The story of the world’s biggest Scotch whisky brand begins in 1819, when the trust representing 14-year-old John Walker sold his family farm after the death of his father. The proceeds were used to buy John a grocery shop in Kilmarnock, but it wasn’t until his son Alexander joined the business in 1856 that whisky began to take centre stage. John Walker passed away the following year and under Alexander Walker’s direction the company switched from retail to wholesale whisky sales.

Alexander Walker’s sons Alec and George took over after his death in 1889 and continued to expand the business. During WWI, the company took shares in Coleburn, Clynelish, Dailuaine and Talisker, and in 1923, John Walker & Sons went public; two years later the company was to join rival blending behemoths Dewar’s and Buchanan’s in an enormous merger with the Distillers Company Limited (DCL). Johnnie Walker was already the biggest Scotch whisky blender, and was to remain one of the DCL’s most important brands.

In 1983, with Johnnie Walker still the world's best-selling blend, Johnnie Walker Harmony was launched for the Japanese market; it was followed in 1987 by arguably the first modern ultra-premium blended Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker Oldest, which became Johnnie Walker Blue Label in 1992. The huge success of Johnnie Walker Blue Label prompted further developments. An 18-year-old Gold Label joined the core range in 1995 as Johnnie Walker Gold Label Centenary Blend and was followed in 1997 by Johnnie Walker Pure Malt 15-year-old. In 1999 Johnnie Walker launched their famous 'Keep Walking' global marketing campaign, which brought the brand even greater success.