The opening of the bar was nothing less than extraordinary, with Johnnie Walker providing its guests with a once in a lifetime, multi-sensory experience of sight, smell and taste.
The guests were welcomed to the bar with a specially-prepared drink for the evening called The Gentleman’s Wager – in the spirit of the Johnnie Walker gentleman’s wagers that have been initiated by many around the world, starting with world-famous actors Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini.
Guests were then ushered into a theatre where they watched the Johnnie Walker short film of Law and Giannini initiating the first #WalkerWager.
The next part of the experience was a tasting with whisky expert Tom Jones.
The lively and exuberant Jones escorted the guests through a journey of taste and smell into the making of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Guests were then escorted to enjoy a specially-created menu to complement the flavours of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, by world-renowned chef, David Higgs.
The night was concluded with the sounds of blues artist Dan Patlansky and African folk legend Vusi Mahlasela.
It was a night of prestige and extravagance for South Africa’s elite, with radio personality Unathi Msengana and comedian David Kau also attending the opening.
Eighteen 05 at the Saxon is the only Johnnie Walker bar outside of Scotland and only the second Johnnie Walker bar opened in the world.