Diageo has unveiled the 50-year-old John Walker Masters? Edition, made using whiskies from distilleries that existed during the lifetime of the Johnnie Walker brand founder.

Just 100 bottles of the John Walker Masters’ Edition, Johnnie Walker’s first 50-year-old whisky, have been released with an RRP of US$25,000. Each is a blend of whiskies from six distilleries that were operational during the life of John Walker, who lived from 1805-1857.

Single malt whiskies sourced from Glen Albyn, Glenury Royal and Blair Athol distilleries have been blended with grain whiskies from Caledonian, Cambus and Port Dundas. Of these distilleries, only Blair Athol remains operational.

Johnnie Walker global brand director, John Williams, said: “Fifty-year-old whiskies are very rare. Whiskies of this age have incredible character but it takes great skill to reveal their flavour and then balance them so people can appreciate the end result.

“That’s where our master blender Jim Beveridge – one of only six in the history of Johnnie Walker – and his small team of exceptional whisky-makers come into their own as masters of their craft.”

The John Walker Masters’ Edition is a triple-matured Scotch whisky that has been finished in small batches in a marrying cask made of 100-year-old oak staves.