It's that time when we gathered the horse-themed alcohol editions (at least, the ones that entered our periphery). Did we test out each spirit for the purpose of this article? Well, not all of them but we did have a good time writing them. Take a look at what this Lunar New Year has offered.
(If you're interested, we also sacrifice sobriety for these dragon-themed and snake-themed spirits posts.)
There's a symmetry between Johnnie Walker's "Striding Man" and the Year of the Horse, both tapping on progress, where every step taken leads to a stronger, brighter tomorrow. Blue Label worked with fashion designer Robert Wun to combine couture and whisky into one striking package design. Known for his sculptural silhouettes and avant-garde approach, through Wun's lens, we see the sense of motion that's represented in the dynamic icon of the horse, a zodiac symbol of strength and freedom.
Beyond the exterior, the liquid remains the constant heart of the release. Each Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottle contains some of the rarest whiskies in the brand’s extensive reserves, with only one in 10,000 casks deemed worthy of inclusion. With layers of rich spice, vanilla, honey and caramel, it unfolds into notes of hazelnut and dark chocolate before settling into a luxuriously long, smoky finish.
The limited-edition bottle retails for SGD288 and is available at selected specialist retailers and e-commerce platforms, including Ashers Singapore, Paneco and Jarbarla.
It looks more like a sculptural art piece than a bottle, but here we are. From the famed Sawanoi brewery, comes the Sawanoi Golden Horse Eto Sake (720ml). A powerful fruity scent wafts out from the bottle; a balanced and refreshing taste profile—crisp, clean, and effortlessly smooth. And when you drain this down to the last drop, there's still the bottle to keep and display.
Sawanoi Golden Horse Eto Sake (720ml) retails for SGD168 and is available online.
Penfolds celebrates The Year of the Horse with its 2026 Lunar New Year gifting series. Led by the flagship Grange (SGD1,0008), followed by the Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon (SGD800), St Henri Shiraz (SGD150), Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 750ml (SGD138) and 1.5L (SGD320) and FWT 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot (SGD138), all of these designed gift boxes radiate in festive red, gold and jade. Oh, and there's the horse (of course, of course) illustration that embellishes the gift boxes and labels.
We focus on the Grange gift box that comes with a special tool (which can also turn into a keyring) to lift certain sections of the outer box, revealing intricate layers of artwork that pay homage to the traditional paper cutting; the 3D effects give the exterior a pop.
The Penfolds Lunar New Year Horse Collection is available at select fine wine retailers, including 1855 Bottle Shop, Le Rouge, Moomba, and Cellarbration
We know that symbolism tends to run heavy during the Chinese New Year period. Maison Martell leans into it with a slew of striking limited-edition cognacs that are shaped by art, heritage and motion.
Spanning from the VSOP to the rarefied XXO, each package is emblazoned with a bold calligraphy inspired by the horse. In modern Mandarin, the word for “horse” (马) shares its first character with the name "Martell" (马爹利)—a linguistic coincidence (and a marketing opportunity) that becomes a point of artistic and cultural resonance.
Chinese artist He Datian, renowned for his evocative depictions of horses, was commissioned to give form to Martell’s connection with the zodiac animal. Executed with the finesse of traditional brush painting, his work evokes motion and spirit that goes beyond the strokes.
For the Martell VSOP, overlapping images of a galloping steed suggest the depth and intensity of its fruity aromas. Martell Noblige (see above) is adorned with a rearing horse, dramatically capturing the cognac’s vibrant, energetic personality. On Martell Cordon Bleu, the animal shifts direction at speed, echoing the elevated trajectory and singular status of the house’s most iconic expression. The same thoughtful approach extends to Martell XO and Martell XXO, with shimmering gold and silver tones lending the designs a more precious, refined quality.
Martell continues its annual dialogue with the zodiac through the L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval. Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud undertakes a balancing act: to honour the original blend while allowing the spirit of the year’s animal to subtly reshape its expression. For this year's edition, drawing from old eaux-de-vie distilled in past Years of the Horse, Valtaud refined a blend with complexity onto L’Or de Jean Martell’s already formidable elegance. The result is a cognac that feels animated yet composed, echoing the verve and disciplined strength of the animal that inspired it.
