Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons

The phrase “fit for a queen” may be used quite loosely these days, but John Walker & Sons, Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, can rightfully lay claim to the descriptor. They celebrated the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s accession with the bottling of Diamond Jubiliee by John Walker & Sons, a specially crafted blend of rare malt and grain Scotch whiskies distilled in and maturing since 1952 – the year she acceded to the throne.

The filling of The Queen’s decanter took place at Royal Lochnagar Distillery, on the edge of Her Majesty The Queen’s Balmoral Estate, and was overseen by David Gates, grantee of John Walker & Sons’ Royal Warrant.

A further 60 of these editions have been bottled, and profits, with a guaranteed amount of at least £1 million, will benefit the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association that preserves rare craft and conserveration skills. It’s a virtuous cycle, considering the craft behind each bottle of John Walker & Sons whisky itself, starting from the exquisite liquid.

Master blender Jim Beveridge drew on expertise gained from over 30 years of experience, and, working with his apprentice, Matthew Crow, explored vast stocks of Scotch whisky to seek out some of the most exceptional casks of whiskies distilled in 1952. The Diamond Jubilee marrying casks, derived from Sandringham oak, were cut and carved into staves, shaped by hand and jointed seamlessly using age-old techniques.

Finally, the gleaming vessel it is bottled in is a work of art in its own right – the diamond-shaped decanters by Baccarat stand on a base of six radial legs to reflect each decade of The Queen’s enduring reign, and are adorned with Britannia silver. The collar, crafted by Scottish silversmiths Hamilton & Inches, is set with a half-carat diamond.

Each decanter is accompanied by a pair of specially designed lead crystal glasses by Cumbria Crystal, as well as a hand-bound artefact book that depicts the craftsmanship behind Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons. All these precious items come together in a bespoke cabinet by N.E.J. Stevenson, incorporating oak and native Caledonian pine from The Queen’s Sandringham and Balmoral Estates.

Keen to see this masterpiece up close? Bottle number 60 will be making its way to Singapore in late March for a tour, so keep your eyes peeled.
 

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