Diageo Global Travel Asia & Middle has introduced its Asia travel retail customers to the company’s new triple malt, John Walker & Sons Odyssey, at what it describes as the “ultimate onboard luxury event” in Hong Kong harbour.
The celebration was hosted late last month by Jay Woo, General Manager, Diageo Asia Pacific Travel Retail, aboard the luxury yacht, John Walker & Sons Voyager, which is journeying around Asia Pacific to host a series of events for what the company described as “the region’s most progressive individuals”.
In Hong Kong, leading figures from Asia travel retail were treated to a private tasting of Odyssey, which was launched in Asia Pacific in September. As reported, the blend was inspired by the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of Sir Alexander Walker, and commemorates the 80th anniversary of one of his innovations – a whisky decanter that could move to match the motion of the sea.
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(Left) Nick Hogendijk, Global DFS Account Manager at Diageo with John Hoover, DFS Global Vice President (Merchandise); (Right) Jay Woo, General Manager, Diageo Asia Pacific Travel Retail, addresses John Walker & Sons Global Travel Asia customers on the luxury yacht John Walker & Sons Voyager in Hong Kong |
Diageo Asia Pacific Travel Retail General Manager Jay Woo said: “John Walker & Sons Voyager is designed to be the ultimate luxury experience for premium spirit connoisseurs in this region – if not the world. We took the opportunity of its visit to Hong Kong to create a unique event for our Asia travel retail customers and demonstrate our commitment to working with them to further premiumise the travel retail channel in Asia.
“We have been actively premiumising our portfolio over the past few years and have seen great results with the launch of new products such as Johnnie Walker XR 21, Johnnie Walker Blue Label The Casks Edition and now John Walker & Sons Odyssey. We are committed to meeting the unique needs and evolving tastes of the luxury consumer in travel retail in Asia and in developing engaging consumer experiences.”
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Gary Chau, General Manager of Taiwanese travel retailer Tasa Meng, in the ‘Game Changers’ lounge’ onboard John Walker & Sons Voyager |
After a port-side dinner, guests enjoyed a tour of the John Walker & Sons Voyager yacht, which showcases the rich heritage of the brand, and an immersion into the art of blending with Tom Jones [no, not that Tom Jones -Ed], Johnnie Walker Global Brand Ambassador.
Highlights onboard the yacht include the original Johnnie Walker Swing bottle created by Sir Alexander Walker in 1932 and “˜Around the World’, one of the first luxury travel guides, created almost 100 years ago with the help of local John Walker & Sons in-market distributors who documented observations from their countries.
As John Walker & Sons Voyager journeys through Asia Pacific, leading authors, photographers and illustrators from around the region are capturing the progress of each port-of-call, from the era of the original guide until today, for a 21st century re-creation of Around the Word.
John Walker & Sons Voyager began its journey through Asia Pacific in September. Over six months, the luxury yacht is visiting eight locations in Asia Pacific – China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and India – recognising individuals who “seek a life without limits and a journey without boundaries”.
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Peter Dickson, Regional Category Manager, JR Duty Free, in conversation on the deck of John Walker & Sons Voyager |
In February the yacht will cross the Indian Ocean to Dubai where John Walker & Sons Odyssey will be launched at a series of high-profile events.
Diageo GTME Regional Director for the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Marwan Badri said: “The visit of John Walker & Sons Voyager is a very exciting prospect for us. It will give us a unique luxury setting for the regional introduction of our latest innovation in super deluxe and will vividly demonstrate our commitment to premiumising our whisky portfolio.”
