Lunar New Year is approaching, with an estimated 1.5 billion people expected to mark the Year of the Horse when it arrives on February 17.
Gift-giving is central to the celebration, and spirits brands get involved through limited editions tied to the occasion. Most stop at cosmetic changes, repackaging existing releases in special bottles or boxes, frequently commissioned from a well-known artist. A smaller number go further, creating a new expression specifically for Lunar New Year. That’s what we’re celebrating here.
Hennessy, Zodiac Collection
ABV
40%
Price
$35,000
Hennessy rarely does Lunar New Year quietly, frequently rolling out limited-edition designs across its core range. This year, however, the French maison has gone further with the 12-chapter Zodiac Collection, a hyper-exclusive cognac priced at $35,000.
Limited to just 50 decanters, each engraved and hand-painted, the cognac is composed exclusively of eaux-de-vie distilled in previous Years of the Horse. Artist Trajan Jia was commissioned to design the decanter, reinforcing the ceremonial nature of the release.
The GlenAllachie, Year of the Fire Horse
ABV
48%
Price
$107
Known for its innovative use of flavorful casks, GlenAllachie master distiller Billy Walker has used his decades of experience to make a Scotch whisky that pays homage to the Year of the Horse’s fiery associations.
This limited-edition single malt is made with liquid finished in Pedro Ximénez, oloroso Sherry, and high-char Appalachian virgin oak casks. The result is dark, spice-forward, and unapologetically rich.
With an RRP of $107, the 13-year-old age statement, cask selection, and limited nature make this one of the stronger value propositions in the line-up.
Martell, L’Or de Jean Martell Assemblage du Cheval
ABV
40%
Price
$12,500
At the other end of the spectrum, Martell continues its Zodiac Series with Assemblage du Cheval. Like Hennessy’s approach, the blend draws exclusively on eaux-de-vie from previous Years of the Horse and is presented in a Baccarat crystal decanter.
The key difference is scale. Martell has released 500 bottles, each priced at $12,500, making it rare but not quite as unattainable as its rival.
Tomatin, Year of the Horse Single Cask
ABV
56.5%
Price
$135
Tomatin takes a more traditional route with a single-cask Highland malt. Officially, it yields 817 cask-strength bottles from a single Pedro Ximénez sherry butt, which raises an eyebrow, but the liquid itself is hard to argue with.
Bottled at 56.5% ABV and aged for 14 years, this is a robust, full-throttle PX-matured whisky. The restrained packaging helps keep the price under $135, making it outstanding value on paper.
Tamdhu, Year of the Horse
ABV
53.8%
Price
$200
Often positioned as a sherry-forward alternative to Macallan, Tamdhu continues to sharpen that identity. This non-age-statement release comes in at $200, which may give some pause, but it delivers where it counts.
Bottled at 53.8% ABV and fully matured in oloroso sherry casks, it offers plenty of dried fruit depth and warming ginger spice. Not subtle but clearly designed to appeal to drinkers who want maximum flavour.
