Asian-American visual  artist James Jean, who has designed promotional posters of acclaimed films including Everything Everywhere All at Once, is the brain behind Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s Lunar New Year limited-edition design inspired by the wood dragon. Explains Jean: “Evolved from traditional depictions of Chinese dragons, my dragon is composed of flowers and organic elements, from which emerge tendrils and arcing lines, evoking the idea of roots and connection.” 

There are also hidden elements incorporated within the design, from the chrysanthemums where the liquid gold flows to the hummingbirds sipping on the precious nectar. Added the designer: “I want my work to function from far away but reveal more details the more closely you explore the imagery.” 

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Penfolds gets into the festive spirit with the launch of its Chinese New Year offering featuring its iconic Grange, as well as premium pours from its Luxury & Icons range in a special Lunar New Year gift box. The gift box showcases intricate golden dragon patterns and scales that are contrasted by the box’s vibrant red hue to symbolise celebration and prosperity.

Interestingly, the first commercial release of the Grange was in 1952—which coincided with the Year of the Dragon—and the 2019 Grange continues its legacy of producing full-bodied, powerful and perfectly balanced reds. The Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is also worth noting; known as the ‘Baby Grange’ as it was aged in barrels previously holding the vintage Grange, it is a stunning red wine with the structure of the cabernet sauvignon and richness of the shiraz. Other expressions featured in the collection are the RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz, and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Through the creative eyes of artist Raku Inoue, Glenfiddich’s legendary stag merges with the legendary wood dragon to celebrate the upcoming new year through its limited-edition bottlings. Wood—a native earth element also represents growth—and in redesigning the animal, Inoue shared that he crafted it “petal by petal, element by element from natural materials and fitting to this auspicious moment in time”. 

Added Inoue: “Chinese New Year represents growth and renewal, and what better symbol than nature. My aim was to take you on a journey to the great outdoors, harnessing some of the most magnificent elements.” The Glenfiddich Reserva Rum Cask 21 Year Old leads the limited-edition Chinese New Year collection, which also spans the core range 12, 15 and 18 Year Old whiskies.

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French designer Vincent Darré has always seen Martell as a global ambassador of cognac, and for Martell Cordon Bleu’s Chinese New Year-inspired look, Darré drew a blue ribbon around the bottle that connects the swifts—the cognac house’s iconic symbol. The design, which is finished with the Martell logo depicted as the sun, is reflective of the cognac uniting imbibers around the world. 

As for Martell Noblige, Darré wanted to showcase the blend of two cultures by combining the swift and the dragon in his design. Thus, the bottle and the gift box showcases a striking narrative where ships carrying the precious cognac are guided by swifts to reach their destination.

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