You may be familiar with OIivier Rousteing. In the cutthroat industry that is fashion, Rousteing has been known to continue pushing boundaries and making history. At 25 years old, he was named creative director of Balmain and became the first Black fashion designer of a French couture house. It was a title that he successfully held on to for almost 15 years (shortly after our interview, it was announced that he was exiting Balmain) and in that span of time, turned the House into one that was brimming with creative opulence.

Rousteing too became a sort of social media influencer—one with actual influence—amassing more than nine million followers on his personal Instagram. He showcases his work with Balmain, his holidays, his time with family, his outfits, and his many creative pursuits. It's the kind of Instagram feed that's authentic and brings you closer to the creative director's life behind the runway. There's glamour and lavishness, but also vulnerability and personality.

Those traits appear to be what ties Johnnie Walker Vault and Rousteing together. He's the first collaborator under Johnnie Walker's global luxury platform, crafting the Couture Expression—a limited-edition release of four whisky expressions based on the four seasons. The second and final collaboration is in honour of Rousteing turning 40 this year and is called The Couture Blend. Made up of 10 exceptional whiskies from the Jonnie Walker Vault, The Couture Blend is a mark of Rousteing's evolution, fearlessness and style. It's supplemented by The Couture Flask that's as much of a fashion accessory as it is a whisky flask. And if anything, the kind of creative expression you'd expect of the trailblazer.

ESQUIRE SINGAPORE: This is your second collaboration with Johnnie Walker. The bottles of The Couture Blend are noticeably less dramatic than Couture Expression. Why is that?

OLIVIER ROUSTEING: The Couture Expression was my foray into whisky so I wanted to make a statement and have each one create a dramatic moment that reflected the seasons. For The Couture Blend, I wanted to create something that captures the tension between minimalism and maximalism, sparks conversation and curiosity, and is anchored in the present but feels futuristic and timeless at the same time. I loved playing with the paradox of pure crystal and decadent gold and finished the decanter with the oversized crystal stopper. For such a unique whisky that blends old with new and traditional with experimental—it felt like the perfect, unexpected piece of art to treasure.

ESQ: I read in a previous interview that the starting point of Couture Expression was Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us”. Was there a song that inspired The Couture Blend?

OR: For The Couture Blend, there wasn’t a specific song that inspired us but a mixture of songs that created a feeling. Dr Emma Walker and I listened to music that has richness and warmth but also subtle power. These are qualities that I think ultimately translated into the blend. The flavour works like a song that builds, revealing itself slowly, with confidence and elegance.

ESQ: What was the thought process like for Couture Blend?

OR: I wanted The Couture Blend to represent the essence of the collection, a centrepiece that brings everything together. We took inspiration from the brand’s heritage, particularly the square bottle that changed design history in the 1860s, and reimagined it for today in the form of the beautiful crystal decanter. Every decision we made was deliberate, from the shape to the play of textures and the depth you experience when you try the whisky. It’s a piece that celebrates balance, modernity, and legacy.

ESQ: How do you like to drink The Couture Blend?

OR: I like it neat or with a single, large ice cube to open the layers of flavour. For me, whisky is about ritual. You don’t rush it; you take your time, like fitting the final stitch on a gown. It’s a sensorial experience that invites you to pause, reflect, and enjoy the craft behind it.

ESQ: The Couture Flask looks like it could very well be a fashion accessory. Was that the intention?

OR: Completely. I wanted The Couture Flask to be an extension of couture, something tactile, sculptural, and desirable. It’s not just a whisky flask, it’s an object of beauty. The idea was to take something traditionally functional and turn it into art and be carried around like a statement accessory. The duality between form and function was something I really wanted to explore when I was creating this.

"Today, I create with more reflection, I’ve realised that creativity isn’t just about rebellion; it’s about evolution."

ESQ: In your opinion, what makes a good whisky?

OR: For me, a good whisky is one that tells a beautiful story. Whether that story is about the blender, collaborator or brand heritage is almost irrelevant as long as it’s something you can feel, taste and experience. I think The Couture Blend does this really nicely. Each of the 10 rare whiskies that have gone into it were chosen very deliberately so that they come together in harmony to tell the story of the blend.

ESQ: You strike me as someone who would only do things or collaborations if you believe in them. What made this partnership with Johnnie Walker something that intrigued you to pursue?

OR: Authenticity. My partnership with Johnnie Walker Vault comes from the heart. When I was younger, my grandfather would drink Johnnie Walker with my mother and father at big family occasions. I’ve always remembered the smell of it and it transports me back to those moments. About two and a half years ago, Johnnie Walker approached me and took me to Scotland to discover some incredible distilleries and meet the team. When I met Dr Emma Walker I realised that blending is a form of artistry and as a brand, Johnnie Walker stood for progress and pushing boundaries, which align very closely to my values as well. So, it was something that I just couldn’t say no to.

ESQ: What’s something new that you’ve learnt about whisky ever since collaborating with Johnnie Walker? Are there things that you think you’d apply to fashion?

OR: Patience. In whisky, your work can take decades to realise. It’s not a process you can rush and that’s something I’ve really come to appreciate. Working on The Couture Blend with rare whiskies, some as old as me, reminded me that sometimes the most beautiful things come from slowing down and letting the work breathe.

ESQ: Have you grown to be a whisky lover from this partnership with Johnnie Walker?

OR: I’ve always enjoyed whisky but this partnership has really grounded my love for it. But more than that, I’ve developed a deep respect for it as a form of artistry. Whisky has soul, it carries history, craftsmanship, and emotion in every drop.

ESQ: Like whisky that needs to be aged and mature, you have too—having spent more than 20 years in fashion, and almost 15 as creative director of Balmain. How do you think you’ve matured creatively?

OR: When I started in my career, I was fuelled by fire and wanted to prove myself, challenge perceptions and push boundaries. That energy still drives me, but I’ve learned to channel it differently. Today, I create with more reflection, I’ve realised that creativity isn’t just about rebellion; it’s about evolution.

ESQ: What does 40 feel like for you?

OR: It feels like balance. There’s a calmness that comes with experience, it’s like a confidence in who you are and what you stand for. This new chapter is about freedom, the freedom to create and enjoy what I’ve built. If my twenties were about ambition and my thirties about identity, my forties are about purpose.

The Johnnie Walker Vault The Couture Blend is available at the Johnnie Walker Vault pop-up in Changi Airport Terminal 3 running until 22 December 2025.