Johnnie Walker has unveiled a striking new Lunar New Year Limited Edition design for Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, created by Asian-American artist James Jean. Adept at working across multiple genres, Jean fuses contemporary subjects with aesthetic techniques inspired by traditional Chinese scroll paintings, Japanese woodblock prints, and classical portraiture.
The eye-catching design to mark the Year of the Snake, 2025’s Zodiac animal, follows on from James’ celebrated design for the brand’s Year of the Dragon release.
In the design, three snakes representing three attributes of wisdom, intelligence, and intuition, are surrounded by blooming flowers, shedding their skins to embrace the next chapter in life.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the Diageo brand’s most coveted expression, made using some of the rarest whiskies from the Johnnie Walker reserves of maturing Scotch, including some irreplaceable casks sourced from long-closed ‘ghost’ distilleries.
James Jean’s Year of the Snake artwork is said to symbolise an ambition for constant progression and self-reinvention…
Born in Taipei and raised in New Jersey, James, who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, says: “I portrayed the snake shedding its skin to represent the idea of renewal and growth. The three snakes symbolize the attributes of wisdom, intelligence, and intuition, while also representing the past, present, and future. The snakes are constantly growing, transforming, and adapting to changing conditions.”
James Jean has also designed illustrations for the Lunar New Year John Walker & Sons XR 21 Year Old Limited Edition Design.
“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 Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, Jennifer English. “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 our brand and the promise of the future.”
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
Midleton Distillery has confirmed the arrival of its Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage, the latest edition in an Irish whiskey series now into its 43rd annual incarnation, and the 6th Vintage under the careful watch of Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. Bottled at 40% ABV, the 2026 expression continues a tradition that sees the distillery’s Master…
Diplomático Rum, the Venezuelan super-premium spirits house, has announced the UK launch of Chancellor. Positioned as a flagship expression for connoisseurs and long-term collectors of rare spirits, fewer than 1,000 individually numbered bottles will be released worldwide. Diplomático Rum, founded in 1959, has built its reputation on blending expertise, heavy pot-still distillates and long-term maturation,…
The Luxe Review 
Johnnie Walker has unveiled a striking new Lunar New Year Limited Edition design for Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, created by Asian-American artist James Jean. Adept at working across multiple genres, Jean fuses contemporary subjects with aesthetic techniques inspired by traditional Chinese scroll paintings, Japanese woodblock prints, and classical portraiture.
The eye-catching design to mark the Year of the Snake, 2025’s Zodiac animal, follows on from James’ celebrated design for the brand’s Year of the Dragon release.
In the design, three snakes representing three attributes of wisdom, intelligence, and intuition, are surrounded by blooming flowers, shedding their skins to embrace the next chapter in life.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the Diageo brand’s most coveted expression, made using some of the rarest whiskies from the Johnnie Walker reserves of maturing Scotch, including some irreplaceable casks sourced from long-closed ‘ghost’ distilleries.
Born in Taipei and raised in New Jersey, James, who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, says: “I portrayed the snake shedding its skin to represent the idea of renewal and growth. The three snakes symbolize the attributes of wisdom, intelligence, and intuition, while also representing the past, present, and future. The snakes are constantly growing, transforming, and adapting to changing conditions.”
James Jean has also designed illustrations for the Lunar New Year John Walker & Sons XR 21 Year Old Limited Edition Design.
“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 Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, Jennifer English. “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 our brand and the promise of the future.”
Johnnie Walker Lunar New Year Limited Edition is available from The Whisky Exchange, priced £230.
The Whisky Exchange debuts 20 Year Old Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Mars Komagatake Japanese single cask exclusives
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Irish Whiskey has arrived, run don’t walk to secure yours
Midleton Distillery has confirmed the arrival of its Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage, the latest edition in an Irish whiskey series now into its 43rd annual incarnation, and the 6th Vintage under the careful watch of Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. Bottled at 40% ABV, the 2026 expression continues a tradition that sees the distillery’s Master…
Diplomático debuts ultra-rare triple-cask Chancellor rum with just 900 bottles worldwide
Diplomático Rum, the Venezuelan super-premium spirits house, has announced the UK launch of Chancellor. Positioned as a flagship expression for connoisseurs and long-term collectors of rare spirits, fewer than 1,000 individually numbered bottles will be released worldwide. Diplomático Rum, founded in 1959, has built its reputation on blending expertise, heavy pot-still distillates and long-term maturation,…
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