Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 with collector-worthy bottles (some inspired by year of the snake).
Text by: Eris Choo
Glenfiddich
This Lunar New Year, Glenfiddich presents A Gift for Great Encounters, inspired by the imagined meeting of the iconic Glenfiddich stag and the legendary Nine-Coloured Deer from Chinese mythology, which embodies traits such as wisdom, compassion, and harmony. The series features stunning artwork by renowned contemporary ink artist Zhang Yu, who combines traditional Chinese ink wash techniques with modern aesthetics to create a harmonious narrative of East meets West. The collection is led by the multiple award-winning Glenfiddich Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish 21-Year-Old, an aged whisky finished in Caribbean rum-soaked casks and infused with notes of sharp ginger, sultry fig, and uplifting lime that give way to sweet toffee and a spicy, exotic warmth. The collection also spans Glenfiddich’s core range of 12-, 15-, and 18-Year-Old variants, each packaged with elegant whisky-nosing glasses to enhance sharing and gifting moments. Meanwhile, travelers can get two travel-exclusive variants from the Perpetual Collection as part of Glenfiddich’s Global Travel Retail offerings. The limited-edition gift packs can be purchased at selected retailers, as well as Changi Airport Lotte Duty Free stores for the travel-exclusive variants.
Hennessy
Hennessy continues its tradition of collaborating with talented designers for its exclusive Lunar New Year collections. This year, celebrated Chinese fashion designer Shuting Qiu was chosen to bring the Reimagination collection to life. Drawing inspiration from her cultural heritage and the vitality of spring, Qiu reimagines Hennessy’s iconic V.S.O.P, X.O, and Paradis bottles with bold red hues, floral motifs, and snake-scale patterns, making them perfect themed gifts for celebrations or post-reunion dinner indulgence.
Each bottle sports a unique look: the Hennessy X.O features a matte red-to-purple gradient, golden cork, and recyclable gift box; the V.S.O.P edition boasts a vibrant satin finish, red floral accents, and a collectible linen bag; while the Paradis bottle shines in red with a leather collar and sculptural snake motif, symbolising renewal and prosperity. The snake motifs are also subtle references to Hennessy’s roots, as they echo the flow of the Charente River in Cognac, which winds through Hennessy estate.
The Macallan
The Macallan unveils the travel exclusive Harmony Collection Guardian Oak from its latest Harmony Collection, together with a world-first immersive pop-up at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall, as part of its unique partnership with Cirque du Soleil. The Harmony Collection is a limited annual series of single malts, and this year, one of the two releases is the global travel exclusive, The Macallan Harmony Collection Guardian Oak. It’s exclusively available at select LOTTE duty free stores in Singapore. If you are travelling, savour a taste of the exceptional whisky, discover Cirque du Soleil SPIRIT characters, as well as personalise each bottle at the gift-wrapping station at the brand’s immersive pop-up experience at Singapore Changi Airport, Terminal 3 Departure Hall from now until 10 March 2025.
Martell
For the Year of the Snake, Martell unveils its most prestigious cognac yet: the L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Serpent. Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud has meticulously selected very old eaux-de-vie from past Years of the Snake and combined them with the original blend, creating a symphony of over 1,400 eaux-de-vie from Cognac’s finest terroirs. The result is a complex and refined expression that opens with notes of citrus and soft spices. A gentle swirl of the glass reveals notes of mild tobacco and a wood mix of cedar and walnuts, before giving way to fruitier dimensions of candied fruit, fresh blackcurrant, and quince marmalade. The exquisite creation comes in a tailor-made Baccarat crystal decanter, adorned with a 19-carat gold-engraved neck and crowned with a red crystal stopper shaped like a serpent’s head. Housing this is beautifully crafted red cabinet decorated with an interlaced snakeskin pattern displayed against a dramatic backdrop of gold, sporting the Martell coat of arms, grapevines, and gracefully coiling snakes. With only 500 bottles released, this rare edition is truly an exclusive collector’s treasure. Assemblage du Serpent is available via Le Cercle, Pernod Ricard’s private platform.
Penfolds
Penfolds’ 2025 Lunar New Year gifting range features a collection of limited-edition wines housed in elegant boxes with snake-inspired designs. The collection includes iconic Penfolds offerings such as the Grange 2020, the bold Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, the Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2022 (available in both 750ml and Magnum 1.5L), and the opulent RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022. Each wine is presented in a collectible gift box featuring intricate, serpentine gold embellishments, making it the perfect addition to any festive celebration or wine collection. For the first time, the Bin 389 bottle label features Penfolds’ distinctive snake motif. The collection is available online and at fine wine retailers. It will also be highlighted at a pop-up collaboration with 8 By Bottles & Bottles at Great World City Singapore until 20 February 2025.
