Johnnie Walker certainly knows how to make an entrance with its recent unveiling of their limited edition Blue Label Ice Chalet bottling. From the collaboration with luxury skiwear brand Perfect Moment – resulting in a rather chic puffer-style winter coat-inspired packaging, I might add – to enlisting the stylish Priyanka Chopra as their brand ambassador, the campaign has been a masterclass in creating an aspirational image.

The Blue Label is, of course, the pinnacle of the Johnnie Walker core range of blended Scotch whiskies, which the brand claims that only one in 10,000 casks make the cut. Yet this expression is the second release in Johnnie Walker's Cobalt series said to be crafted with even rarer spirits from iconic Scotch distilleries like Clynelish, Dalwhinnie, and the legendary ghost distillery Brora – which was closed for a number of years and only recently revived by Diageo. The Brora whisky in this blend comes from the distillery's coveted old stock. I should add that this is the first expression of Johnnie Walker to feature whisky from Diageo’s new state of the art and carbon neutral Roseisle Distillery.

This whisky has been mainly aged in refill American oak, rejuvenated charred casks, ex-bourbon casks, with a finishing touch from some wine and sherry casks. Master Blender Emma Walker who created this blend describes this to be a warm, cinnamon-spiced expression with subtle hints of "Alpine smoke". 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Ice Chalet's Singapore launch at High House, and I must say, the ambiance was absolutely spot-on. The lighting and visuals were meticulously curated to evoke the Ice Chalet’s theme of "Blue Hour in the snowy Alps”, where the sky takes on that rich, royal blue hue while the horizon is awash in tones of pink and orange. It was all very atmospheric, darling.

Now, onto the unboxing experience: The bottle arrives encased in an expensive-looking puffer jacket made by Perfect Moment. The “unboxing” involves pulling down a zip to reveal the bottle within the jacket. With the anticipation of what lies inside, it almost feels a bit naughty, like you're undressing someone by slowly unzipping their jacket

Normally, highly elaborate single-use packaging might feel a little bit over the top and wasteful. You might get a thrill from the unboxing, but ultimately, that fancy box ends up in the trash. But herein lies another stroke of genius – you can reverse the bottle's puffer jacket and voila!

It transforms into a chic blue houndstooth patterned crossbody bag. Suddenly, the packaging becomes something you can actually use, aligning perfectly with today's focus on sustainability. It's also a stylish way to give the packaging a second life.

So the packaging and brand collaboration are certainly showstoppers. But let’s get down to business and have a taste of the liquid itself.

Johnnie Walker x Perfect Moment, Blue Label Ice Chalet Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV – Review

Tasting Notes

Nose: A stewed red fruit-forward twist on the classic Blue Label profile. Caramel and vanilla intertwine with the luscious tartness of red fruits like dried plums, apricots and raisins. There’s also a light, cool mintiness and woody pineyness of rosemary adding a refreshing touch, complemented by a hint of warm cinnamon and aromatic sandalwood in the background.

Palate: A pretty full-bodied experience, rich and thick with spice. It’s so classically festive – coating the palate with the warmth of fruitcake, depths of baked red apples and dates. Mature, aromatic European oak notes add a layer of complexity, balanced by a pronounced minty freshness and layers of oak spices lingers. All of which are interwoven with the continued flavours of stewed red apples, dates and a hint of woodsy liquorice candy.

Finish: Long, lingering. Showcases more aromatic antique wood notes and persistent warm spices. A touch of waxed leather emerges, followed by dark chocolate in the retronasal exhale. Finally, there’s the faintest whisper of toasted barley right at the end.

My Thoughts:

This is easily one of the most enjoyable modern Johnnie Walker expressions I've encountered. It feels like a Johnnie Walker all grown up. It's not as complex as the standard Blue Label, but it's layered, much richer, fruitier and denser, boldly embracing much more of those exotic sherried fruits and bittersweet European oak influences.

I really love that it shows significantly more oak maturity and more confidence in its festive spiced and robust profile. It doesn't coddle the palate like a friendly blended Scotch. And yet the typical Johnnie Walker smokiness is really dialled down here compared to the standard Blue Label, aligning with the promised "subtle Alpine smoke," allowing red fruits and the aromatic European oak notes to take centre stage. And despite the prominent European oak influences, it also maintains a very pleasing balance without ever becoming dry.

My Rating: 8.5/10

@CharsiuCharlie