Latest news with #JohnnieWalker
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
No new sponsor to replace Johnnie Walker as Fringe bosses draw up plans to demand tourist levy from council
The Fringe Society admitted it has not found a replacement sponsor for Johnnie Walker Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... No new sponsor has been found for the Fringe to replace Johnnie Walker, Fringe chiefs have admitted, as they draw up plans to demand tourist levy funds from Edinburgh Council. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said it could administer a funding pot made up predominantly from the city's visitor levy to help festival operators, under proposals being drawn up by the organisation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The society said it was compiling a comprehensive document which it will present to the City of Edinburgh Council by the end of the year, laying out the issues, problems and funding gaps identified by venue operators and other Fringe stakeholders. Among the recommendations will be the creation of a fund potentially administered by the Fringe, akin to the Scottish Government's £1.58m Platforms for Creative Excellence (PLACE) Resilience Fund, set up in 2022 to support the return of the festival in the wake of the pandemic. It would include at least £1.1m from the visitor levy, as well as additional money from sources including public funding. Tony Lankester is the new chief executive of the Fringe Society. | Fringe Society This comes as the Fringe admitted it had not yet found a replacement corporate sponsor for whisky brand Johnnie Walker, which ended its partnership last month, but insisted it would plug the gap with a string of smaller corporate tie ups yet to be announced. Chief executive Tony Lankester and deputy chief executive Lindsey Jackson spoke to The Scotsman as the Fringe launched its official programme for this August. This year's programme features work from 3,352 shows across 265 venues from 58 countries , slightly up on last year's figure of 3,317 shows. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pair said the funding pot could be made up of 'at least' £1.1 million from the Visitor Levy tax, which is due to be introduced next year, as well as public funding and money from other sources. Ms Jackson said a 'collective Fringe proposition' document is being drawn up following consultation with festival stakeholders, ahead of the council forming its Transient Visitor Levy (TVL) forum, with an expectation that it could begin to create funds toward the end of the year. The Society is running a series of workshops with venues to understand 'where the pinch points are' and what challenges they are facing. 'From a Fringe Society's point of view, investment from the visitor levy needs to go to the festival, not to the Fringe Society: it's about what's happening out there, not what's happening in here,' said Ms Jackson. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Also [we're looking at] where the council needs to take responsibility and use its investment, or reduce costs or improve services, parks, access to clean drinking water, benches, toilets. Those things will all both reduce cost and reduce pressure on the whole environment generally, but will also make it a better experience in August. 'Our intention is, by the end of the year, with the venues, to have a collective fringe proposition and business case that is inarguable in its return on investment, its value for money. For a long time, the council and the city has said, 'We understand the Fringe's collective problems, but there's no money to support, we love to help, but we can't.' 'Now, this is our opportunity, so we will be right there on day one, knocking on the door with a well-evidenced and documented business case that says: 'This is why this is a long term and sustained return on investment. We all know that the Fringe contributes hundreds of millions of pounds to this city and many businesses, including accommodation providers. It feels like this is the right point at which the city finally has the money to put into supporting and underwriting the infrastructure. We're not expecting there to be miracles overnight, but we are expecting an early endorsement of the Fringe's need of value for money in that space.' Mr Lankester has pointed to a figure of £1.1m, which would be generated from the levy by Fringe performers alone, which he sees as a 'minimum' which should be handed back by the council. He said he had met 'informally' with venues to discuss synergies and ways the Fringe Society could support helping them to cut costs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pot could potentially give venues the chance to borrow funds which would allow them to pay out for infrastructure and other outgoings further in advance, ultimately making cost savings. Mr Lankester believes the business landscape has changed dramatically since the pandemic. 'The world we're in now is vastly different from a lot of us, five years ago or 10 years ago or two years ago,' he said. 'No one can operate now post-Covid in the same way they were operating pre-Covid. It's completely upended every single business model of every single industry on earth. Add to that, the broader economic environment, the introduction of artificial intelligence. All of that, we're operating in different place now. 'And I think it's incumbent upon every business operating in the landscape to use it as an opportunity to re interrogate all their business and just ask some fundamental questions: In this context, should we be scaling up? Should we be scaling down? Should we be doing more? Should we be doing less? Should we be offering different deals to artists? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's not just a simplistic argument about what does the Fringe Society charge for X, or what is the council chance for Y? Those are part of it, but they're broader questions as well. We want to create the space where areas of collaboration can be surfaced. I think it's also worth partnering with the venues - and this is something the Fringe Society can do more of - to help them interrogate their own business models.' He admits there 'probably would have been' conversations with Johnnie Walker owner Diageo with an aim to renewing the sponsorship contract. The Society is targeting financial services, retail and beverage companies for potential deals. However, he believes the year-on-year income from sponsorships will not be 'vastly different' to last year, due to a string of smaller deals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'There are ongoing conversations, because medium term strategy for me is just to broaden that sponsorship pool so that we go from having five or six sponsors, to 10 or 15 sponsors with dovetail timing, so that they don't all start on the same day in the same year, so that we can even out some of the revenues. 'These things are elongated: there's not going to be a like-for-like replacement for the Johnnie Walker investment for 2025, but there will be other sponsors in the mix that maybe weren't there before.'
