Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra in the world’s lightest whisky bottle – Photo by Johnnie Walker.
Design. At London Design Festival 2024, Johnnie Walker unveiled the world’s lightest whisky bottle, weighing only 18o grams (without the liquid and the stopper) – one-fifth of the conventional weight. The 70cl bottle comes with a teardrop shape, a rounded bottom and a concave neck and is the result of five years of experimenting and innovating in luxury and craft.
- RELATED STORIES: Discover more whiskey-related architecture and design on Archipanic.
Photo by Johnnie Walker.
“Delicate rather than heavy. There is a new responsible trend in high-end spirits,” explained at Johnnie Walker. From here, the spirit brand sought to experiment with one of its most luxury whiskies, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra. “We aimed to push the boundaries of lightweight glass, all in the name of progress.”
Indeed, lighter bottles equal a lower carbon footprint. For now, only 888 limited edition bottles will be released. Still, “a license to the patent will be offered on a royalty-free basis to anyone in the world who wishes to share in these discoveries.”
Photo by Johnnie Walker.
Johnnie Walker teamed up with Turkish glassmakers Şişecam. Together, they pursued a “test-and-learn” approach to develop the final design. The artisans advised that the most effective strategy would be to follow the natural, balloon-like shape the glass takes when it comes out of the furnace and is acted on by gravity.
A light and protective bamboo structure allows the bottle to stand up with style.
Photo by Ed Reeve.
The world’s lightest whisky bottle debuted at London Design Festival with the Liquid Light installation by Marshmallow Laser Feast. At The Old Selfridges Hotel, an array of glass-blown droplets are suspended in mid-air, collectively symbolising the evolution of form over time.
- RELATED STORIES: Read more about the London Design Festival 2024 on Archipanic.
Photo by Ed Reeve.
Visitors are enveloped in a mesmerising interplay of light and shadow as a moving light passes through the glass forms, projecting elegant undulations onto surrounding white walls. The dynamic display, accompanied by a musical score, brings together the elemental forces of gravity, liquid glass, and human breath.
Photo by Ed Reeve.
Photos of the bottle’s design are by Johnnie Walker. Photos of the Liquid Light installation are by Ed Reeve, courtesy of London Design Festival.
Photo by Ed Reeve.
Photo by Ed Reeve.
