Winter isn’t coming until April, but while Game of Thrones fans wait for their final taste of Winterfell and Westeros, the can pass the time with a taste of something else – whisky. Yes, hold the door for the northern clan from Johnnie Walker, who have just launched a limited edition, GOT-inspired Scotch that’s tailored made for tastes on both sides of the wall.
What makes the new White Walker particularly interesting is its intended use: it’s designed specifically to be drunk from the freezer. “You want it at minus 15 ideally,” says Johnnie Walker and Sydney bar pro Simon McGoram, who helped unveil the drink to Sydney at an exclusive kickoff party at Bondi’s Icebergs Dining & Bar. Yes, move over vodka, limoncello and Jägermeister, there’s a new kid busting into the chiller.
There’s an uptick in alcohol in this special blend of single-malt whiskies from Johnnie Walker’s Cardhu and Clynelish distilleries – 41.7% to be precise – so expect a bit of tingling on the lips (conjuring a freezing night on the Night’s Watch, perhaps). On the pallet, expect some vanilla notes, and a hint of fruity sweetness, from red berry to apple. There’s little in the way of smoke, which means this Scotch will definitely be more accessible to newer whisky drinkers. For those wanting to go up another notch, a more upwardly line of single-malt whiskies: a Cardhu Gold Reserve “House Targaryen”, 9-year Lagavulin “House Lannister”, a “House Stark Winter's Frost” from Dalwhinnie and a 12-year “Royal Lochnagar House Baratheon”.
For the White Walker launch, newly minted World Class Global Bartender of the Year, Orlando Marzo from Melbourne’s Lûmé restaurant, was on hand to unveil cocktails to make the most of the White Walker properties. Scoop’s favourite shaker was the Highgarden Fizz, a highball glass poured with yuzu, soda, strawberry verjuice and jasmine syrup. It looks like winter, yet tastes perfectly iced for Aussie summer.
The White Walker packaging should get as much attention as its contents. Once you get the wintery blue-grey-white bottle chilled to under -1.5C, the words “Winter Is Here” appear ominously. So be prepared, Australia: whisky is coming.
Photo credit Yasmin Mund
