When it comes to drinking, it’s often said that “nothing good happens after midnight”. However, John Walker & Sons’ 28 Year Old Midnight Blend, the fifth and final release of their Private Collection, promises to disprove the old superstition. Each year since 2014, the Private Collections series has comprised some of the finest blended whisky, with innovations tested in blending techniques from John Walker & Sons’ rare casks, small batch distillations and reserve casks. With every passing year the whiskies develop a new story, with flavour characteristics that challenge the constructs of the whisky blending processes. This final release of the Private Collection comprises only 3888 limited-edition collectible decanters, so it’s reasonable to expect the outlay of $1000. Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Jim Beveridge, provides insight to why the dram is worth the wallet-load. “Whiskies aged for 28 years are rare, and very special. In our search to find the flavours and characteristics necessary for a rich, indulgent Scotch like Midnight Blend, we were very lucky to have access to some of the most mature reserves drawn from the four corners of Scotland. “Each individual malt and grain used in the final whisky adds depth of flavour to the 28 Year Old Midnight Blend, leaving hints of fruit, sweet and spice and making it a wonderful final addition to the Private Collection.”