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Scotch Whiskies for Lunar New Year

Scotch whisky has become increasingly popular in China and Southeast Asia over the last two decades

Scotch whisky is often associated with times of gifting and celebration – think of Christmas, Father’s Day, Burns Night etc. More recently, and as the world market for Scotch whisky has expanded, other occasions have become the focus of special limited-edition bottlings by the whisky companies.

One such example is the Chinese Lunar New Year. This festival marks the first new moon in the calendar year and is celebrated across Asia and within Asian communities around the world. This year is the Year of The Snake.

Scotch whisky has become increasingly popular in China and Southeast Asia over the last two decades – this is reflected in sales and renewed focus from whisky brands in the region. The overall interest in whisky has also increased with the results seeing many of the large drinks companies investing money in building distilleries and making whisky there.

Time to look at three special bottlings for the Lunar New Year 2025.

Glenfiddich

The best-selling Speyside single malt brand of Glenfiddich has joined the party this year with a set of single malt whiskies. The Glenfiddich Lunar New Year 2025 Editions feature a packaging collaboration with leading contemporary artist Zhang Yu, whose work pulls strongly on ancient Chinese tales. The trio of whiskies form part of Glenfiddich’s ongoing ‘Great Encounters’ initiative.

The whiskies include the Glenfiddich 21 years old Gran Reserva, which will be available to domestic markets worldwide, plus the Glenfiddich 15 years old Vat 03 and Glenfiddich 18 years old Vat 04 – these two are travel retail exclusives and come in a gift package with a free glass. They will be on sale in several Chinese airports plus selected world airports including Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, Melbourne and Singapore.

Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker, Scotland’s largest selling whisky brand, has long been releasing annual bottlings to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. They have almost cornered the market for such whisky activity in Asia. 2025 marks an extension of a collaboration between Johnnie Walker and artist James Jean, who also designed illustrations for both packaging and bottle last year.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year 2025: The Year of the Snake features elaborate illustrations from Jean, who also created new artwork for the Lunar New Year bottling of John Walker & Sons XR 21 years old. The Blue Label edition is bottled at 40% ABV and is available in specialist whisky and luxury retailers worldwide. Both releases feature the same liquid as in regular bottlings of Blue Label and XR 21 years old.

Douglas Laing

Esteemed independent bottling company Douglas Laing & Co. have released an old and rare Islay single cask from within their extensive portfolio for the Lunar New Year. This cask was distilled and filled at the Bunnahabhain distillery on the famous whisky island’s rugged north coast in 1988 and has quietly matured under Douglas Laing’s watchful eyes for three and a half decades.

The single re-fill ex-sherry butt has yielded just 234 bottles at the natural cask strength of 40.2% ABV. It has been placed in the company’s prestigious XOP (Xtra Old Particular) range and sports a special Lunar Year label. Expect notes of honey, pear and caramelised peach married with lemon curd, salted caramel and baking spices.

by Matt Chambers
Master of Whisky at Whisky 1901
31/01/2025

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