Johnnie Walker House has launched a limited four-bottle edition, featuring the brand logo's evolution from 1908 to 2015, to pay homage to the Striding Man logo. Through illustrating the story of a figure that has transcended generations, the limited edition sees eras of Striding Man come together in a collection and merchandised in a specially-designed product packaging.
"From the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world, the evolution of the Striding Man has played a defining role in establishing Johnnie Walker as one of the world's first modern luxury brands with a distinguished brand logo," commented Lawrence Law, Global General Manager for Johnnie Walker House. "We are pleased to pay tribute to this timeless icon with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Striding Man Edition."
The Striding Man is a prime example of design innovation, with each evolution of the icon a magnum opus of a master illustrator. From its humble beginnings as a sketch on the back of a menu to becoming one of the world's most recognisable brand icons, the Striding Man is unequivocally synonymous with Johnnie Walker.
Created by Tom Brown in 1908, the Striding Man brought to life the pioneering spirit of Johnnie Walker, the brand and the man himself. The signature top hat, double-breasted coat, black boots and long-knobbed cane are now enduring legacies. It was reimagined in 1929 by Leo Cheney, who made the Striding Man into an icon for adventure across the world and enlivened the logo with colour for a contemporary look.
67 years later, to usher in a new millennium, John Geary redesigned the logo to echo the brand's commitment to innovation by flipping it to face right, signalling a new direction to progress. The world-renowned icon was once again refreshed in 2015 by Gary Redford, with the reprisal of facial features, suave tipping of his hat and the hint of a charismatic smile, all of which added a new layer of invigorating sophistication.