deepest expression with robust Islay character complemented by mulled wine sweetness and warming complexity.

Couture Expression is the first of a two-part collaboration between Johnnie Walker Vault and Olivier Rousteing. With only 25 bottles of each seasonal blend available worldwide this introduction represents the pinnacle of luxury whisky collecting. The collection will be globally launched from May 26th, with an exclusive pre-launch at Harrods from May 5th featuring the complete collection of decanters numbered 1.