Johnnie Walker Lunar New Year Limited Edition Scotch whisky is a work of art
Artist sought to create a label in keeping with Johnnie Walker's image of "progress through that incredible ‘Keep Walking’ spirit.”
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New year, new blue – a new Johnnie Walker Blue Label, that is.
The Scotch whisky brand’s Lunar New Year Limited Edition bottle was designed by one of the most influential visual artists in the world, Asian-American artist James Jean. His creative expression of the Year of the Snake through the label he designed is both symbolic and inspired.
“I portrayed the snake shedding its skin to represent the idea of renewal and growth,” the acclaimed artist says. “The three snakes symbolize the attributes of wisdom, intelligence and intuition, while also representing the past, present and future.”
Born in Taipei and raised in New Jersey, Jean – who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York – adds the snakes are constantly growing, transforming and adapting to changing conditions.
“With Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year, we wanted to create a snake that felt different, new and innovative,” he adds. “Respect for the past but also looking into the future with optimism, in the same way that Johnnie Walker stands for progress through that incredible ‘Keep Walking’ spirit.”
Jean is renowned for his ability to work across multiple genres with an imaginative and multifaceted approach to image making. He fuses contemporary subjects with aesthetic techniques inspired by traditional Chinese scroll paintings, Japanese woodblock prints and Renaissance-style portraiture.
Currently living in Los Angeles, Jean sought inspiration for his designs from the layers of incredible flavour that Johnnie Walker master blender Emma Walker and her team bring to Johnnie Walker Blue Label — a blend made using some of the rarest whiskies from Johnnie Walker’s unparalleled reserves of maturing Scotch, including some irreplaceable casks sourced from long-closed ‘ghost’ distilleries.
The perfect Lunar New Year toast, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Snake Limited Edition Design is sleek, chic and an elegant gesture to ring in a new lunar year together with loved ones, family and friends.
If you’re hosting a celebratory gathering, you’ll satisfy the palettes of your guests in more ways than one – through its smooth taste, of course, but also visually through its stunning centrepiece-worthy aesthetic – making it a top pick to serve at Lunar New Year Celebrations.
This limited-edition design pays homage to the traditions of Lunar New Year but adds a future-facing design twist. Jean’s captivating composition depicts the snakes surrounded by blooming flowers as they shed their skins to embrace the next chapter of life. It features rich shades of blue, gold and crimson in a hypnotic display of symbolism. The masterful artist’s vision comes to life as it evokes a sense of luxury, extravagance and indulgence – setting a bold tone for the new year ahead.
And as many share in celebrations, this limited-edition Johnnie Walker Blue label Lunar New Year is the perfect gift idea. The thoughtful sentiment will be appreciated by many as a collector’s item. And this wonderfully rare Scotch Whisky is worth treasuring and sharing for special moments, such as toasting to good fortune and embracing new beginnings.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a velvety smooth and vibrant Scotch with layers of incredible flavour, including fruit, spice and a long, luxurious smokiness. It’s a well-honed precision process that respects the many elements shaping a Scotch whisky’s final flavour and character, including the type of grains and yeast used, the shape of the still and the length of time it’s matured in the cask.
The signature craft features an aroma full of rolling waves of subtle pepper and spice, a deep golden colour that’s burnished in the light, a smooth palate highlighting hazelnuts, citrus fruit, vanilla sweetness and honey, and a luxuriously long and smoky finish.
As winter’s frosty touch has many shivering through their days, this robust whisky is sure to warm you to your core. It is best enjoyed neat or with a sip of iced water to fully unlock its intricate flavours, enhancing its depth and complexity.
Just as Johnnie Walker Blue Label keeps evolving, the Year of the Snake symbolizes the courage and agility needed to shape and embrace promising new beginnings.
The snake is regarded as the most enigmatic of all the Chinese zodiac animals. It is said to bring auspicious energy and enhance strategic acumen, establishing it as a powerful symbol for nurturing business relationships, as well as connecting family and friends.
“James Jean’s stunning portrayal of the snake for the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year 2025 collection masterfully intertwines tradition and innovation,” says Jennifer English, Johnnie Walker global brand director. “Just as Johnnie Walker embodies progress with our Keep Walking spirit, Jean has brilliantly woven a connection between heritage and forward-thinking vision.”
His snake design represents transformation and resilience, reflecting both the legacy of the Johnnie Walker brand and the promise of the future, English adds.
In what’s become almost a tradition, Johnnie Walker has been releasing Lunar New Year edition bottles for many years now. This year marks the full zodiac calendar.
Jean also designed incredible illustrations for the Lunar New Year John Walker & Sons XR 21 Year Old Limited Edition Design. Johnnie Walker Lunar New Year Limited Edition Designs are available in selected markets globally.
The world’s most popular Scotch whisky brand according to Drinks International’s Brands Report 2024, Johnnie Walker was started in 1820 by a Scottish grocer named John Walker whose son and grandson continued the expansion of the brand. These days, Johnnie Walker whiskies are available in more than 180 countries — almost every country in the world — and features a lengthy range of award-winning whiskies. The list includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Aged 18 Years and Blue Label.
For more information, visit johnniewalker.com.
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Johnnie Walker.
