Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Toronto Pop-Up Dinner Is a Foodie Dream

SHARP & Johnnie Walker

Toronto foodies and whisky lovers alike, pay close attention. This week marks a very special occasion, with Johnnie Walker presenting an exclusive pop-up dining experience on Queen Street West with MICHELIN-starred chef Ryusuke Nakagawa of Aburi Hana. All but one of the dinner’s six courses is paired with a specially crafted Johnnie Walker cocktail. One course is paired with an all-new whisky release from the brand that provided the initial inspiration for this entire activation: The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Exclusive Umami limited edition, which has just been launched in Canada earlier this month.

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

1 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

2 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

3 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

4 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

5 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

6 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

7 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

8 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

9 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

10 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

11 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

12 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

13 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

14 of 15

Johnnie Walker Elusive Umami Dinner Experience Toronto

15 of 15

×

The introduction of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami is a special occasion well worthy of celebrating. An evolution of the past Ghost and Rare series, Elusive Umami was blended in a collaborative effort between Master Blender Emma Walker, and another MICHELIN alum — Chef Kei Kobayashi. This is the first time that Johnnie Walker has partnered with a chef to craft a whisky of any sorts, and far as I can remember, this is also a first across the whisky industry. Pairing two creative minds of this sort proved to be a match made in heaven, as both Walker and Kobayashi have a strong understanding of flavour, albeit from different professional worlds.

The brief was simple: To craft a whisky that captures the essence of Umami. Relying on the brand’s rich archives, the pair turned to a selection of rare casks from both coastal and inland distilleries, picking their assortment of expressions as though they were ingredients. With a portfolio of distilleries as vast as that of Johnnie Walker, there were options aplenty to dial in this Umami experience with precision. “Umami possesses a mysterious quality that ignites our senses, revealing sumptuous taste and complexity. The final liquid is a multi-faceted expression of what I interpret Umami to be.” States Chef Kobayashi, when reflecting on the project.

The end product is an elegant one, well worthy of its Blue label. Notes of apple begin the journey, with dark citrus, smoked meat, and salt and pepper following hot on its heels into a lingering fruit finish. This unique expression makes Elusive Umami primed for pairing, making its launch the perfect fit for such a tasting experience. With the holiday season around the corner, may we suggest a whisky pairing dinner party? The only catch is that you’ll have to snag one of these bottles soon; they won’t last on liquor store shelves for long.