George Paterson Walker
Encyclopedia
George Paterson Walker oldest son of whisky
maker Alexander Walker
, took over the family business’ London office in 1888, overseeing distribution and marketing.
After their father’s death in 1889, his brother Alexander
stepped into the production and blending role, eventually creating Johnnie Walker
Old Highland (white label) and Special Old Highland (red label) (adding them to the Extra Special Old Highland (black Label) created by their father in 1865).
In 1909 George saw the introduction of the Striding Man logo. And the rebranding of the whisky blends as Johnnie Walker
White Label, Red Label and Black Label.
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
maker Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker was the son of John ‘Johnnie’ Walker of the whiskey brand. He inherited the company in 1857 and expanded its business, exporting whisky throughout the British Empire....
, took over the family business’ London office in 1888, overseeing distribution and marketing.
After their father’s death in 1889, his brother Alexander
Alexander Walker II
Sir Alexander Walker II was the younger grandson of John ‘Johnnie’ Walker. He and his brother, George Paterson Walker, took the control of the company after the death of their father Alexander Walker in 1889....
stepped into the production and blending role, eventually creating Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
Old Highland (white label) and Special Old Highland (red label) (adding them to the Extra Special Old Highland (black Label) created by their father in 1865).
In 1909 George saw the introduction of the Striding Man logo. And the rebranding of the whisky blends as Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
White Label, Red Label and Black Label.
The Striding Man
George had wanted to create an advertising device that would be instantly recognisable to customers. The solution emerged during lunch one day with cartoonist of the time, Tom Browne. In response to the challenge, Browne drew the first Striding Man then and there on the back of a menu in the restaurant. The words “Born 1820, still going strong” were added.- 1820 was year George’s grandfather John purchased a grocery and spirits shop in KilmarnockKilmarnockKilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, AyrshireAyrshireAyrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The blend that became Black Label was actually introduced in 1865 by George’s father.