Latest Johnnie Walker Blue Bottling Celebrates Year Of The Rat

Of the many labels which get slapped on a Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottling each year, one of the more colorful ones has to be that which celebrates the most current Chinese New Year. For 2020 this happens to be the Year of the Rat, and to that end Diageo has released a new Walker expression with a beautiful looking design.

The new Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Rat, according to those behind it, has a stunning looking rat done on the bottle by artist Shirley Gong. This artwork is said by Diageo to capture the “entrepreneurship and adaptability of this intelligent creature and heralds the opportunity and good fortune the Rat’s arrival signifies.”

It is otherwise your garden variety Blue Label, incorporating single malt and grain whiskies “from the four corners of Scotland including Caol Isla, Benrinnes, Cardhu, Clynelish and the ‘ghost’ whisky Port Dundas.”

As it stands now plans call for this whisky to be on sale now in limited numbers, being bottled at 46% ABV and costing around $250 per 750 ml bottle. You’ll find official tasting notes below for your consideration.

• Nose: A mellow, rounded nose, with a signature dry smokiness mixed with raisin sweetness.
• Palate: The first sip reveals a velvety mouthfeel, then an explosion of flavor -hazelnuts, honey, rose petals, sherry and oranges.Subsequent sips reward you with more hidden secrets like kumquats, wispy aromatic smoke, sandalwood, tobacco and dark chocolate.
• Finish: A rich and uniquely long and satisfying finish of smoke and pepper, ending with a glorious touch of spice.