Johnnie Walker Gold Icon is a limited edition Blended Scotch Whisky from Scotland, released to mark the brand's 200th anniversary – beneath the new, fashion-inspired bottle design lies the unchanged Gold Label Reserve blend. To celebrate 200 years of Johnnie Walker, new bottle and packaging designs were created for the brand's most recognisable whiskies – Black Label, Red Label and Gold Label Reserve – while the whisky inside remained unchanged. It is bottled at 40% ABV, in a 0.7 litre bottle.
The brand is owned by Diageo, and the Gold Label Reserve recipe itself was created by master blender Jim Beveridge as an anniversary blend. The recipe features single malt from the Clynelish distillery along with a harmonious combination of malts from Speyside and the Highlands, with a touch of smoky west coast whisky. It is a blend of malt and grain whiskies with a sweet, honeyed character, containing Clynelish Malt Whisky – from a distillery fed by a river renowned for its legendary gold deposits.
The profile is dominated by sweetness woven into gentle smoke. The creamy nose opens with a note of nectar and soft smoke, while the palate reveals sweet fruit and deep, velvety honey, rounded off with a touch of smoke and oak on the finish. The producer also points to fresh, citrusy fruitiness on the nose and accents of black pepper and cinnamon on the palate, with a long, smoky finish. The result is layers of flavour with honey wrapped in velvet, where sweet cream is brushed with vanilla and spice, all closing with the gentle, warming smoky finish typical of Johnnie Walker whisky.
The design itself is the collector's appeal – these modern designs were available only while stocks lasted. Gold Label Reserve has earned competition accolades, including a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge in 2020. The whisky can be served neat, on the rocks or in classic cocktails such as a Whisky Sour or an Old Fashioned.