Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons Celebrating 60 Years of the Reign of Her Majesty the Queen 1952-2012

LONDON, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, John Walker & Sons, Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, is to produce an extremely limited edition of 60 crystal decanters of 'Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons', a unique blend of whiskies distilled in 1952 and finished in a marrying cask of English oak from The Queen's Sandringham Estate.

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These rare editions will be offered, by invitation only, for private sale at GBP100,000 each. John Walker & Sons will donate all profits from the sale, with a guarantee of at least GBP1million, to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association. This will support the QEST Diamond Jubilee Appeal, through which it aims to grow its scholarship base, build a mentoring programme and enable traditional craftsmanship to flourish in Britain.

John Walker & Sons has harnessed the collective skills of some of the finest craftsmen and women, including fellow Royal Warrant Holders and QEST Scholars, to create exclusive, bespoke pieces to accompany the whisky; a stunning showcase of craftsmanship.

'Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons' will be presented in a lead crystal decanter adorned with a Britannia silver collar that features a half carat diamond set by hand, and an individually numbered silver seal. This will be accompanied by a pair of hand-engraved lead crystal glasses and a leather bound, personalised, hand-embellished artefact book, all housed in a bespoke cabinet incorporating woods from The Queen's Sandringham and Balmoral estates.

David Gates, Royal Warrant grantee at John Walker & Sons said: "As a holder of the Royal Warrant, we felt compelled to mark this truly historic occasion with something truly exquisite. We look forward to sharing further news on this exceptional liquid very soon."

Jim Beveridge, Master Blender for John Walker & Sons said: "These are extraordinary grain and malt whiskies that have been maturing slowly since 1952. It's a huge privilege to work with them using all our resources and experience to craft a John Walker & Sons blend that's fitting for this special anniversary. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Sixty editions of 'Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons' will be bottled on 6th February 2012, exactly 60 years to the day since The Queen acceded to the Throne.

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT JOHN WALKER & SONS

John Walker & Sons is part of the Diageo Group.

Johnnie Walker(R) is the world's number one Scotch whisky brand, enjoyed by people in almost 200 countries around the world.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray and Captain Morgan.

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 us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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For further information, please contact: Chris Wilcocks at Edelman London [email protected] / +44(0)20-3047-2139

SOURCE John Walker & Sons