JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL welcomed icons from the worlds of film, music and F1 to SYMPHONY IN BLUE, MONACO on Thursday evening, May 22nd 2015 – an experiential spectacular that transported guests including Eva Longoria, McLaren Honda Formula One driver Jenson Button, England Rugby Captain Chris Robshaw and his girlfriend Camilla Kerslake into a universe of flavour, craftsmanship and heritage.

Hosted inside Monaco’s Ermanno Palais, Symphony in Blue kicked off a long weekend of glamour, style and sophistication. As anticipation in Monte Carlo grew for one of the greatest jewels in the motor racing crown – the Monaco Grand Prix – Johnnie Walker and the McLaren Formula One Team celebrated the 10th anniversary of their partnership.

Just sixty guests from around the globe were invited to Friday’s intimate Symphony in Blue experience, which showcased how a multi sensorial, theatrical experience that plays with imagery, sound and light can influence the perception and taste of a whisky hailing from the four corners of Scotland. Two-time Formula 1 World Champion and Johnnie Walker Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen, joined Button and Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO McLaren Group, to celebrate the unique partnership forged over the past decade.

Guest attendee, Eva Longoria, wearing a white tasseled mini dress by AK Studios, said, “It has been a real pleasure to be a part of Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s Symphony in Blue, Monaco this evening. To be here on race weekend, when the atmosphere is so electric, is an amazing experience!”

Jenson Button said, “Living here, I understand the unique character of Monaco and what makes it so glamorous, which is why Symphony in Blue, is the perfect match for this Grand Prix. It’s the pinnacle race of the season and the perfect way to celebrate our historic 10 year partnership.”

On arrival, guests were drawn into a Scottish woodland, as oak, moss, peat, barley and water surrounded them, bringing to life the rarity of Johnnie Walker Blue Label that comes from uniquely delicate ingredients and a symphony of rich flavours.

In further rooms guests continued to explore the unparalleled rarity, heritage and craft of Johnnie Walker Blue Label with each experience encapsulating the delicacy and intricacy of detail that goes into every bottle.

Global Brand Ambassador, Tom Jones, was on hand to mentor guests on the impeccable character demanded for Johnnie Walker Blue Label, “Only one in 10,000 casks of whisky are selected to form our blend so we gave guests the opportunity to experience the perfect serve over 10,000 year old ice chiseled by their own hand, to represent the rarity of our liquid.”

As they looked over a city buzzing with excitement ahead of Sunday’s race, guests sipped on stunning Johnnie Walker cocktails which were carefully paired with luxurious canapés such as haggis bon bons with whisky marmalade and freshly shucked oysters to delicately enhance the whisky’s unique flavour profiles.

The guests were served these innovative cocktails:

Johnnie Walker pear & cucumber press

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Freshly pressed pear Juice, Freshly pressed cucumber juice, house-made roasted barley shrub cordial, lemon juice, soda

Johnnie’s berry shrub

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve steeped in strawberry and raspberry, Lime juice, soda

Pear & Apple press

Freshly pressed pear Juice, Freshly pressed apple juice, house-made roasted barley shrub cordial, lemon juice, soda

East meets North

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, White port, Lapsang souchong & jasmine tea mix, Lemon juice, Water, Soda

Scotch Bonnet

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Antica Formula, Angostura bitters, Blood Orange juice, Scotch Bonnet syrup

Fire & Ice

Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Averna, Fig liqueur, Gomme, Black walnut bitters

Golden Gloves

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Sweet rhubarb syrup, Seude bitters, Fresh ginger juice, Lemon juice

Canapés were carefully crafted to hero the six key flavours found in the pinnacle blend Johnnie Walker Blue Label:

Peaty

Heirloom beetroot with pecans and wild rocket and a pecan dressing served on a tiny focaccia croute served on a bespoke tray made of bark and peat

Fresh and Spicy

Freshly shucked oysters served with a spicy shallot vinegar served in their shells

Served on a silver tray with dry ice pouring out of the middle of the tray

Fresh

Fresh tuna rice paper roll with julienne of carrot, avocado with mint and basil topped with a wasabi mayonnaise

Served on a gold frame with a beautiful padded picture inside to match the design of the rooms

Smokey

Stuffed quails eggs with sumac, chipotle and 24 carat gold leaf

Served on a silver tray nestled inside a tiny birds nest

Fruity

Haggis bonbons with whiskey marmalade

Served on a gold frame with a beautiful padded tartan picture

Wood

Wild mushroom and creamy gorgonzola tartlet piled with fresh truffle

Served on a wooden panelled tray

Puddings:

Smokey

Johnnie Walker whiskey flavoured homemade chocolate truffles rolled in gold leaf, cocoa powder and plain chocolate coated

Served on beautiful glass petit fours cake stands with dry ice bellowing out

Fruity

Tiny pear and almond tartlets with gold leaf

Served on a leather tray

About JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™…

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL is one of the pinnacle offerings from JOHNNIE WALKER.

Only sublime, rare whiskies at the pinnacle of perfection are used in the blending of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, with only 1 in 10,000 casks containing whisky of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste. Each is hand selected by the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blender himself, part of an unbroken lineage of Master Blenders stretching back over 190 years – it is an ultimate expression of whisky making today and an remarkable achievement for the modern era.

Presented in individually numbered bottles, it is reminiscent of the 19th century style of whiskies. The Master Blender uses his decades of experience to select some of the rarest casks from the JOHNNIE WALKER reserves for their quality, character and flavour to create the powerful, complex, smooth character of BLUE LABEL.

BLUE LABEL has a mellow, rounded nose, with a dry smokiness (a JOHNNIE WALKER signature flavour) mixing with raisin sweetness. It is best savoured with the palate cleansed and cooled by iced water. One sip reveals a velvety mouth-feel, then an explosion of flavour. At once you’ll discover hazelnuts, honey, rose petals, sherry and oranges. Subsequent sips reward you with more hidden secrets like kumquats, wispy aromatic smoke, sandalwood, tobacco, and dark chocolate.

About DIAGEO…

DIAGEO is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor whisky, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.

DIAGEO is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about DIAGEO, its people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. For DIAGEO’s global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About JOHNNIE WALKER in F1®…

In 2005, JOHNNIE WALKER took another bold stride on its journey of global success, when it began its partnership with the McLaren F1® Team. McLaren are proven winners and hold proud credentials as one of the most successful teams of the modern era.

F1® and McLaren have long partnered with some of the world’s most established companies and brands, but perhaps none more symbolic than JOHNNIE WALKER. The famous Striding Man logo adorns the wing mirrors, overalls, visors and track signage at some of the most glamorous locations on the circuit. But the significance of the partnership runs much deeper.

McLaren Honda and F1® epitomise the characteristics of JOHNNIE WALKER: pioneering, progressive and the essence of quality, style and sophistication. It links an iconic brand with an iconic team and sport on a global scale – the perfect blend.

JOHNNIE WALKER has placed responsible drinking at the heart of its ten-year partnership with the McLaren Formula One Team and Formula 1®. Through its pioneering sponsorship and with the profile of the race team this provides an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of issues around drink driving to a wider audience.

At the 2014 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX, Johnnie Walker announced a new commitment target for the Join the Pact responsible drinking campaign. This target is to collect 5 million pledges to Join the Pact, and to continue to drive awareness around the globe to never drink and drive.

To honour the five million commitments, Johnnie Walker will give away globally 5 million kilometres of safe rides home. To Join the Pact, visit www.jointhepact.com

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