Ten spirits galloping into the Year of the Horse
The Lunar New Year kicks off on 17 February, and spirits brands are once again embracing the zodiac with horse-themed limited editions.
Drinkers worldwide will celebrate the Lunar New Year from 17 February to 3 March 2026, welcoming the Year of the Horse. Traditionally, spirits brands – from Cognac and whisky to vodka – especially those popular in Asia, ensure they are part of the celebration with limited edition designs.
The Chinese zodiac Horse represents energy, enthusiasm, independence, strength, success, and good fortune. The Year of the Horse encourages breaking old habits, embracing genuine self-expression, and taking daring, adventurous actions. When combined with the element of fire, this year marks the Fire Horse, symbolising passion and charisma, often reflected in striking designs.
Keep reading to discover 10 spirits brands that stand out this year with their limited edition bottlings and packaging, adorned in red, gold and blue.
Tequila Don Julio 1942
Diageo-owned Don Julio’s limited edition celebrates not only this year’s Lunar New Year but also the Year of the Horse in 1942, when the brand’s founder, Don Julio González, began his Tequila-making journey. The design combines añejo Tequila with a traditional Mexican ikat rebozo pattern and the symbolism of the Chinese zodiac Horse.
Don Julio Year of the Horse Edition is available in a 750ml bottle, retailing for US$170-US$200.
Hennessy Cognac
For the Year of the Horse, LVMH’s Cognac house has unveiled not only one, but a whole collection of limited edition designs, including Hennessy VSOP, James Hennessy, Hennessy XO, Hennessy Paradis, and Hennessy x Trajan Jia: The Horse Edition.
The Hennessy Chinese New Year 2026 collection is now available in the UK at Selfridges and Amazon, with VSOP priced at £65 (US$86) and XO at £210 (US$277).
Hennessy x Trajan Jia: The Horse Edition is the first in the brand’s new 12-chapter Zodiac Collection. For the inaugural release, Hennessy partnered with Trajan Jia, a London-based Chinese artist known for a multicultural style that draws on traditional Chinese painting and Western and Eastern literature and culture. Limited to 50 engraved and hand-painted Baccarat crystal decanters, the edition is exclusively made from eaux-de-vie of previous Years of the Horse. Each decanter is priced at €30,000 (US$35,100).
Tamdhu
Ian Macleod Distillers galloped into Lunar New Year with a non-age-statement Sherry-seasoned oloroso cask-matured Tamdhu single malt, bottled at 53.8% ABV. The design by visual artist Page Tsou in shades of red depicts a jockey and steed trotting past the Victorian Dalbeallie railway station at the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside.
In the UK, Tamdhu’s Year of the Horse edition will be limited to 300 bottles, priced at £150 (US$203) each.
Rémy Martin
In celebration of the Year of the Horse, Cognac brand Rémy Martin partnered with Chinese artist Xue Song to create a limited edition XO gift set. The design features Song’s artwork, The Centaur is Paving the Way, depicting a herd of five horses led by the Rémy Martin centaur, rendered in collage and Chinese ink. The Rémy Martin Lunar New Year Collection 2026 is now available at select points of sale for US$209.99.
In addition to Rémy Martin XO, its high-end sister brand Louis XIII unveiled its 2026 Lunar New Year coffret in collaboration with traditional papercut master Liu Lihong.
Glenallachie
Speyside whisky maker Glenallachie honours the Year of the Fire Horse, which combines the seventh Chinese zodiac animal with the fire element. Inspired by this combination, the distillery’s second edition in its Lunar New Year Series is a 13-year-old single malt finished in Pedro Ximénez, oloroso Sherry, and high-char Appalachian virgin oak casks.
The limited edition packaging is designed by Scottish artist Kayley Barbour. The release is now available at select specialist retailers in Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Japan, and Hong Kong, with an approximate RRSP of £78.99 (US$107).
Billy Walker, master distiller at The Glenallachie Distillery, commented: “For the second instalment of the Lunar New Year series, the team and I wanted to craft a whisky that captures both the spirit of festivity and the depth of The Glenallachie’s character. Every cask was chosen with care and every detail considered to mark this special moment. It’s a dram made to be shared in good company and good fortune.”
Lark Distilling
Tasmanian single malt brand Lark hopped on the Lunar New Year saddle in partnership with Sydney-based artist Chris Yee, with artwork featuring the Fire Horse. The whisky has been matured in small first-fill Sherry and Port casks, and finished in Seppeltsfield tawny Port barrels. Offered at 48.8% ABV in a 500ml bottle, Lark Fire Horse Edition is priced at AU$262 (US$177).
Johnnie Walker
This year, Diageo-owned Johnnie Walker teamed up with Hong Kong-born, London-based couturier Robert Wun to create two limited edition designs: Blue Label and John Walker & Sons XR 21 Year Old.
Mariana Assis, global head of Johnnie Walker luxury innovation, described Wun as a “true pioneer — an artist whose craftsmanship, imagination, and cultural influence mirror the values at the heart of Johnnie Walker”.
“We are always seeking collaborators who, like us, honour tradition while boldly reimagining it for a new era,” Assis continued. “Robert’s vision for the Year of the Horse defines both this Lunar New Year and our own more than 200-year journey.”
The Blue Label bottling offers notes of spice, vanilla, honey, caramel, hazelnut, and dark chocolate, with a smoky finish. At the same time, the XR displays nuances of honey, spice, and tropical fruits on the palate.
Both limited editions are now available globally in select markets, including the US, Greater China, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Canada, Australia, Europe, and the UK. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Horse is priced at around £225 (US$304).
Crystal Head Vodka
Following in the footsteps of its Year of the Dragon release in 2023 and Year of the Snake in 2025, Dan Ackroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka rings in the 2026 Lunar New Year by bringing back its metallic red skull bottle for a third limited edition. The bottle, adorned with golden horses and floral motifs, serves as a vessel for the brand’s Original vodka, made with Canadian corn.
Crystal Head Year of the Horse will be available in limited quantities in select markets, including the UK, retailing for around £89 (US$120).
Royal Salute
No stranger to celebrating the Lunar New Year, Pernod Ricard-owned Royal Salute’s signature 21-year-old joins the celebration this year with an illustration by British artist Emily Carter. The limited edition gift box combines British royal icons with peonies, festive lanterns, fireworks, and butterflies.
Sandy Hyslop, Royal Salute’s master blender emeritus, said: “The Lunar New Year is a time of vibrant celebration, rich tradition, and the promise of new beginnings. Our Lunar New Year Edition, with Emily Carter’s extraordinary artistry, perfectly encapsulates this spirit of grand celebration. Royal Salute has always been crafted for the most momentous occasions, and this exquisite expression offers those celebrating the perfect toast to prosperity and joy, making every Lunar New Year gathering truly unforgettable.”
The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Lunar New Year Special Edition gift pack is available worldwide at select retailers, with a recommended retail price of US$200.
Martell Cognac
Pernod Ricard’s Martell partnered with Chinese artist He Datian, renowned for his expressive horse drawings and calligraphic interpretations of equine form, to create limited edition designs for its VSOP, Cordon Bleu, Noblige, and XO Cognacs. At the top of the collection stands L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval, limited to 500 Baccarat crystal decanters priced at US$12,500.
The celebratory Martell VSOP and Cordon Bleu (US$266) Cognacs will be available at the House of Martell pop-up located in the ION Orchard B4 Indoor Atrium from 5-12 February. In global travel retail, three exclusive expressions – including Noblige Noir – will be made available, supported by activations across key locations in Asia Pacific and the US.
Related news
Mark Anthony Group names first new CEO in 50 years