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Revibe 2025: Sickflip, Kampai, Nida & More Set To Ignite India's Biggest Summer Music Tour
Last Updated: Revibe 2025 by Johnnie Walker features Sickflip, Kampai, Nida & more in a house music + art festival touring across India this summer. This summer, Revibe by Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer returns in full force—and this time, it's louder, livelier, and more immersive than ever before. As the heat rises, so does the cultural tempo, and Revibe 2025 is stepping up as not just a music event, but a full-sensory celebration of what summer should feel like: vibrant, refreshing, and unapologetically bold. Curated for India's ever-evolving community of culture seekers, this year's Revibe blends sound, colour, and spirit into a series of dynamic festivals that are equal parts house party and art show. Built around Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer, the event offers a unique intersection of premium beverage experience and cutting-edge cultural expression. Launching in Bengaluru and moving across Hyderabad, Gurugram, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and culminating in the sun-soaked coasts of Goa, Revibe 2025 promises a high-voltage tour that celebrates diversity through beats, brushstrokes, and bold individuality. Where Beats Meet Expression India's love for house music is reaching new heights—and Revibe is riding that wave. This year, the event taps into some of the most popular and trending sub-genres: Afro House, Disco House, Tech House, Deep House, and Progressive Melodic House. Whether you're a seasoned house head or a casual listener, the lineup is designed to pull you into the groove. Artists like Sickflip, Kampai, Rabab B2B Reyhaa, Deep Brown, and Nida—names that are reshaping the indie and international house scene—will bring their signature sets to India's biggest party cities. From sunset to starlight, the music won't just fill the air, it will define the mood. A Gallery of Movement and Colour True to its name, Revibe isn't just about what you hear—it's about what you feel and how you express it. At every stop on the tour, the venues will be transformed into immersive art spaces. Interactive stations will allow guests to co-create live art, paint massive murals, and craft personalised visuals inspired by vinyl and DJ culture. Think of it as part block party, part open-air studio—where your creativity is just as welcome as your dance moves. The goal? To make every Revibe experience feel deeply personal. Whether you're snapping selfies against a hand-painted backdrop or dancing barefoot under lasers, the entire space becomes a canvas. The Spirit Behind the Sound 'Revibe is a celebration of vibrant spirits and bold expressions," says Anchal Kaushal, Vice President – Customer Marketing, Diageo India. 'With Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer at its core, this experience is about more than music—it's about how we connect, create, and feel alive in the moment. Every detail—from the music to the visual storytelling to the energy in the crowd—has been designed to spark something real." And that's the essence of the Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer—light, effervescent, and full of character, it embodies the Revibe philosophy: staying fresh while walking boldly forward. More Than a Party—A Cultural Reset Revibe 2025 marks a major evolution in the live event landscape in India. It reflects a generation's desire for experiences that are emotionally resonant, visually rich, and socially fluid. It's not about VIP sections and velvet ropes—it's about shared space, shared rhythm, and unforgettable moments. As India embraces global soundscapes and new-age artistic expression, Revibe stands as a lighthouse of modern youth culture. It dares to reimagine what nightlife and festival culture can look like, all while championing a message of individual style, community energy, and bold reinvention. So whether you're looking to lose yourself in the music, leave your mark on a canvas, or just raise a glass to a summer that finally feels like you—Revibe 2025 is your scene. First Published: June 01, 2025, 17:47 IST
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo to cut 3,000 jobs amid Trump tariff fight
Luxury automaker Volvo is slashing 3,000 jobs, representing about 15% of the company's office-based workforce. The announcement made Monday says the most impacted positions are in Sweden. The mostly white-collar job cuts are part of the company's "recently launched cost and cash action plan," according to a media release. The layoffs come as the Swedish automaker tries to resurrect its plummeting share price and drum up better demand for its cars by restructuring part of its business and cutting costs. "The automotive industry is in the middle of a challenging period," Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars President and CEO, said in a statement. "To address this, we must improve our cash flow generation and structurally lower our costs. At the same time, we will continue to ensure the development of the talent we need for our ambitious future." Drink Company That Sells Guinness And Johnnie Walker Sees $150M Profit Hit From Tariffs With most of its production based in Europe and China, Volvo Cars is more exposed to new U.S. tariffs than many of its European rivals, and has said it could become impossible to export its most affordable cars to the U.S. Read On The Fox Business App On Friday, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on imports from the European Union from June 1, but on Monday he backed away from that date, restoring a July 9 deadline to allow for talks between Washington and Brussels. Toyota Sees $1.3B Profit Hit From Trump Tariffs In 2 Months Volvo Cars' shares were up 3.6% by Monday, Reuters reported, with most of the rise coming before the layoff announcement. They are still down 24% year-to-date. Click Here To Read More On Fox Business In 2024, Volvo had over 44,000 employees globally, according to Reuters. Roughly 20,000 were white-collar workers. The automaker expects to incur a one-time restructuring cost of 1.5 billion crowns. Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: Volvo to cut 3,000 jobs amid Trump tariff fight Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Whiskies That Whisky Experts Choose Over Johnnie Walker Black Label
