Diageo Global Travel has released two more Game of Thrones-inspired limited-edition Scotch whiskies.
Johnnie Walker A Song of Ice and Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire will be available in airports globally from this month, and continue the brand’s hugely successful partnership with HBO Licensing & Retail.
The double release celebrates the “enduring legacy” of the popular HBO television series Game of Thrones. The whiskies are inspired by the houses of Westeros that appear in the show – House Stark and House Targaryen – and are successors to White Walker by Johnnie Walker, which launched in 2018. Diageo also released a limited-edition Game of Thrones range of single malt whiskies earlier this year.
Describing the fictional background of the two houses of Westeros, Diageo and HBO stated: “Whether in conflict or harmony, this is a tale of two great houses represented by two ancient creatures. One – House Stark – is descended from the First Men. Rulers of the North and builders of the wall, they thrive in the icy-cold climate of the direwolf. The other – House Targaryen – is a noble family of Valyrian descent and the first royal house of the Seven Kingdoms. Fire courses through their veins and is made flesh in the form of their dragons.”
Johnnie Walker A Song of Ice is a nod to House Stark, while Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire reflects House Targaryen A Song of Fire. The sigils, or symbols, of the houses – the direwolf and the dragon respectively – feature on the bottles.
In a further visual touch, the Johnnie Walker Striding Man image uncharacteristically faces backwards on the A Song of Fire bottle, revealing a face-off with the Striding Man on the A Song of Ice bottle when paired side-by-side.
“We are delighted to announce the launch of these limited edition whiskies, following the successful White Walker by Johnnie Walker release in travel retail,” said Diageo Global Travel Marketing and Innovation Director Anna MacDonald.
“Our team are continuously striving to provide unique product innovations, alongside interactive shopping experiences for both our retailers and consumers. With this in mind, we’ll be bringing the launch to life with in-store displays, dragon and direwolf sculptures and sensory whisky aroma units in selected airports.”
HBO Vice President, Licensing & Retail Jeff Peters commented: “The Game of Thrones audience continues to both engage with the culture fostered around the series and look for the special collectibles that let it live on. After seeing the excitement there was for White Walker by Johnnie Walker, we are thrilled to celebrate the end of an epic tale by offering more quality whisky for fans of the show and whisky enthusiasts to collect and enjoy.”
Johnnie Walker A Song of Ice features single malts from Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most northern distilleries, and has an ABV of 40.2%. The bottle design evokes an icy setting with frosted blue and grey colours. Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire features the peated malts of the Caol Ila distillery with an ABV of 40.8%. Inspired by the dragons of House Targaryen, the bottle design depicts a fiery setting with deep red colours.
Both A Song of Ice and A Song of Fire have an RRP of £38 (US$47) per 1 litre bottle.
