According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2017 is the year of the Rooster. This year, Chinese New Year will be celebrated on January 28 and those born this year are said to be trustworthy, hardworking, career-driven and organised – some very highly respected traits in eastern society. But not only it is the year of the Rooster, it is the year of the Fire Rooster, one of the 5 Taoist elements, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. These elements are the basis of Chinese metaphysics and philosophy and are cycled in combination with the Chinese zodiac to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Every year, Diageo releases a Johnnie Walker Blue Label expression, which is dedicated to the Chinese lunar calendar. Last year was the Year Of The Monkey, a beautifully designed expression that represents the harmony between Scotch Whisky and Chinese artistic heritage designs. The unique white ceramic bottle was embossed with Monkeys in various stages of action. They are swinging off branches and prancing about on each of the 4 sides of the bottle which, when placed next to each other create a fantastic visual scene which would look at home in a back bar of any Johnnie Walker collector.
This year, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Rooster Limited Edition design that has been released is even more unique and extravagant. The striking blue glaze at the top of the bottle fades to the classic blue glass at the bottom, showing off the renowned whisky that is contained within. The side of the bottle continues with the previous years’ trend with the use of the Chinese calligraphy designs. The Rooster, looking proud and ambitious is painted in gold atop a rock summit with bamboo – a fitting metaphor for the traits that are said to be seen in those born in this Chinese lunar year. The Year of the Rooster bottle itself is not enclosed in the standard Johnnie Walker Blue Box as has been the case in previous years. The box has two sections cut from the corners of the box, one on the front and one on the back to give a preview of the bottle while it is in the felt lined box. This decadent design is something that we haven’t seen from the Johnnie Walker Chinese New Year Celebratory limited edition designs before. The box is perfect for displaying the bottle and box together, where in previous years the presentation was not condusive for showing off both. The final new edition to this years release is the gift plaque. On the base of the box, there is a ‘To’, ‘From’ and ‘Note’ line presumably to wish the gift recipient a year filled with trust, hard work and success in the Year of the Rooster.