Fashion designer Olivier Rousteing and Johnnie Walker have unveiled their second collaboration, a limited-edition whisky that merges haute couture aesthetics with rare Scottish spirits.
The Couture Blend marks Rousteing’s 40th birthday with a $2,500 crystal decanter containing experimental and vintage whiskies, including expressions aged 40 years or more. Only 1,500 numbered bottles will be available at select luxury retailers.
This release follows the duo’s first partnership under the Johnnie Walker Vault platform, launched earlier this year from the brand’s creative space beneath Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh.
The Couture Blend Combines Experimental and Ghost Whiskies
Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker selected 10 whiskies from Johnnie Walker’s library of 500 rare expressions for The Couture Blend. The selection includes ghost whiskies from closed distilleries Port Dundas and Caledonian, alongside boundary-pushing expressions from the 1980s and 1990s.
“I was very much inspired by Olivier’s story of progress over the last forty years, from his early years of self-discovery to his modern-day unapologetic and daring approach to creativity,” said Dr. Walker. She incorporated contemporary malts from Cardhu, Roseisle and Teaninich that experiment with different processes and finishes.
According to official tasting notes, the blend features “luscious fruity and tropical flavors” from Roseisle malts matured in ex-wine casks, “tonka chocolate notes” from a Teaninich experiment, and “a unique cloak of smoke” from a Port Ellen ghost cask.
Walker explained her approach aimed to capture Rousteing’s creative spirit: “Blending these with the classic flavours associated with Johnnie Walker has resulted in something completely singular which I hope captures Olivier’s spirit as he enters his fourth decade.”
Olivier Rousteing Reimagines The Couture Blend Decanter Design
The whisky comes in an architectural crystal decanter designed by Rousteing, featuring prominent shoulders and an oversized square crystal stopper. The bottle maintains Johnnie Walker’s traditional square shape while incorporating the designer’s signature maximalist aesthetic.
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“I wanted to create something that captures the tension between minimalism and maximalism, which sparks conversation and curiosity, and which is anchored in the present but feels futuristic and timeless at the same time,” Rousteing said.
The gold-dressed decanter reflects Rousteing’s design philosophy, with select retailers offering personalized collar engraving. He described the piece as “the signature of the collection,” comparing it to a showstopping look in a couture presentation.
An accompanying accessory, The Couture Flask, will launch exclusively at Harrods in London for £600. The mixed metal gold and silver flask holds 10ml of whisky and can be worn crossbody on a removable chain.
The collaboration represents Johnnie Walker Vault’s strategy of partnering with cultural figures to create bespoke luxury experiences. The platform showcases experimental blending techniques while attracting new audiences to premium scotch whisky.
The Couture Blend arrives as luxury spirits continue to attract collectors and investors. Limited releases from established brands frequently sell out quickly, with secondary market values often exceeding retail prices.
Rousteing, who has served as Balmain’s creative director since 2011, brings his fashion industry influence to the spirits sector. His collaboration with Johnnie Walker follows similar partnerships between fashion houses and alcohol brands seeking to expand their luxury positioning.
