Chinese New Year festive gatherings always culminate in a raucous toast (or five). Get in high spirits with these limited-edition CNY bottles of booze to up the joyous mood to ring in the Year of the Rabbit. We highlight three bottles that you should make space for in your alcohol stash.
Glenfiddich, a Speyside single malt scotch whiskey, is back with another set of their annual Chinese New Year gift packs. Designed by award-winning illustrator Zeng Yixin, these packs revolve around the iconic Glenfiddich stag amidst prosperous elements including a Chinese dragon as well as fireworks. The stag, translated as Fu Lu in Mandarin, symbolises wealth, prosperity and longevity in Chinese culture.
The gift packs are available with the Glenfiddich Reserva Rum Cask 21 Year Old and the 12, 15 and 18 Year Old Malt Whisky. The design of the whisky pack pays homage to the corresponding colours on the malt labels. Consumers can receive a complimentary gift with each purchase, including highball and nosing glasses.
In conjunction with this release, Glenfiddich is also holding a Lunar New Year Pop-up located at the Suntec City Atrium Tower 3 and 4 from 11 to 15 January. Visitors can soak up the festive mood with the various fun digital games, where the highest scorer each day stands to bring home a bottle of Glenfiddich. Visitors can also sample a Chinese New Year-edition of the Glenfiddich highball and receive festive decor that are calligraphed on the spot.
Find out more here.
Cognac house Hennessy is incorporating contemporary art into their bottles this Chinese New Year. This year, partnering internationally renowned artist Yan Pei-Ming to create a landmark painting, La Grande Course, which depicts the fabled race of 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. The French-Chinese artist has also translated the design onto bottles of Hennessy X.O cognacs.
The bottle designs boast a palette of amber, orange, russet and burgundy tones, which is reminiscent of the amber and mahogany hues of Hennessy X.O. The artist’s signature broad, sweeping brush strokes impart a sense of universality, immediacy, and adventure.
From now till 5 February, tantalise your tastebuds with exclusive, limited-time pairing menus and creations at the internationally acclaimed MO BAR and Cantonese restaurant Cherry Garden in Mandarin Oriental Singapore.
Over at MO BAR, guests will sip on four Hennesy-inspired drinks, created with the same flair that the famed bar is known for. Beverages to look forward to include the Peranakan Cognac Old-fashioned and the Asian Side Car, both featuring Hennessy XO, with the latter leaning towards spicy flavours.
Cherry Garden provides specially-curated meals that pair beautifully with Hennessy XO. The cognac can be paired with dishes such as the pan-fried Miyazaki A5 Wagyu sirloin with homemade cherry sauce and sautéed vegetables, chilled double-boiled bird’s nest with American ginseng and red dates, and nian gao.
Find out more here.
Single malt scotch whiskey The Macallan has unveiled their annual limited edition Scotch for the festive season. The festive tipple is matured in first fill sherry seasoned casks, along with American ex-bourbon barrels to deliver its rich, sweet shortbread-like character. The whiskey features notes of dried orange and spice. Traditional shortbread biscuits enjoyed at Hogmanay during the festive season have also been included, adding on to the whiskey’s already distinctive taste.
A Night on Earth In Scotland is inspired by Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration, which is marked by feelings of optimism and celebrations. The mood isn’t a far cry from Lunar New Year celebrations
This seasonal release is a collaboration with acclaimed Japanese-French illustrator Erica Dorn, whose whimsical artwork has featured in director Wes Anderson’s films. The colours on the packaging each symbolises an emotion close to the brand – red represents merriment (and an auspicious colour in Chinese culture), vitality, good fortune and joy, blue represents complete serenity while amber pays tribute to the sweet aromas of soft butter and freshly baked shortbread.
A Night on Earth In Scotland also offers a special unboxing experience and Dorn’s playful abstract illustrations are inspired by the historic fire rituals dominant in New Year celebrations around the world.
Find out more here.
Additional Reporting by Kenneth SZ Goh
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