Up on the eyrie that is Sabayon, a modern European restaurant that sits on the 51st floor of the modish EQ Kuala Lumpur, a gathering of whisky connoisseurs arrived to witness a slice of history: the Malaysian unveiling of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra—the lightest glass whisky bottle in the world.
This bottle, a teardrop-shaped bottle which echoes Johnnie Walker’s iconic square bottle and its 24-degree angled label, weighs roughly the same as an iPhone, tipping the scales at 180 grammes. Meanwhile, its aluminium bamboo-lattice inspired stopper comes in at 70 grammes. This proof of concept showcases the innovation by Diageo—the brand owner of Johnnie Walker—who are offering the patent license of this lightweight beverage container on a royalty-free basis, in hopes of adoption by the wider spirits industry to reduce the industry’s overall carbon footprint.
With over five years of research and development involved in this project, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra is a showcase of technology meeting the art of making things possible. Despite its relative lightness, the handblown glass bottle retains its strength thanks to the teardrop shape of the bottle, one which holds 700ml of a unique Blue Label expression crafted by Master Blender Dr Emma Walker. Among the unique distilleries to contribute their whiskies to the Blue Label Ultra blend are Oban, Brora and Royal Lochnagar, as well as a number of ghost whiskies from distilleries which have been mothballed and consigned to the ether of history. Among these precious stocks of ghost whiskies are aged single-malt whiskies hailing from the venerable Port Ellen (which reopened last year), as well as Port Dundas and Caledonian. This precious liquid content is only found in the 888 limited bottles, which were made and thus available to a worldwide audience.
From this medley of single-malt whiskies, the resulting Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra serves up an aroma of baked fruits and subtle spice. On the palate, the complex dance of red berries, vanilla, and toffee segues into a signature wispy finish of warm smoke, which many Johnnie Walker whiskies are known for.
The ensuing dinner party was not short of the many unique editions of Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s recent limited editions, from the Blue Label Umami to the Blue Label Ice Chalet. Of course, the guests were also treated to a dram of the original Blue Label, where only one in 10,000 casks is hand-selected to craft this exceptional blend.
To pair with these whiskies, Sabayon’s team served up lobster crudo with caviar, a scallop meunière, roasted duck breast, dry-aged tenderloin cooked over locally sourced charcoal and a pistachio cassis, with many of its accompanying ingredients sourced from local producers. And as the evening faded into the night, Kuala Lumpur’s city lights offered a backdrop to this one-night-only encounter with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra; of its smooth, velvety whisky—and the lingering memories of sight, sound, taste and the undeniable lightness of touch.
Watch the highlights of the event below:
Videography by The Spacemen
Photography by Ravin Shanmugarajan/The Spacemen