Johnnie Walker Black Label has long been a gateway into Scotch whisky. But for those ready to explore furthere here are 5 bottles to try next. Ask any whisky drinker to name one of the bottles that got them into scotch, and chances are Johnnie Walker Black Label will be on the list. It's the gateway whisky for countless fans around the world. The iconic square bottle with its black label has been a fixture on shelves since 1906, when it first appeared under the name 'Extra Special Old Highland Whisky.' It took on the name we know today after a 1909 rebrand—and 119 years later, it remains a global staple. In fact, Diageo reported sales of 291 million bottles of Black Label in 2022 alone. But for those looking to expand their whiskey horizons beyond this classic, where should you go next? I asked five experts to share their favorite alternatives to Johnnie Walker Black Label. Glen Scotia Double Cask (c. $50), recommended by Holly Seidewand, offers a smooth, coastal single malt alternative to Johnnie Walker Black Label. The first pick comes from Holly Seidewand, Co-owner of First Fill Spirits and a whisky educator. What many drinkers don't realize is that Johnnie Walker Black Label is actually a gently peated whisky. The subtle smoke in the blend comes from Caol Ila, a peated Islay malt that is a key component in the blend. 'What's interesting is JW Black is peated but most won't come with that as their first description,' Seidewand explained to me over email. 'That usually only comes with JW Double Black. Anyways, most people are shocked when you tell them it's peated! Most just think it is 'rich' and 'smooth.'' With this in mind, Holly recommends Glen Scotia Double Cask, a no-age-statement whisky from the Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown. Typically priced around $50, it offers a comfortable step up for someone moving from a blended Scotch to a single malt. As Holly puts it, it has 'some coastal qualities that could present as 'peat' but overall a well-rounded, vanilla-forward single malt.' Ardnamurchan AD/Core Release ($70), suggested by independent bottler Finn Thompson, blends peated and unpeated malt for a balanced, smoky profile. Next recommendation comes from Finn Thompson, an independent bottler whose family has deep ties to the scotch whisky industry. His selection reflects the long-standing presence of blends like Johnnie Walker Black in both professional and personal contexts. Finn explained to me over email the unique place Johnnie Walker Black holds for him and his family. 'For me, Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of the iconic brands of scotch whisky,' Finn said. 'It was my grandfather's favourite dram during his time running our family business in the 1970s, and going back further, we have records of my family trading casks with John Walker and Sons dating back to 1903.' Finn's selection of the Ardnamurchan AD/Core Release makes perfect sense. It's a 50/50 blend of peated and unpeated whisky, resulting in a profile that will feel very familiar to anyone who enjoys Johnnie Walker Black. He went on to explain that the 'balanced but rich, smoky style is something that Ardnamurchan Distillery have perfected. Independently owned and with a focus on sustainability it is a distillery that sums up everything that is good about scotch whisky.' Expect to pay around $70 if you can find a bottle in the US, or around £40 if you are in the UK. The Lakes Distillery's The One Sherry Cask Finish (~$50), recommended by former Macallan whisky maker Sarah Burgess, offers rich flavor with a touch of subtle smoke. If the name Sarah Burgess rings a bell, it's because she was formerly Lead Whisky Maker at The Macallan, where she helped create some of the brand's most well known releases, including Tales of The Macallan Volume One and The Macallan Genesis. She later joined The Lakes Distillery in Cumbria, where she now leads whisky production to a category that is ripe with innovation and new ideas. While her pick might seem like a case of choosing your own homework, it's hard to argue with her credentials. After all, who's better placed to recommend a whisky than the person who crafted it? Sarah explained to me over email: 'Naturally, I'm going to lean toward a whisky I've been closely involved in creating, and with that in mind, I'd recommend The One Sherry Cask Finish. I know this whisky inside out, and it offers just the right balance of richness and subtle smoke that fans of Johnnie Walker Black Label tend to enjoy. It's full-bodied, versatile, and a quiet favourite among bartenders, perfect for classics like the Old Fashioned or a smoky twist on a Whisky Sour.' While not available in the US, you can order from The Whisky Exchange or Master of Malt for around $50 plus shipping. Blair Bowman's pick? Stick with the classic. Reliable, versatile, and found in bars from Tokyo to Tobermory—why fix what isn't broken? While the first three picks have all offered thoughtful alternatives for anyone looking to take a step up the whisky ladder, Blair Bowman, a whisky consultant and author, raises a fair point: if it isn't broken, why fix it? For that reason, he sees no need to substitute Johnnie Walker Black Label at all. And while that might sound a little non-committal, he made a very good case for it when we spoke over email. 