Johnnie Walker has revealed a new look at the London Design Festival, showcasing what is claimed to be the world’s lightest whisky bottle. The Scottish whisky maker, owned by Diageo, has brought out a luxury edition to be made in a batch of just 888. But in a move that bucks the usual associations between heft and quality, the brand focused on lightness and delicacy, as well as sustainability, when developing the high-end product, baptised “Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra”.
Tear drop shape
At just 180g (without a lid), the ultra light 70cl bottle comes in at 118g less than the next lightest bottle, according to Elite Traveller. Achieving the necessary strength while reducing weight and maintaining a delicate aesthetic took five years of product development and testing.
A team of artisan glassblowers who worked with the whisky giant recommended adopting a form that would follow the natural shape of glass when it is first blown. This means this bottle has a tear-shape, with a curved base, which avoids the weak point of a regular bottle: its squared-off bottom. Traditionalists will be relieved to hear the bottle still echoes the Johnny Walker “square” shape, and is able to stand on its rounded base but to improve stability, it is accompanied by an attractive bamboo “cage” or stand.
“A progressive stride”
“We didn’t know what we were going to be able to achieve when we set out to push the boundaries of luxury,” said global brand director of Johnnie Walker, Jennifer English, adding that “the result is something that many said would not be possible. This new, lightweight bottle is a thing of exquisite beauty; but more importantly, it demonstrates what is possible when it comes to lightweighting glass.”
The new look is not only intended to be striking and different, but to make a “progressive stride” English said. The company has waived its patent rights on the new bottle technology, in order to help other drinks companies improve their sustainability too. “Lightweighting” glass is important for sustainability, as lighter glass not only takes less carbon to make but is lighter to transport, further reducing its carbon footprint. Bamboo was chosen for the stand for similar reasons. Dezeen points out that even “added to the 180-gram bottle, the packaging still doesn’t outweigh a standard glass bottle.”
Handmade and hand-filled for £1,000
To become the proud owner of one of the limited-run, 888 new tear drop bottles, you have until 2025 to save up the required £1,000 (1185.8 EUR). For that, your handmade bottle will be hand-filled with a blend selected by Johnnie Walker’s master blender Dr. Emma Walker, taken from distilleries like Oban, Brora and Royal Lochnagar, as well as a number of ‘ghost whiskies.’
