Cover Dr Emma Walker, the Master Blender of one of the most iconic Scotch whisky brands of all time, Johnnie Walker (Image: Johnnie Walker)
Dr Emma Walker, the Master Blender of one of the most iconic Scotch whisky brands of all time, Johnnie Walker (Image: Johnnie Walker)
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How do you bottle a memory? For Dr Emma Walker, the answer lies within the Johnnie Walker Vault and a library of 500 rare casks
In the second iteration of the Johnnie Walker Vault collection, the historic Scottish whisky brand collides worlds with Parisian designer, Olivier Rousteing, ex-creative director of Balmain, to create The Couture Expression.
The maximalist couturier brings his life experience to the interpretation of Dr Emma Walker, Master Blender of Johnnie Walker, who translates his life into flavour. In the recent launch held in Singapore, we had the opportunity to speak to Walker about her latest creations.
In case you missed it: Johnnie Walker unveils Vault, an epoch for luxury blended Scotch whisky
Above Dr Emma Walker and Olivier Rousteing (Image: Johnnie Walker)
Dr Emma Walker and Olivier Rousteing (Image: Johnnie Walker)
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Their year-long collaboration resulted in The Couture Expression, an ultra-rare series of four seasonal blends. They pulled rare whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Vault—an extensive liquid library of over 500 rare whiskies—to be included in the collection. Several whiskies include ones that have been matured for over 40 years, including ghost whiskies from the long closed Port Dundas and Caledonian distilleries, a few vintage experimental malts through the likes of Benrinnes, Cragganmore and Cameronbridge, and contemporary expressions from Cardhu, Roseisle and Teaninich.
The journey began with Rousteing’s and Walker’s world-building through words. Rousteing shared his personal story, his heritage. "As he's talking, it makes me think about certain whiskies that we have," she says. "The things that he would say that would resonate would almost create images in my mind or would make me think of certain colours or even a sort of music that he liked".
See also: Inside the Tatler x Johnnie Walker Vault: a rare whisky experience with Ewan Gunn and Dr Emma Walker
Above The Couture Blend, part of the Vault collection, is a single expression also created in celebration of Rousteing's 40th birthday (Image: Johnnie Walker)
Above Working together, the liquid was created by the two of them in harmony (Image: Johnnie Walker)
The Couture Blend, part of the Vault collection, is a single expression also created in celebration of Rousteing's 40th birthday (Image: Johnnie Walker)
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As Rousteing’s words built a canvas of flavour for Walker to work with, it became clear that this was less about whisky, but more about translation. The more they spent time together and built a friendship, the differences between the two art forms became less visible.
Their shared artistic touch allowed for all elements of their partnership to show up through the entire whisky-making process, and product itself, from the liquid to the packaging.
"He drank whisky, but it wasn't his sort of... He was quite new to the world [of whisky]," Walker explains. Likewise, she was "intimidated" by the world of couture. "We're both a little bit uncomfortable and sort of finding our path through it together". This vulnerability allowed this “lovely symbiotic relationship” to flourish, resulting in what was originally slated to be only one whisky, into four.
Above A look into the vault (Image: Johnnie Walker)
A look into the vault (Image: Johnnie Walker)
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In the “Fall” expression, Rousteing, who was adopted as a child, shares his unique experiences for the search of his biological parents and understanding his biological roots, of which he later learned were of Somali and Ethiopian origin. They spoke about his journey into Africa, “we talked about the heat and the spices and the flavours that he explored,” Walker recalls. "As he was talking about that, I immediately thought about like tea and then like chocolate milks".
To express this nuanced feeling, she wanted to capture warmth, but also unexpected notes. “If we blend that with some smoky whisky, like some Port Ellen, you’re going to get some spice coming in there.”
Above Rousteing with his adoptive grandparents from his documentary where he explored his biological heritage (Image: Wonder Kid)
Rousteing with his adoptive grandparents from his documentary where he explored his biological heritage (Image: Wonder Kid)
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For Walker, couture is something she’s always been interested in, and acknowledges the artistry, “a piece of art that someone gets to wear and inhabit". The crossover to whisky, she says, "made so much sense".
"When you look at a beautiful couture piece, there's so much in there that you don't see," Walker explains. "There's so much structure and layers and development that you don't see, but that's so integral to how that piece works. And again, that's so similar to how we work with whisky".
Above The Couture Expression by Dr Emma Walker and Olivier Rousteing (Image: Johnnie Walker)
The Couture Expression by Dr Emma Walker and Olivier Rousteing (Image: Johnnie Walker)
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The final product incorporates designs led by Rousteing for the bottle and exclusive crystal decanter—a physical representation of the both in one bottle. For Rousteing, the collaboration was also deeply personal. He found kinship in the brand's iconic mantra, ‘Keep Walking’. "He sort of took that and was like, you keep walking until you can fly".
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Keandra's expertise lies within writing deep dives into the culture and anthropology of food, sometimes with a philosophical twist. With a background in London's F&B consultancy scene, she's excited to be back in Kuala Lumpur to champion the local dining scene.
Reach her at keandra.hing@tatlerasia.com, @keandruh
