Latest Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Focuses Upon Glenury Royal

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare series is designed to highlight so-called “ghost” whiskies from a small number of iconic distilleries that closed many years ago. To date this line up has thus far focused upon Brora and Port Ellen, and now the latest bottling turns one’s attention to Glenury Royal, a Scottish distillery that’s been shut since 1985.

The new Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Glenury Royal, according to those behind it, highlights a distillery founded in 1825 by Captain Robert Barclay – a member of the British Parliament and the first man to walk one thousand miles in one thousand hours. It was tragically destroyed by a devastating fire only to rise again, it is said. Under Barclay’s tenacious leadership, it flourished to become one of only three Scottish distilleries to enjoy a royal title.

“Shining a light on this hidden treasure of the whisky world is something we’ve wanted to do for some time,” said Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge in a prepared statement. This indulgent new limited edition provides us with a wonderful opportunity to explore the remarkable layers of rich fruit found in every drop of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.”

As Johnnie Walker in general is a blended Scotch whisky, other component whiskies are included besides that of Glenury Royal. Two rare whiskies, for example, come from the fellow ghost distilleries of Cambus and Pittyvaich, while five other whiskies herald from Glen Elgin, Inchgower, Glenlossie, Cameronbridge and Glenkinchie.

As it stands now plans call for Ghost and Rare Glenury Royal, bottled at 43.8% ABV, to be available globally for this month at 275 GBP, or around $345 USD, per 700 ml bottle. Each bottle in this special release is individually numbered.