The 18-Year-Old Bowmore Lunar New Year 2024 Edition takes travelers on a journey of celebration with an "Ascent to Greatness"
To celebrate this year's Lunar New Year (the Year of the Dragon), Bowmore’s limited edition takes travellers on a journey of celebration with an “Ascent to Greatness,” showcasing the Chinese legend of a dragon’s gate atop a fierce waterfall. According to the company, in this famous tale, many carp swim upstream, hoping to leap across, but only the bravest one succeeds. The carp that takes the final leap is transformed into a mighty dragon, and conquers the sky.
Crafted for over 240 years, Bowmore creates expressive whiskies that take the consumer on an immersive journey. The 18-Year-Old Bowmore Lunar New Year 2024 Edition showcases this legend through a beautifully designed package created by Kenn Lam. The rich, colourful graphics of the pack illustrates the dedication and perseverance necessary to withstand rough waters and chase perfection. The myth was specifically chose to reflect that of Bowmore, which is defined by "an unwavering intentionality to making whiskies as they have always been made, shaping every drop with added depth and distinction of flavour."
Matured in the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, and bottled at 40% ABV, on the nose this whisky incorporates aromas of dark chocolate, treacle coffee and date oil. On the palate, it offers notes of bitter-sweet orange peel and peat-smoke roasted coffee, giving way to a finish of velvet mocha and macadamia nut chocolate.
The 18-Year-Old Bowmore Lunar New Year Edition is available exclusively in travel retail doors in China, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Macau, and has an RRSP of US$159.50. The launch will be supported by high-profile activations in Haitang Bay Duty Free Shopping Mall, Singapore Changi Airport, Shanghai International T2, and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Beam Suntory-owned Lowland distillery Auchentoshan has also unveiled a 2024 Lunar New Year release, Auchentoshan Dark Oak
Beam Suntory-owned Lowland distillery Auchentoshan has also unveiled a 2024 Lunar New Year release. Auchentoshan Dark Oak – a lively and refined single malt – celebrates all the promise that a new year brings, in line with the distillery’s focus on what lies ahead, and the belief that life is best enjoyed with others.
The whisky is presented in a brightly coloured box designed by the illustrator known as Aeropalmics. It features images of clouds, wintersweet flowers, pine trees and fireworks, which are combined to create a single Auchentoshan dragon. The Auchentoshan triple stills have been reimagined as mountains, which in Chinese art mirror energy turned into action – a concept that echoes the brand’s call to be open, adventurous and spontaneous.
Dark honey in colour and bottled at 43% ABV, Auchentoshan Dark Oak is triple-distilled for smoothness, then mellowed in bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, for added complexity. On the nose the whisky is nutty and toffee, with a strong wood influence of coconut and vanilla with gentle oak spices, complemented by notes of freesia, red berries and sherry. On the palate the whisky is spicy and sweet, offering notes of roasted hazelnuts, brittle and toffee, crème caramel, candied apple and sugar almonds, with a hint of liquorice stick tannins. The sweet floral finish features honeysuckle and caramel.
The Auchentoshan Dark Oak Lunar New Year 2024 Edition is available exclusively in travel retail doors in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea, with an RRSP of US$66.06. The launch will be supported by an activation at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport – a key travel retail location for the brand – in partnership with Ever Rich Duty Free.
Beam Suntory Brand Marketing Director Global Travel Retail Manuel Gonzalez said, "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.”
