Following the success of its Game of Thrones-themed whiskies, drinks giant Diageo has announced its latest releases that be launched in collaboration with HBO, featuring Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky.
Whiskies A Song of Ice and A Song of Fire follow up on Johnnie Walker’s original GoT bottle from last October, the Winter Walker. These will be released in August in the U.S., with the rest of the world getting the whiskies in October.
Labels submitted to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) revealed a little more information about the liquid. Like most Johnnie Walker releases, they are a mix of malt and grain whisky (‘grain’ in Scottish whisky law can be a lot of things but almost always consists of wheat and sometimes corn). The Song of Ice is bottled at 40.2%, features malt whisky from Diageo’s north Scotland Clynelish distillery, with the whisky itself described as crisp, clean, green and grassy with ‘notes of vanilla and tropical fruit’. Given the name, it’s no surprise the whisky label recommends that it is served over ice.
There is actually a rich history of both wolves and dragons featuring on past whisky bottle labels.
A Song of Fire features peated whisky from the Islay-based Caol Ila distillery. Bottled at 40.8%, it’s described as a more full-bodied affair, with flavors of ‘subtle red fruit, a hint of spice, and a sweet smoke.’
The announcement of the whiskies follows the release not just of the White Walker but also the successful release of the other eight Game of Thrones-themed single malt whiskies. With a planned prequel in the works, the release of the whisky helps keep the GoT brand out there as fans still digest the controversial end of the series from last month.
Priced at $43 per bottle, the whiskies are available to pre-order at Reserve Bar, with luck they will please show fans more than the show finale actually did…
