The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2014-02-07/johnnie-walker-brand-ambassador-tt-important-whisky-marketT&T may be one of the prominent rum producers in the Caribbean but it is also one of the most significant markets in this part of the world for Johnnie Walker scotch whisky. That is why this country is the first stop on the Americas leg of the epic journey of the luxury yacht, John Walker and Sons Voyager. This was revealed yesterday by global brand ambassador for John Walker and Sons, Tom Jones, during the first of two days of events taking place locally to celebrate the T&T leg of the Voyager’s journey. “Johnnie Walker whiskies sell well here,” said Jones in response to questions during a media briefing on board the yacht which is docked at Pier One in Chaguaramas. “We have been selling whisky here since 1883.”
Jones, who will be on board the yacht as it journeys through the region over the next few months, shared his vast knowledge of the whisky during a session which featured the premium Johnnie Walker Blue, a best seller in T&T, as well as the recently launched Odyssey and other luxury blends. Since setting off in September 2012, the Voyager has sailed through Asia, retracing the original spice route, as well as Europe. Stops on the voyage through the Americas include Antigua, Venezuela, Aruba, Colombia, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, with the final stop in Miami in the United States.
The journey is a reproduction of the epic travels of the Walkers who transformed the industry when they hired ship captains to act as brand ambassadors and to export their whisky around the world. It also celebrates the launch of the new, award-winning triple malt, Odyssey, which commemorates the creation by Sir Alexander Walker, grandson of John Walker, of a nautical decanter for use on ships which moved to match the motion of the sea. During its stop in Trinidad, a series of high-profile events are being hosted on board the Vyachy. One of the highlights was a black tie dinner last night at which master chef Khalid Mohammed used Johnnie Walker in the creation of several special dishes and shared his opinion on the pairing of whisky with various foods. A Blue Label Carnival Gala is scheduled for today. The world-renown brand was created by John “Johnnie” Walker who started to sell whisky in his grocer’s shop in Scotland. His son, Alexander Walker introduced the iconic square bottle and angled label design which set the whisky apart from other brands and grandson Alexander II expanded the line and introduced the colour names by which the various Johnnie Walker blends are known.
