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.”
Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Wooler, has released what it describes as the first legal Northumbrian single malt whisky of the modern era, ending a two-century absence of local single malt production. The debut bottling arrives as the Crǣft Series, a collection of three single cask whiskies that offer an early glimpse…
If you’re wondering what to give the dad on Father’s Day who claims he wants nothing, allow us to suggest something sincere, sophisticated, and soul-warming: whisky. Not socks, not a novelty mug, not a gadget that’ll sit untouched on a shelf, but a bottle of golden liquid crafted purely to delight the senses. In this…
Mystery Malt has returned for its sixth instalment, and according to its creators at Thompson Brothers, it is the biggest release yet. The concept remains delightfully simple: every whisky bottle looks identical, costs the same £65, and arrives concealed beneath a tamper-proof capsule. Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but…
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.
Ad Gefrin announces first Northumbrian single malt in 200 years, but there’s mystery in the launch
Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Wooler, has released what it describes as the first legal Northumbrian single malt whisky of the modern era, ending a two-century absence of local single malt production. The debut bottling arrives as the Crǣft Series, a collection of three single cask whiskies that offer an early glimpse…
The Best Father’s Day Whisky Guide 2026: 19 wonderful whiskies from budget to premium
If you’re wondering what to give the dad on Father’s Day who claims he wants nothing, allow us to suggest something sincere, sophisticated, and soul-warming: whisky. Not socks, not a novelty mug, not a gadget that’ll sit untouched on a shelf, but a bottle of golden liquid crafted purely to delight the senses. In this…
Fortune favours the thirsty as Mystery Malt Series 6 lands with 9,960 bottles and 38 hidden whiskies
Mystery Malt has returned for its sixth instalment, and according to its creators at Thompson Brothers, it is the biggest release yet. The concept remains delightfully simple: every whisky bottle looks identical, costs the same £65, and arrives concealed beneath a tamper-proof capsule. Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but…
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