Johnnie Walker Releases Two More 'Game of Thrones' Whiskies to Join The White Walker

Johnnie Walker's Game of Thrones' “A Song of Ice" and "A Song of Fire” Launched in the USA 

 Due In October 2019 in Europe 

In an epic partnership with HBO series Game of Thrones(GoT), Johnnie Walker is to introduce a series of limited edition blended Johnnie Walker whiskies. GoT is a show clearly targeted at adults, and is best known for is its love of violence and nudity. With these mature themes, it is no surprise that GoT has done particularly well with its promotional tie-ins involving alcohol: like beer, three wines from Vintage Wine Estates and its first Scotch whisky from Johnnie Walker, The White Walker which made its debut in October 2018. The two new limited edition whisky blends, inspired by the iconic and powerful houses of Westeros – House Stark and House Targaryen – have reached the market as successors to the White Walker.   

THE WHITE WALKER

Created by whisky specialist and blender George Harper, the unique, limited-edition lead whisky was inspired by the most enigmatic and feared characters on the show – the White Walkers. Known by their icy blue eyes and led by the Night King, the undead army of White Walkers have emerged from the Frozen North bringing with them the chill of winter. This innovative whisky is best served directly from the freezer, echoing the chilling presence of the White Walkers and brings you right to the Frozen North with an icy white and blue design along with the iconic Johnnie Walker Striding Man now fashioned in armour to fit in among the ranks of the Night King’s forces.

The Scotch has notes of caramelised sugar and vanilla, fresh red berries with a  touch of orchard fruit and features Single Malts from Cardhu and Clynelish – one of Scotland’s most Northern distilleries. Harper used the Frozen North as his starting point for creating White Walker by Johnnie Walker believing that Whiskies from Clynelish have endured long, Scottish Winters, not dissimilar to the long periods endured by the Night’s Watch who have ventured north of the wall - so it was the perfect place to start when creating this unique whisky. 

         

Utilising temperature-sensitive ink technology, fans will be reminded that “Winter is Here” from an unexpected graphic icy reveal on the bottle when frozen.

Two more themed whiskies, "A Song of Ice" and "A Song of Fire," have joined the family. Made in collaboration with HBO, the names are a nod to the Game of Thrones book series title, "A Song of Ice and Fire." Whether in conflict or harmony, this is a tale of two great houses represented by two ancient creatures. One is a house descended from the First Men. Rulers of the North and builders of the wall, they thrive in the icy-cold climate of the Direwolf. The other is a noble family of Valkyrian descent and the first royal house of the Seven Kingdoms. Fire courses through their veins and is made flesh in the form of their dragons.

"A Song of Ice," naturally, is inspired by House Stark and the 'unforgiving force of ice that shapes mountains,  stops rivers, and delivers the heat of fusion in frozen form from the cryosphere,"ringing in at 40.2 % ABV. As can be expected, it again features blends of single malt whiskies from Scotland's northern most distilleries like Clynelish and promises a crisp, clean taste with a cold, smooth finish. The bottle design shows snowy woods, a nod to The North's cold winters, with a fierce red-eyed Direwolf splashed across the front. If you get your hands on one, know that it's best enjoyed over ice, as is appropriate for a tribute to House Stark. 

  

On the other hand, "A Song of Fire," is inspired by none other than House Targaryen, with flavours of "subtle smoke from the heated malts of the Caol Ila distillery," on Islay, Scotland. This blend packs slightly more of a punch than its icy counterpart, with 40.8 percent ABV—it's also meant to be sipped neat instead of on ice, delivering a "full-bodied flavour which lends a warm, smooth finish," naturally so, for a whisky that tips its hat to the Mother of Dragons and her fiery house. The bottle, too, is Targaryen-level fierce, featuring fire, sparks, and a sinister dragon. Both this bottle and the "A Song of Ice" bottle also include the signature Johnnie Walker "striding man" logo; however, it faces backward on the "A Song of Fire" whisky, so that it's squaring off with the striding man on the "A Song of Ice" bottle." The face-off represents the complicated dynamic between the two houses, another angle to the complicated interactions between the two great houses in the show’s storyline.