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Meet The Maker: Alexander Johnson
Douglas Blyde speaks with the founder of the newly-released Johnson Reserve whisky collection about why he believes that the saying “travel broadens the mind” also applies to covetable whiskies.
What does the Johnson Reserve Collection comprise of?
It is a limited-release trilogy of single malts. With a nose of green apple, incense, pastry, and spice, followed by apple pie on the heady palate, The Voyager is wonderfully accessible, matured in ex-Cognac and Mizunara oak casks. Family Reserve 2022 was finished in eight different casks: two peated, two red wine, Mizunara, two brandy casks, and virgin French oak.
It balances bright red fruit notes with deep, savoury tones of game, toasted nuts, dark chocolate, and nuances of coastal brine and woodsmoke, offering a complexity which evolves in the glass. Finally, our pinnacle expression, Masters Series: Renoir Edition, is supremely elegant, matured in casks which once raised Grand Cru Champagne and brandy. A hint of rancio and earthiness provides a perfect counterweight to its brighter citrus notes.
What makes them special?
The saying “travel broadens the mind” also applies to whisky. Unlike most single malts, which use one or two casks, our whiskies are re-racked multiple times to enhance complexity. Casks are chosen for their unique organoleptic properties.
Where are the whiskies raised?
Currently, we work exclusively with single malt Scotch whisky, sourcing casks from trusted distilleries where we have identified a flavour profile best suited to our process. Our process is comparable to a solera system, where the entire batch is moved successively from cask to cask, which takes place at our ageing facility in Glenfarg, Scotland. We meticulously plan maturation, considering factors like extract levels, cask toasting, gas exchange, evaporation, warehouse temperature, and cask location.
Are your whiskies created with the blessing of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA)?
An open dialogue with the SWA is an important part of our work. We have great respect for Scotch whisky’s heritage and long history. While we relentlessly pursue innovation, it is within the bounds of the regulations established by the SWA.
How many bottles have you produced thus far?
We work in very small batches: usually just a single cask at a time.
Who is your target consumer?
To answer this question, it is easier to say who our target consumer is not! Our target consumers are not people who buy on-brand and are happy to have similar whiskeys to what they have tried before. Everything we do is about expanding the idea of what whisky can be and exploring new frontiers of sensory experience. Our consumers embrace flavour over all else, but our whiskies are akin to savouring a fine-dining meal rather than indulging in the bold, brash flavours of fast food.
Why did you choose the striking image of the mother’s bond for the Renoir edition?
Pierre August Renoir’s Mère Allaitant is such a tender, evocative, and thought-provoking piece. It is the perfect emblem of our Renoir Edition, a delicate and contemplative whisky. My family is fortunate to be the custodian of the original artwork, so it was a great opportunity to combine the two worlds of art and whisky.
Where can we find the whiskies?
The Voyager and Family Reserve 2022 are available from a small selection of retailers, including Hedonism, Master of Malt, Tomoka Fine and Rare, and hospitality spaces, while a small quantity of Renoir Edition is available via ballot. For anyone wishing to enter the ballot, please e-mail info@johnson-reserve.com for more details.
What did you do before?
Before creating Johnson Reserve, I worked across venture capital and consulted on luxury acquisitions. It is so much more rewarding to “make” rather than “take”, however. At JR, we get to create exceptional products just as we want to create them without being beholden to shareholders or targets.
What releases are coming next?
We are particularly excited about The X Collection, where we created ten different expressions of the same single malt using ten individual small casks. We only produced 100 bottles of each expression: a fascinating exploration of just how important the choice of cask is in flavour creation.
Finally, who would you raise a glass of Johnson Reserve to, past or present?
To the Johnson Reserve Team for their hard work in bringing forward these expressions. And Jonathan Ball OBE, for his leadership in the Royal Marines Charity and his commitment to service and family above all.
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