JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL 'ELUSIVE UMAMI'
LIMITED EDITION BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
SCOTLAND
Why Buy: Johnnie Walker goes Japanese? Not quite. But the best-selling luxury blended Scotch maker in the world has embarked on an epicurean journey with world-renowned chef Kei Kobayashi — the first Japanese chef to be awarded 3 Michelin stars, for his Paris restaurant Kei — to create a stellar Scotch for its premier Blue Label series that delivers that distinctive, rich, unpindown-able taste we think of when we think of umami, the so-called fifth taste. The result, intriguingly, is a Scotch that pairs astonishingly well with a wide range of savory dishes, including smoked, grilled meats and roasts.
The Story: When Johnnie Walker's esteemed Master Blender, Emma Walker, reached out to master chef Kobayashi, a single question guided their collaboration: could they create a Scotch that tasted like nothing so much as itself, and so rich and meaty that it would all but beg to be partnered with hearty, savory cooking? They have succeeded wildly with this limited-edition expression, made from selected casks of inland and coastal distilleries that were hand-picked at the height of their maturation. That selection process was rigorous — only one in 25,000 casks, Walker and Kobayashi estimated, possessed the character that would contribute to the umami taste they were seeking.
Our Tasting Notes: You might expect a Scotch that aimed for an umami character to be intense or to overwhelm, but this one is just the opposite: it has a mellow balance, finding the equilibrium between sweet and savory with ease, and delivering a wonderfully smooth and sumptuous experience on the palate. We loved its notes of blood orange and red berries, with just a hint of smoked meat trailing behind them, and the throughline of salt and pepper that carries you all the way to the long, savory finish.
Recommended Pairing: Ice cold, with caviar, or with a grilled and juice-dripping tomahawk or T-bone steak.
Proof: 86.
Fun Fact: According to Forbes, chef Kobayashi is "the first non-French chef to join an elite canon in Paris: Only 10 restaurants in the city boast the three-star rating."
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so you can rest assured: your Scotch will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2023 (December 21, 2023 - March 20, 2024). With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in AZ, CA, FL, NV, & TX. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund. No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.
