Diageo releases one of its rarest whiskies with only 30 bottles allocated for American collectors as global luxury spirits market continues expansion.
Johnnie Walker Aged 52 Years Honors Brand Founders
The ultra-premium release celebrates John Walker and his son Alexander, who established the brand in the 19th century. Each whisky in the blend has aged for at least 52 years, matching the ages both men reached during their lifetimes.
The blend combines six rare malt whiskies and two grain whiskies from distilleries operating during the founders’ era. Several come from “ghost” distilleries that have long since closed, including Brora, Glenury Royal, and Glen Albyn.
“Alongside my small team of whisky experts, we hand-selected some of our oldest and most precious casks of Highland Single Malt and Lowland Single Grain Whiskies for my first ultra-rare release as Master Blender,” said Dr Emma Walker, Johnnie Walker Master Blender. “With this deceptively simple cask combination, we intended to create a new, masterful blend in homage to our founders’ achievements. The rare aromas, flavors, and character in this blend, combined with their shared age and small number, make this super-limited edition a testament to the art of whisky blending.”
The whisky market for aged expressions continues to grow, with collectors increasingly seeking bottles over 50 years old. Recent auctions have seen similar-aged whiskies fetch six-figure sums.
Limited Johnnie Walker Aged 52 Years Release Details
Only 200 bottles exist worldwide, with the US receiving 30 bottles beginning Fall 2025. The whisky carries a retail price of $25,000 per 700ml bottle.
According to official tasting notes, the whisky presents “luscious fruit to soft, ever-present wood smoke, with touches of toffee, vanilla and spice.” The blend showcases Single Grain Whiskies from Cambus and Carsebridge, delivering vanilla and butterscotch notes. Blair Athol contributes fruit flavors, including raisins and orange peel.
Additional complexity comes from Glenlochy and Dalwhinnie, which add texture and subtle salinity. Brora provides the characteristic soft smoke and blue cheese notes that the closed distillery became known for.
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The whisky is bottled at 41.2% ABV. Johnnie Walker recommends serving it after a sip of iced water to prepare the palate.
Diageo positions the release within its Rare and Exceptional portfolio, available through select retailers or by registering at DiageoRareandExceptional.com.
The launch follows Johnnie Walker’s strategy of releasing ultra-premium expressions to capture growing demand in the luxury spirits segment. The brand remains the world’s best-selling scotch whisky by volume, with parent company Diageo reporting strong performance in premium categories.
The 52-year age statement places this release among the oldest official Johnnie Walker bottlings ever produced, surpassing previous limited editions in both age and price point.
