Johnnie walker goes for gold

The Striding Man figure has become an instantly recognisable mark of quality, authenticity and progress, Zanita Kajiji, vice president of marketing at Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand), said at yesterday's world debut of the pack.

The Anniversary Edition, delivered in a sleek high-gloss black bottle, is the perfect gift for any friend or business associate and a significant keepsake for any whisky connoisseur, he said.

It will be available in limited numbers at leading department stores, starting at Bt1,290 for a 75cl bottle.

Sketched in 1908 by renowned comic satirist and royal illustrator Tom Browne on the back of a lunch menu, the striding top-hatted figure has since personified the Johnnie Walker brand and become one of the most recognisable icons of the past 100 years.

It has changed with the times over the past century, but the original spirit of progress and sophistication remains. For example, in 1999, in conjunction with the launch of the "Keep Walking" campaign, the figure was switched to face left, epitomising the forward-looking spirit of Johnnie Walker.