At only 180 grams, this is the world's lightest 70cl Scotch whisky bottle

Scotch whisky producers Johnnie Walker recently released Blue Label Ultra, which is housed in the world’s lightest 70cl Scotch whisky bottle. — Photos: Handout

Scotch whisky producers Johnnie Walker recently released Blue Label Ultra, which is  housed in the world’s lightest 70cl Scotch whisky bottle.

Weighing just 180g, the ultra-light bottle is part of Diageo’s Spirit of Progress action plan,

which aims to reduce carbon emissions through sustainable packaging innovations.

The bottle’s refined teardrop form is also a first for Johnnie Walker, as it represents a drastic departure from its iconic square silhouette.

According to Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr Emma Walker, the decision to move away from the square bottle for Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra "sparked thoughtful discussions" within the company.

"This represents the first significant departure from our square design since it was introduced, but we were guided by a clear purpose - to significantly reduce the weight of the bottle while delivering a modern luxury experience," she said in an email interview.

The Ultra bottle is a drastic departure from the brand's iconic squar-shaped bottle.Th

"Following shifts toward lightweighting in other luxury sectors like eyewear and high-performance cycling, we questioned whether spirits could follow suit."

Walker said the company  studied the natural movement of glass and discovered it naturally creates a globule shape. They also found that in traditional bottle designs, much of the weight is concentrated in corners.

"By embracing the natural globular form and eliminating corners, we achieved our lightweight design of just 180g without the closure," she explains, adding that rather than simply departing from tradition, the brand viewed this as "honouring the progressive spirit that has always defined Johnnie Walker – respecting our heritage while boldly stepping into the future.”

In the email interview, Walker also explained her role in the creation of the Ultra, as well as the new whisky she blended for the release.

Master Blender Emma Walker also created a new blend for the Ultra epression.

As a Master Blender, you primarily deal with the liquid INSIDE the bottle, do you usually take the bottle itself into consideration when coming up with a blend?

While my primary focus is always on creating exceptional whisky, there's a fascinating dialogue between the liquid and its presentation that I consider, particularly for special releases like Ultra.

I believe the experience of a whisky begins before the first sip - with how it's presented and the story it tells. 

With Ultra, we approached the liquid and packaging as complementary elements of a single vision.

As we studied the natural movement of glass and how it creates a globular shape when free-flowing, I wanted to create a whisky that embodied this same sense of harmony. 

Just as the Ultra bottle represents a bold evolution in our packaging approach, the liquid inside maintains the distinctive Johnnie Walker character while pushing into new territory.

For many people, using less glass, would mean a thinner bottler, and more breakage, perhaps? Was that taken into consideration?

Durability was a key consideration in developing the Ultra bottle. While reducing glass weight, we needed to maintain structural integrity.

Our engineering approach focused on distributing glass efficiently through the innovative waterdrop shape, which provides strength differently than our iconic square bottles. 

The distinctive bamboo presentation case protects the bottle.

Would a thinner bottle have any effect on the liquid inside? 

As for the liquid itself, glass thickness and bottle shape have no impact on the whisky once it's bottled - the integrity of our Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra remains perfectly preserved.” 

Durability was a key consideration in developing the Ultra bottle.

Sustainability is obviously the biggest reason for the Ultra bottling, and many of Diageo's distilleries are already adopting sustainable practises. As the Master Blender rather than a distillery manager who would oversee the day-to-day aspects of running a distillery, do you also consider the sustainability aspect of your work as well? 

As Master Blender, sustainability certainly factors into my work, albeit differently than for our distillery managers.

My blending decisions have supply chain implications that I carefully consider - from production efficiency of different whisky styles to cask selection and maximising the use of our precious stocks with minimal waste. 

The Ultra project demonstrates how sustainability considerations are now woven into everything we do.

I collaborate closely with our distillery teams and sustainability experts to understand how my blending choices might impact our environmental footprint.

You created a new Blue Label expression for the Ultra release, with Oban, Brora, and Royal Lochnagar, and a variety of ‘ghost whiskies’. What was the inspiration behind the new blend, and what kind of flavour or direction were you hoping to achieve? 

In creating Ultra, I wanted to craft something that would perfectly complement the innovative packaging while honouring the Blue Label legacy.

The blend features carefully selected whiskies that each bring something distinctive to the final expression.

On the nose, it's rich and deep with fresh oak notes, warm baked fruits, and hints of cinnamon, lightening to reveal vibrant orchard fruits, apples, white peach and grape.

The palate offers fresh red berries, sweet vanilla, wood spice, with layers of toffee, demerara sugar and warming wood smoke.

It finishes with a gentle, warming smoke that lingers elegantly.

This exceptional character comes from our careful selection of refill, rejuvenated and ex-Bourbon casks. 

It's this balance between heritage and innovation that defines the entire Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra experience - creating something that respects its roots while boldly stepping into the future of luxury whisky.