A Director Delved Into 200 Years Of Johnnie Walker To Uncover What Made It An Icon

Brought to you by Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch whisky brand enjoyed by people in over 180 countries.

You’ve probably seen his silhouette on the front of whisky bottles, but who is Johnnie Walker?

That’s the question that’s driven one director to make a feature-length documentary exploring the identity of the man behind a now-world-famous brand. The Man Who Walked Around The World, from Emmy and BAFTA-winning director Anthony Wonke, unravels the story of the real Johnnie Walker.

Born in 1805 in Kilmarnock, Scotland, Johnnie Walker was a grocer who created his own whisky brand. But as The Man Who Walked Around The World unfurls, it becomes apparent that he’s played a part in some of history’s most notable events, been immortalised on screen, and celebrated by novelists, among other things.

It’s a story that fascinated Anthony Wonke so much he decided to make the documentary as an independent filmmaker.

The Man Who Walked Around The World uses never-before-heard stories, archival footage and in-depth conversation to give an insight into how Johnnie Walker’s whisky went from a small town in Scotland to every town in the world.

The documentary was released on the Discovery Channel on November 18, and on TheManWho.Film from November 26.

Intrigued? Check out the trailer for The Man Who Walked Around The World and head here to find out more about Johnnie Walker.

This article originally appeared on Junkee.

(Lead image courtesy of the Johnnie Walker archive, via The Man Who Walked Around The World)