- Guests including Anoushka Shankar, Priya Kansara, Rahi Chadda, Saffron Vadher, Sakshi Mittal, Vartika Mittal-Goenka, Kaushik Velendra & Jasroop Kaur Singh joined the whisky brand and Indian couturier to toast their limited-edition collaboration with an evening of joy, togetherness and community at The Dorchester
- Featuring a specially commissioned one-off dance performance by Usha Jey, and DJ sets by Gracie T and Almass Badat as well as panel moderator Simran Randhawa
LONDON, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday 15 October 2025, London came together to celebrate Indian culture and Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s collaboration with Rahul Mishra, following the recent release of their limited-edition bottle design. Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch whisky*, together with Indian couturier Rahul Mishra, welcomed actress and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas in her role as the brand’s Global Ambassador, alongside entrepreneurs, designers, models and cultural leaders at the address that captures the spirit and energy of London, The Dorchester. The celebration headlined the night and followed an intimate panel discussion with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rahul Mishra, moderated by cultural writer and broadcaster Simran Randhawa.
Rahul Mishra’s limited-edition design, symbolising bright beginnings with “blooming flowers and spirited animals,” features a festive night scene that signifies abundance and joy. This visual language formed the creative blueprint for the event. At The Dorchester, the Orchid Room’s décor in deep blues and luminous golds mirrored the bottle’s palette, while floral installations and hand-tied garlands echoed its botanical motifs. Menu details referenced craft and seasonality, with every touchpoint from first step inside to final toast extending the bottle’s story of light, renewal and craft into the room.
As two globally recognised cultural forces shaping contemporary luxury and entertainment, Rahul and Priyanka carry Indian craft, heritage, modernity and creativity to audiences around the world. The London celebration drew on the conversations they inspire and showcased a new wave of Indian diaspora creatives who are redefining perceptions of Indian creativity. Dancer and choreographer Usha Jey performed a specially commissioned, one-off piece that fused Bharatanatyam with contemporary movement set to the R&B classic “Family Affair” by Mary J. Blige, creating a fresh dialogue between tradition and a modern anthem. Gracie T and DJ Almass Badat, two UK-based DJs leading the UK desi music scene and fixtures across festivals, club nights and radio, blended sounds across the spectrum to give the room a distinctly cross-cultural Indian feel.
Within Indian culture, fashion often reflects craft, celebration and personal expression, which made styling central to the story of the night. Priyanka wore Rahul Mishra Couture: the saree-inspired, one-shoulder silhouette, this signature Rahul Mishra creation in ruby red marks the spirit of India’s festive season with grace and luminosity. From Rahul Mishra’s couture collection ‘Aura’, the gown takes inspiration from Indian draping traditions, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Its details appear sculpted, as though thread, needle, rhinestones, and sequins are used like strokes of paint to trace the contours of the human body, creating a play of light and shadow that radiates from the wearer herself. Each element was meticulously crafted over 2,700 hours by 14 skilled artisans at our Noida atelier, transforming fabric into a living artwork that embodies the dialogue between heritage and modernity, body and soul, craft and couture. Dancer Usha Jey wore a piece from AFEW (Air, Fire, Earth & Water) Rahul Mishra, the designer’s ready-to-wear line that channels couture handwork into lighter, everyday silhouettes and supports artisan communities year-round.
Guided by the couturier’s storytelling, Johnnie Walker Blue Label curated the evening’s cocktails while the hotel’s expert mixologists brought the menu to life. Guests enjoyed the Mango Highball and Little Star, a blend of Blue Label, elderflower and champagne, alongside alcohol-free serves such as the Seedlip Spice 94 Paloma and the Seedlip Grove 42 Margarita. The pours were paired with refined Indian canapés and tasting plates from the hotel’s chefs, including spiced lamb tartlets, saffron and coconut bites and seasonal chutney pairings.
Rahul Mishra said: “I feed profound gratitude to Johnnie Walker Blue Label and to everyone who helped bring our shared vision to life this evening. Translating the language of my atelier into a bottle was the first step; seeing it carried into space, sound and taste at The Dorchester was deeply moving. From the artisans who created it to Priyanka who carried the evening with so much grace, the performers, Simran, florist and the culinary and mixology teams, many hands shaped this moment. It reminded me that craft is collective, and in this Indian festive season, celebration feels like its most honest expression.”
Speaking of the celebration, producer and actress, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, added: “There’s something incredibly exciting about the Indian festive season – it’s a season of warmth, joy and community. Celebrating Rahul’s vision with Johnnie Walker Blue Label felt like a beautiful convergence of craft and culture and you could feel it in the room as a shared experience. Rahul’s work has always gone beyond fashion; it’s an expression of culture and emotion. Celebrating that here in London, surrounded by people who appreciate the beauty of creation, made the night very special.”
Hinesh Shah, General Manager of Luxury, Diageo commented: “Johnnie Walker Blue Label is at its best when it brings people and culture together. Partnering with Rahul Mishra allowed us to connect mastery in whisky with mastery in design. Our role tonight was to curate and deliver, from the whisky to the experience. Seeing the city celebrate Indian creativity made the moment feel genuinely significant for the brand legacy.”
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an icon of modern luxury, handcrafted in small batches using time-honoured techniques reserved for whiskies of the highest calibre, ensuring exceptional depth and character. The limited-edition bottle will continue to take centre stage in a series of international Johnnie Walker Blue Label festive celebrations featuring Indian talent and partners throughout October and November.
The next celebration is set to take place in India, promising an evening of unparalleled opulence and masterful craftsmanship. The occasion will be graced by Delhi’s esteemed bureaucrats and distinguished social elite, alongside Diageo’s global and Indian leadership. Among the dignitaries expected to attend are British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron; Nik Jhangiani, Interim CEO, Diageo PLC; Johnnie Walker master blender Dr. Emma Walker; Cristina Diezhandino, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo; and Praveen Someshwar, CEO, Diageo India.
Please drink responsibly, and please do not forward to anyone under the legal purchase age.
