Well here is some news that I am coming to a bit late. It was announced in mid December that production and bottling of Johnnie Walker Green will be discontinued. Of all the Johnnie Walker bottlings Green was the only Blended Malt Whisky in their stable (a mixture of various single malts). All their other bottlings are Blended Scotch Whisky (a mixture of various single malts and grain whisky). Fifteen year old Green is a mixture of four single malts: Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore and Linkwood. The first three great singles in their own right. Linkwood is rarely bottled as a single but was recently bottled as part of Diageo’s Manager’s Choice bottlings. Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to sample it.

According to copy on website, themarketingsite.com:

“Although we cannot say when the last bottle will be sold, we do know that it’s been bottled,” says Dom Malan, premium whisky marketing manager at Brandhouse.

“Green Label’s unique flavour has a loyal global following and we ensure consumers that this liquid is being treated as a rarity and with the utmost respect. It was not an easy decision but a fitting move, given that the House of Walker prides itself in the art of blended malt and grain whiskies - whereas Green Label is a blended malt,” concludes Malan.

To give it a send-off in true Johnnie Walker style, Diageo will be hosting The Last Tasting where those fortunate enough to receive an invite will also walk away with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label signed and numbered by master distiller, Jim Beveridge.

Of all the JW bottlings, Green is the most recently minted, in 2004. Red Label, originally known as “Extra Special Old Highland Whisky,” was introduced in 1909. Black Label created in 1820 and originally known as “Walker’s Old Highland Whisky,” was re-launched in 1909 under its new name.

Jim Murray awarded this 15 year old 95 points in his 2010 Whisky Bible!

Some sources say there should still be supplies in the pipeline through July in the US.

To be safe, if you are a fan of JW Green you’d best snap up a case or two before it goes bye-bye forever.

Postscript: Jarek Buss gave some additional information for the real reason that Green was discontinued, commenting on the WhiskyCast Facebook page, “Volume sales falling by 30% from 2008 to 2009 and dramatic decline of 65% in 2011.”  Also, WhiskyCast Editor Mark Gillespie added, “I haven't been given any official reasons for this, but have been told it will be available in the U.S. until well into next year.” While Ari Shapiro, National Johnnie Walker Ambassador, commented, on the Friends of The Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society Facebook page, “The most current info is that it'll be available in the US through summer 2013.”  So there you have it.

Other media on Johnnie Walker Green:

http://thescotchlife.com/2011/12/25/johnny-walker-green-label-a-farewell/

http://scotchaddict.com/johnnie-walker-green-label-discontinued.html