Beam Suntory has revealed two global travel retail-exclusive Lunar New Year expressions from Bowmore and Auchentoshan.
Bowmore 18 Year Old
Bowmore’s limited-edition 18 Year Old Lunar New Year 2024 edition pays homage to the Year of the Dragon (the Chinese Zodiac animal for 2024 – ed).
With the tagline ‘Ascent to Greatness’, the expression brings a Chinese legend to life. The packaging, designed by Chinese visual artist Kenn Lam, depicts the tale of carp swimming upstream, each hoping to leap across a fierce waterfall. However, only the bravest of the carp succeeds and is then transformed into a mighty dragon and conquers the sky.
The rich and colourful graphics highlight the dedication and perseverance necessary to withstand rough waters and chase perfection. The dragon myth was specifically chosen to mirror the whisky house’s own dedication to making its whiskies.
The 18 Year Old Bowmore Lunar New Year whisky was matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Bottled at 40% ABV, the whisky offers rich dark chocolate, treacle coffee and date oil aromas on the nose. On the palate, it blends bitter-sweet orange peel and peat-smoke roasted coffee flavours, with a velvet mocha and macadamia nut chocolate finish.
The expression is available exclusively in travel retail markets in China (including Macau), Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore. It has an RRP of US$159.50.
The release is supported by high-profile activations in the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex, Singapore Changi Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport Terminal 2 and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Auchentoshan Dark Oak
Lowland distillery Auchentoshan has also unveiled Dark Oak Lunar New Year 2024 edition. According to the distillery, the whisky is a celebration of the ‘promise that a new year brings’. It is presented in a colourful box designed by illustrator Aeropalmics.
The packaging features clouds, winter flowers, pine trees and fireworks, combined to create an Auchentoshan dragon silhouette. In the packaging, Auchentoshan’s triple stills have been reimagined as mountains which represent ‘energy being turned into action’ in traditional Chinese paintings.
The 43% ABV liquid is triple distilled for smoothness then mellowed in bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. It offers gentle oak, coconut, vanilla, freesia, red berries and sherry notes on the nose, with hazelnut, brittle, toffee, crème caramel, candied apple, sugar almonds and liquorice flavours on the palate. The whisky then gives way to a sweet floral finish with honeysuckle and caramel notes.
The Auchentoshan Dark Oak Lunar New Year 2024 Edition is exclusively available in travel retail markets in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea, with an RRP of US$66. It is supported by a high-profile activation at Taoyuan International Airport in partnership with Ever Rich Duty Free.
Beam Suntory Brand Marketing Director Global Travel Retail Manuel Gonzalez commented: “Lunar New Year represents a key gifting opportunity for the single malt category, and I’m confident these limited-edition releases from Bowmore and Auchentoshan will drive business both for us and our retail partners.
“I’m very proud of the beautiful packaging we have created for these single malts, which delivers exceptional in-store visibility, and enhances the storytelling and engagement opportunities that are so vital to building brand presence.” ✈
