The launch of Johnnie Walker Vault Couture Expression by Olivier Rousteing in New York City was the most fashionable moment sipped in style.
The alluring party downtown in Chelsea was a star-studded celebration with Lupita Nyong’o, Hunter Schafer, Stormzy, Regé-Jean Page, Nicky Hilton, Darren Criss and more.
Henry Golding attends as Johnnie Walker Vault Drops Couture Expression By Olivier Rousteing on May 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky)
The sensorial experience brought to life at the once iconic Sleep No More venue, transported guests to the Johnnie Walker Vault, where they enjoyed a rare tasting of the ultra-limited blend, danced to a set by DJ Oscar Nñ of Papi Juice and sipped bespoke Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails.
The acclaimed French couture designer Olivier Rousteing is the first cultural partner under the Johnnie Walker Vault platform. Launched earlier this year, Johnnie Walker Vault is a new global luxury platform grounded in blending artistry, uniting bespoke blends, luxurious experiences, and collaborations with cultural icons all under one visionary banner.
A view of Couture Expression on display during Johnnie Walker Vault Drops Couture Expression By Olivier Rousteing on May 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky)
“This has been an emotional journey,” said Rousteing. “What started as a collaboration to create one special release became a creative exploration of four seasons, just like a couture collection. For me, the seasons bring different energy and emotions – the feeling of rebirth in Spring, the hazy freedom of Summer, the self-reflection of Fall and the coziness of home and family in Winter – that Emma so beautifully captured in the collection.”
Each of the four blends in the collection begins with the same luxurious ‘heart’, including ghost whiskies from Brora and Port Dundas, setting a marker for the rarity of the collection. Dr. Walker then layered hand-selected whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Vault – a library of 500 rare, aged and ghost whiskies, personally curated and rotated from the very best of the 10 million casks of Scotch available to her as Master Blender. In an innovative fusion of creative minds, over the course of 12 months, Dr Walker translated Rousteing’s personal narrative into four sensorial journeys through flavor and time.
“Johnnie Walker Vault is allowing us to make our mark on the world of luxury spirits in an exciting new way, as well as opening the door to a new era of progress for the brand,” stated Julie Bramham, Managing Director of Diageo Luxury Group. “Through colliding the blending artistry of Dr Emma Walker with the creative genius of Olivier Rousteing, we are pushing the boundaries of what a luxury Scotch whisky can look, taste and feel like.”
