Whisky Blender. Born at Todriggs, to the southwest of Kilmarnock, Walker was the son of a farmer. His father died in 1819 and the farm was sold. The young Walker established a grocery shop in the town the following year, and began to blend whisky. His secret was consistency and his brand, Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky, thrived and became world famous. The business was developed by Walker's son and particularly his grandson, Sir Alexander Walker (1869 - 1950), whose office still stands in John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock. Walker died at his home at India Street in Kilmarnock and lies buried in St. Andrew's churchyard there.
Johnnie Walker Red Label and Black Label went on to become some of the most famous brands of whisky in the world and are now produced by Diageo Scotland, an Edinburgh-based subsidiary of the London-based drinks multi-national, which has a turnover of £17 billion. Kilmarnock remained the centre for blending and bottling this whisky until 2012 when Diageo closed the plant after 192 years of operating in the town. The whisky is now produced by blending malts from Cardhu Distillery, Clynelish Distillery, Glenkinchie Distillery and Caol Ila Distillery with grain spirit from Cameronbridge Distillery and bottled in Leven and Glasgow.
