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What’s in a
name #3
Most collectors will have a few bottles of Johnny Walker on their shelves. With the different
colours and the variations within each colour they almost form a collection on their own.
Unlike that other great Scottish brand, McDonalds, there actually was a Johnny Walker. He
was born in 1805 near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. The family started a grocery business in 1820
selling among other things whisky. Johnny Walker died in 1857 and it was his son Alexander
(born 1836 ) who expanded the business concentrating on whisky sales. His biggest seller
was Walker’s Old Highland Whisky. Due to law
changes he trademarked the name Walker’s
Kilmarnock Whisky. From the early days the label
was put on a slant and in the late 1870's the square
rectangular was introduced. It has remained ever
since.
Shortly after this Alexander brought his three sons
into the business and it expanded greatly with
offices in London and Sydney. In 1894 the
Company bought the Cardhu distillery.
In 1909 the Red and Black labels were introduced.
The Black Label was the old Highland Whisky and
was one of the first to carry an age on the label.
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