Hard-to-find Scotch whisky gets easier in 2011

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The limited-release Johnnie Walker Double Black label is to expand beyond duty-free shops in March 2011, according to a September 29 announcement from Diageo, a London-based global alcoholic beverages company, via beverage industry resource Just-Drinks.

Johnnie Walker Double Black's Facebook page outlines that "[t]he whisky was created taking Black Label as a blueprint and adding heavily-peated malts and some aged in deeply charred oak casks.

"The one litre bottle of Johnnie Walker Double Black will retail at a +15-20% price premium to Johnnie Walker Black Label even though it has No Age Statement." Johnnie Walker Black is a blend of 40 12-year or older Scotch whiskies and is priced between €36-59.

The global director of Johnnie Walker, David Gates; said, "Interest in the Scotch whisky category continues to be high and we believe consumers want to explore the huge range of flavour experiences that a brand like Johnnie Walker can deliver."

Until March bottles are still available at international airports and duty-free shops in Beirut, Singapore, Bangkok, New York (JFK), and Sydney.

If you are looking for similarly priced blended Scotch whisky stocked at your local pub or spirits shop, you may want to consult Whisky.com's tasting notes on 12 bottles including Dewar's White label, Cutty Sark, B&J and Chivas Regal. http://www.whisky.com/blends.html