Johnnie Walker Dinner

Experience an exquisite multi-course meal paired with Scotch Whisky from the Johnnie Walker Portfolio.

The legendary, original John Walker was born on July 25, 1805, on Todriggs Farm, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The farm was not far from Glasgow on the west side of the island. In 1819, John’s father died, and the family farm where little Johnnie had spent the first fourteen years of his life, was sold. Though he was still but a little lad of 15, the proceeds from the sale were used to purchase a grocery store inside Kilmarnock proper.

Even though his main trade was selling groceries, over time he became well known as the go-to supplier of tea, fine wines, and spirits. He sold all kinds of alcohol, including rum, brandy, and gin, but it was his own private label whiskey that gained him recognition in the region. Most shop owners of the day stocked single malts, with inconsistent taste and texture. Mr. Walker, being a savvy businessman, made his whiskey through blending, giving him the ability to maintain good flavor quality in every bottle.

In 1833, John married Elizabeth Purves, who later gave birth to their first son, Alexander. John was known locally as a member of trade associations and the Freemasons. After Johnnies death in 1857, the family business was taken over by Alexander. Britain was at the center of the Industrial Revolution, and with the arrival of the railroad in 1843 on his side, Alexander Walker created a distribution network that shipped John’s whiskey worldwide. By 1862, sales averaged 100,000 gallons each year. The first copyrighted blend, called “Old Highland Whisky,” hit the shelves in 1867. This recipe is a direct ancestor of what we know call Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Many historians consider Alexander the real driving force that took Johnnie Walker scotch whiskey from hometown bestseller to a globally recognized brand. Alexander’s sons introduced the naming conventions of “Red Label” and “Black Label” in 1909. Around the same time, the original sketch of the sophisticated walking man was created and added to the bottles. The brand website puts it best: “At a stroke, John Walker the Victorian grocer became Johnnie Walker, the Edwardian dandy.”

They will be serving a set menu, so if you have any dietary restrictions please be sure to inform them in advance so that they can make an accommodation.