John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend 200th Anniversary Blended Scotch Whisky

John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend is Jim Beveridge’s limited 200th-anniversary Scotch, built as a homage to Old Highland Whisky from the 1860s — the first Walker blend made to travel — using only whiskies from distilleries that were running then, and flavors logged in the Kilmarnock grocery-shop stock books. Bottled at 102 proof to match nineteenth-century strength, so dried fruit, marzipan, and a thread of peat have room to show. A bold neat pour.

Marzipan, golden syrup, and dried raisins open, with marmalade, candied peel, and baked apple. The sip is creamy and gripping for a blend: toffee, cinnamon, roasted nuts, and a little milk chocolate, then gentle peat. The finish is long and drying, on pepper, gingerbread, and soft smoke.