An NFT you can sip: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Dundas

Collectors of Blue Label Ghost will receive a digital art piece and virtual storytelling experience.

New Scotch celebrates the famous Glasgow distillery of Port Dundas, launching with the release of 75 limited edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare available on BlockBar.com

To bring the Master Set to collectors globally, Johnnie Walker partners with BlockBar.com (the world’s first direct to consumer NFT marketplace for luxury wine and spirits) and Vayner3 (the Web3 consultancy under the umbrella VaynerX, founded by serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk).

The limited edition Johnnie Walker Ghost and Rare series is crafted using irreplaceable “ghost” whiskies and other incredibly rare expressions from the unparalleled Johnnie Walker reserves used to create the award-winning Johnnie Walker Blue Label. This latest release explores the character of exceptional and rare whiskies from one of world’s most famous Grain Whisky distilleries, the Glasgow “ghost” distillery of Port Dundas.

This renowned distillery, nestled on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal, shipped its distinct scotch from Glasgow to ports across the world for nearly 200 years. Built in 1811, Port Dundas became a whisky blending powerhouse known for its distinctive sweet and delicate grain character before it closed in 2010.

In commemoration of the fifth installment and first Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare release from Master Blender Emma Walker, collectors can secure 1 of 75 limited edition Ghost and Rare Port Dundas Master Sets exclusively available on BlockBar.com.

The Master Sets feature a physical 1L bottle with signature by Emma Walker; the NFT bottle (digital version of the bottle); a unique digital art piece by award-winning generative AI artist and photographer, Ivona Tau; and access to an exclusive virtual storytelling experience with Emma Walker and Ivona Tau where they will share their inspiration behind their respective masterpieces. Those who burn their NFT will have priority access to the next Diageo drop on BlockBar.com.

Ivona’s NFT art in this Master Set draws inspiration from the vital element and force of nature, water, and builds upon her “Under the Waves” project. Her process consisted of multiple stages of AI to create 75 unique NFTs that capture the juxtaposition between the constant flow of water and the water tamed within each bottle of Ghost and Rare Port Dundas. Each of the 75 NFTs will differ, making them as rare as the whisky itself.

Ivona Tau says: “It’s incredible to see global brands like Johnnie Walker investing in digital creators to bring visibility to our work. I am proud to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Johnnie Walker and share my artistic vision of this limited-edition whisky release with communities in Web3.”

The exclusive Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Master Sets are a celebration of Port Dundas’ legacy, the incredible craftsmanship of Johnnie Walker Master Blender Emma Walker and the Web3 cultural revolution.

The Johnnie Walker team of expert whisky makers, led by Johnnie Walker Master Blender Emma Walker, handpicked the most distinctive expressions of maturing whisky from Port Dundas for this new limited edition. Walker chose a small number of distinctive, aged whiskies from the Johnnie Walker reserves, all matured in two different wood types to add depth and layers to the blend. Ghost and Rare Port Dundas features a touch of creamy vanilla notes from whiskies aged in second fill American oak casks and subtle wood spice from scotch matured in first fill highly charred American oak casks.

“Port Dundas was, in its day, one of the finest Grain Whisky distilleries in the world and the rare expressions that we have chosen from our reserves are some of the most distinctive it has ever produced. Their slow maturation allows the sweet and delicate Grain character to blossom,” Emma says. “These rare whiskies highlight the distillery character of Port Dundas, perfectly showcasing the wonderful depth of flavor that this Grain Whisky brings to Johnnie Walker Blue Label. It’s incredible character inspired us to create something truly extraordinary that pays proper tribute to the whisky makers of this storied Glasgow distillery.”

To complement the fragrant wood spice character of Port Dundas, Emma and her team hand-selected two other “ghost” whiskies from the distilleries of Cambus and Brora before combining these with other very rare scotch from five iconic distilleries. Creamy, wood notes from Port Dundas embrace the vanilla and soft smoke from the “ghost” whiskies of Cambus and original stocks of Brora. Other very rare whiskies from Cameronbridge and Glenkinchie reveal notes of spiced apples alongside Clynelish, Dailuaine and Auchroisk, bringing aromas of peaches and berries.

This exclusive NFT opportunity follows the successful Web3 campaigns for the launch of Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour 48-Year-Old and the Johnnie Walker VeeFriends Gift Goat collaboration earlier this year.

In celebration of the pioneering achievements of Emma Walker and Ivona Tau, Johnnie Walker is creating more opportunities for women to achieve their goals with a dedicated business grant through IFundWomen – the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses. IFundWomen is an ongoing partner in the Johnnie Walker ‘First Strides’ initiative, which aims to celebrate and enable people and organizations moving culture forward.

“For our second NFT release, we chose to create the Ghost and Rare Port Dundas Master Set because it allows us to take the consumer into the Johnnie Walker world, beyond the tasting of whisky, and explore our iconic, rare reserves,” says Sophie Kelly, Senior Vice President of Whiskies, DIAGEO North America. “As a leader in whisky innovation and a champion of collective progress, Johnnie Walker will continue to foster meaningful relationships with consumers by championing the creators and community leaders in Web3. Stay tuned for more exciting collaborations on the horizon.”

The NFT priced at $775 USD (approx. 0.51 ETH) may be purchased from BlockBar.com with ETH or credit card.  Bottle owners can gift or resell this NFT on the BlockBar.com marketplace.