An Explorer Walks Into a Bar
Explorers Club members continue their ongoing search for a familiar treasure
Discovery Channel’s Tales from the Explorers Club (2022) exposed the world, outside of Clubland, to the Explorers Club and its history, vast archives, and contributions to countless fields of scientific exploration.
After glancing at a few episodes, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the Club’s greatest attributes didn’t seem to make the cut. Chris, the Club’s bartender is among Clubland’s finest, and is the maestro for the Club’s Friday Frolic, which is best described as an assortment of the most fascinating adventurers that you’ll ever meet swapping stories over cocktails on Friday evenings between 6pm and 9pm.
At a recent frolic, my eyes glanced behind Chris to notice a bottle of Johnnie Walker Scotch, a personal favorite, with “Explorers Club Collection” in gold letters atop a green bottle.
“Chris, what is that?”, I asked.
“It was discovered by a member who just got back from Malaysia,” a member interjected. “You do know the story, right?”
Back in 2012, Diageo, a London-based, multinational alcohol manufacturer which produces several brands including Johnnie Walker Scotch, launched “The Explorers Club Collection” of scotch whiskies. The line was targeted specifically to international travelers and duty-free stores designed to resemble the Explorers Club headquarters on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Members of the Explorers Club, shortly after the launch, began purchasing the bottles believing that a licensing agreement had been made between the Club and Diageo. To make matters worse, a video emerged of an airport lounge employee telling a prospective customer that the scotch was produced at the Club’s headquarters, per the New York Post.
This was not a licensing agreement, however, but rather an illegal attempt to use the Club’s name and likeness for a $50 million line of alcohol.
After months of ongoing litigation, the Club ultimately won the lawsuit against Diageo. A confidential, out-of-court settlement was later struck and the “Explorers Club Collection” scotch was discontinued and removed from the shelves.
As a result of the lawsuit, members of the storied club have created a new challenge: returning discontinued bottles of scotch found throughout the world back to the Club. Explorers have climbed Mount Everest, walked on the Moon, and led sailing expeditions to Greenland — just imagine the adventure hidden behind each bottle sitting on the bar.
That alone is certainly worth an episode of a show that’s sure to keep many at the edge of their seat.
Such a great article, thanks for sharing!