On the nose, you get notes of honey, candied fruit and delicate floral tones, underscored by a discreet, aged depth. For the palate, there is a surge of red fruit and blackcurrant, tempered by subtle sweetness and remarkable volume. There is a length and a controlled intensity throughout—qualities that mirror the horse’s combination of vitality and grace.
To house a cognac of such stature, Martell returned to Baccarat for its decanter. The mouthblown vessel is shaped to evoke a single, pure drop of cognac and resting atop a golden pedestal adorned with a horseshoe motif. Crowning the bottle is a sculptural horse’s head stopper in a deep red crystal. On the neck of each decanter is the engraved name and individual series number. The bottle is ultimately housed within a finely crafted wooden case, decorated with an intricate horseshoe pattern.
The L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval's latest Zodiac Edition, is limited to 500 individually numbered bottles worldwide. Pricing disclosed upon request. For purchase enquiries, contact hello@le-cercle.sg
Renowned for more than 180 years for its bright, fruit-driven style, The Glen Grant presents three single malt expressions that are housed in limited-edition Lunar New Year gift boxes. You've the 12-Year-Old (SDGD85), 15-Year-Old (SGD139) and 18-Year-Old (SGD237), all were shaped in The Glen Grant's distillery's copper pots and maturation in ex-bourbon barrels and remade hogshead casks.
The horse illustration grounds the packaging with a seasonal symbolism that complements the whisky’s own identity. Each set comes with two finely crafted glasses—a nod to the notion that these sorts of moments are best shared in pairs.
The Glen Grant 2026 Limited-Edition Lunar New Year Gift Boxes are available at selected Cold Storage outlets, speciality wine and spirits retailers such as Bottles & Bottles, and online delivery platforms including Asher BWS and Cellarbration
Hennessy's suite of Chinese New Year limited editions (Hennessy VSOP [SGD88], Hennessy XO [SGD288] and Hennessy Paradis [SGD2,222]) returns in a refreshed attire. Unified by a flowing red palette, the design (art by Xu Zhen) reflects the horse’s symbolism of vitality and progress. In a unique pairing, Hennessy teamed with heritage bakkwa brand Bee Cheng Hiang for a deeply familiar (and yet, contemporary) interpretation of reunion through a series of pop-ups at Bee Cheng Hiang’s Chinatown flagship on Pagoda Street and its Serangoon outlet.
This collab also led to the Reunion Kit that includes a bottle of Hennessy VSOP, tulip glasses, festive decor and selected Bee Cheng Hiang snacks. The kicker: the Reunion Kit isn't for sale; you can only get it via a lucky draw. Consumers who purchase any Hennessy product can enter via a QR code for a chance to win the Reunion Kits and other 2026 Chinese New Year Limited Editions. The promotional draw runs until 28 February.
Hennessy’s Chinese New Year limited editions are available at selected retailers across Singapore, including FairPrice and Cold Storage.
(All right, so this isn't horse-themed but we are willing to give this a pass as it falls under "celebrating the Lunar New Year", so this gets a pass.)
With every occasion, there's the obligation of gifting. I mean, you don't want to be that dude who comes to a housewarming and not bring, at least, a tasty treat, right? What are you, a moocher? For Hibiki, they want the idea of gifting to be less about requirement and more about intention. Your gift doesn't have to be flashy or cost a pretty penny, they just have to be meaningful.
For Hibiki, there's the Premium Gift Edition, which isn't a whisky that you grab as an afterthought. The Premium Gift Edition is an invitation for it to be shared among friends and family. Inside, the liquid is carefully aged and meticulously blended, delivering the house’s signature notes of oak and honey, lifted by that hint of spice. The limited-edition box it comes in is adorned with the 花車文様 (Hanaguruma) pattern, a traditional Japanese motif depicting a flower-laden cart. Layered into this is the “Clouds with a Float Motif,” an auspicious design symbolising eternity.
The Hibiki Premium Gift 2026 Edition (700 ml) retails for SGD172.
While The Macallan do not have any Lunar New Year special edition bottles (which makes their line-up evergreen, if you ask me) to push out, it doesn't stop the House from celebrating it. This year, The Macallan House Singapore will mark the Year of the Horse with a festive programme.
Honouring tradition and craftsmanship, The Macallan House Singapore experience features two carefully selected drams: The Macallan A Night on Earth: The First Light and The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired by Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea. There's also a Chinese knot-making session, which honestly sounds like a riot.