'I simply can't pick an alternative to Johnnie Walker Black Label - because nothing truly compares. It's a fantastic whisky. My go-to when travelling: reliably excellent and found in hotel bars from Tokyo to Tobermory. Versatile, elegant, and always satisfying. Depending on where I'm travelling, the time of year, or the local climate, it works perfectly in a highball, on the rocks, or simply neat.' (CALL OUT QUOTE) 'If I could only drink one whisky for the rest of my life, it would be Johnnie Walker Black Label." Johnnie Walker Black Label from the 1960s, recommended by Peter Wilcockson, offers deeper sherry notes and vintage character—currently £350 at The Whisky Exchange. Call me biased, but I believe we've saved the best for last. This isn't just a great substitute or a step up from Johnnie Walker Black Label, in my view, it's one of the best whiskies in the world. Peter Wilcockson, Whisky Specialist at has picked Johnnie Walker Black Label from the 1960s and 70s as your next bottle to try, and I couldn't agree more. These old bottlings offer something truly special. Despite their age, they're surprisingly affordable and you can often find them at auction for under $200, or a bit more from select retailers. In my opinion, it's some of the best money you can spend on whisky. Especially one you already know you enjoy. The sherry profile is far more pronounced than with modern bottlings, likely due to a higher proportion of sherry casks in the blend at the time. Some even suggest early Black Label was matured exclusively in sherry casks during that era, a claim I haven't been able to verify, but one that certainly feels believable when you taste it. Peter explained to me over email: 'Johnnie Walker Black Label bottles from the 1960s, 70s and 80s tend to outperform their modern counterparts. They show less sweetness, more pronounced malt character, and often an oily texture with a touch of saltiness—qualities that give them greater complexity and balance.' And with that, I'll leave the decision to you. Whether you stick with the classic, explore some single malt alternatives, or take a step back in time with a vintage bottle, there's plenty out there for your next whisky adventure.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
John Swinney warns Donald Trump tariffs on whisky are 'very damaging' to Scottish economy
EXCLUSIVE: The First Minister said the removal of the 10 per cent levy on Scotch exported to the US must be a "negotiating priority". John Swinney has warned Donald Trump's tariffs on whisky are "very damaging" to the Scottish economy. The First Minister said the removal of the 10 per cent levy on all bottles of Scotch exported to the US must be a "negotiating priority" for the UK Government. The SNP leader spoke out this week after drinks industry giant Diageo, which owns 30 distilleries across Scotland, said it would lose £113m a year as a result of the US President's tariffs system. The maker of the world-leading Johnnie Walker brand is planning to slash costs across the company as a result. The recent UK-US trade deal announced by Keir Starmer made no mention of Scotland's national drink - but final details of the agreement are still being hammered out by officials in London and Washington. Asked by the Record if he was pushing for tariffs to be removed from Scotch, the First Minister said: "We've had a number of discussions in relation to whisky. We recognise the importance of the whisky industry for Scotland. "Tariffs on the whisky industry are very damaging to the economic well-being of Scotland, and we need to counter that. So a negotiating priority has to be the removal of tariffs across the board, but particularly for the whisky industry in Scotland." The whisky industry supports an estimated 41,000 jobs and is Scotland's second most productive sector behind energy. Its worth to the UK economy reached £7.1 billion in 2022. The US has long been the largest export market by value for Scotch, worth £971m in 2024. The Scotch Whisky Association, which represents distillers, previously said the UK-US draft trade deal was "welcome progress". A spokesperson added: "We continue to support this measured and pragmatic approach in the weeks ahead so that Scotch Whisky can return to the zero-for-zero tariff agreement with our friends and partners in the US whiskey industry as soon as possible.' The Record previously reported how Trump's administration could have a "catastrophic" impact on the industry with production cut back as a result. During his first stint in charge, Trump imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports of Scotch whisky between October 2019 and March 2021 - costing £600 million in exports. "It was catastrophic: we lost 25 per cent of our US business, Daniel Sherry of Ian Macleod Distillers said in February. "People are feeling the pinch and the industry has taken a big, big hit," he added. "To have tariffs on top of that would be a two-punch combination. "Some distillers are looking at cutting back on their production already, having grown it every year for two decades. This tariff talk has instilled some panic.'
