To mark the Lunar new year Johnnie Walker has launched a Blue Label – Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition and we’ve got our hands on a few bottles.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is one of the most revered whiskies in the world. Made up of a rich array of pricey and rare whiskies with a price tag and reputation to match, it’s the definitive super-premium blend since it’s launch in 1992.
Blue Label is drawn from unparalleled Diageo reserves of maturing Scotch from across four regions (Highland, Lowland, Speyside, and Islay), including ghost distilleries, that Johnnie Walker has privileged access to. Some reports say the age of the malts used can go high as 60 years, while others claim only one in ten thousand casks makes the grade in the blend. Whatever the exact blend, a consistent flavour profile that’s a beautiful balance of rich, slightly smoky, and fruity elements are what welcomes those who can stretch to the budget It’s housed in a blue-green flint glass bottle with the obligatory blue label, inspired by the original Johnnie Walker bottle.
The new artwork
Johnnie Walker Blue Label – Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition
Now there’s a swanky new design. Over the last few years, Johnnie Walker has taken full advantage of the annual global celebrations that welcome the Lunar or Chinese new year by releasing a limited-edition bottle. For 2023, it’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label – Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition, which features this year’s Zodiac animal merrily hopping amongst mountainous peaks on the label just above the similarly motivated Striding Man.
This new look is the work of one of fashion’s brightest young talents, Angel Chen. A student of fashion at the prestigious Central Saint Martin College of Art in London and star of the Netflix documentary Next in Fashion, the Shanghai-based rising star was tasked with capturing the themes of mercy, elegance, and beauty that the rabbit signifies, as well as longevity in traditional Chinese culture.
Taking inspiration from this symbolism as well as the craft demonstrated by Johnnie Walker master blender Emma Walker and her team bring to Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Chen says: “There’s a defiant energy to my illustrations which bring to life the vibrant spirit of the rabbit as it leaps across the design, symbolising how we need to keep moving forward, spreading goodness throughout the year to come”.
She added: “My work is often inspired by different generations, different genders, and cultures coming together to create something fresh and new. These ideals echo the craft of Johnnie Walker, taking different types of whisky from different distilleries, with differing ages of maturation, and blending them together perfectly to create a masterpiece – that is something I can relate to.”
Chen working on the design
The liquid inside is the usual classic Blue Label blend. Limited editions like these give artists like Chen the opportunity to shine and to bring fresh perspectives to Johnnie Walker brand.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label – Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition is now available from Master of Malt.
