From Rat to Dragon and Goat: These Whisky Bottles Form a Remarkable Collection

Sunday, 27 September 2026 at 08:03

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If you study the Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottles each year, you’ll spot an entire menagerie. Every Lunar New Year, Johnnie Walker releases a special edition—and by now, there’s quite a collection.

The whisky inside remains largely familiar, but on the outside Johnnie Walker goes all out. In recent years, various artists and designers were invited to unleash an animal from the Chinese zodiac onto the iconic blue bottle.

The current run now stretches from the Rat through to the Goat. Time to line up every Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year release since 2020.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Rat 2020

We kick off in 2020 with a small creature given a big role: the Rat. That year Johnnie Walker enlisted Chinese designer Shirley Gong to create the corresponding Blue Label bottle.

Gong gave the rat a vibrant, celebratory stage. The animal takes center place among festive elements, with the design nodding to traits associated with the Rat—cleverness and adaptability—while also embracing prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead.

Inside the bottle is classic Johnnie Walker Blue Label: a blend of select malt and grain whiskies from across Scotland, including spirits from now-closed distilleries.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ox 2021

After the Rat, 2021 ushered in a far larger animal: the Ox. Johnnie Walker stuck with the same designer—Shirley Gong returned for another year.

This time, a golden ox rises above the clouds, surrounded by elements like lanterns and blossoms. These symbols speak to prosperity, growth, longevity, and luck.

Set the Year of the Rat and Year of the Ox side by side and the family resemblance is clear—yet each bottle has a distinct personality.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Tiger 2022

In 2022, Shirley Gong made way for a new creative voice. The Year of the Tiger was designed by Chinese artist Shan Jiang.

The tiger wasn’t merely placed on the bottle; it was crafted to project strength and forward momentum—perfectly echoing Johnnie Walker’s iconic Keep Walking motto.

Visually, the tiger marked a dramatic shift from the prior years’ Rat and Ox, helping the annual releases take on the character of a true collector’s series.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Rabbit 2023

A year later, the powerful tiger made way for a rabbit. For the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Rabbit 2023, fashion designer Angel Chen took the helm.

Chen delivered a modern, high-energy interpretation of the animal, giving the familiar Blue Label bottle a distinctly different look from its predecessor.

For whisky lovers, the most important part didn’t change: inside, it was still the renowned Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Dragon 2024

In 2024, one of the most awe-inspiring creatures in the Chinese zodiac took center stage: the Dragon. For this edition, Johnnie Walker collaborated with visual artist James Jean.

Jean chose a richly colored dragon weaving through botanical motifs. According to Johnnie Walker, the design looks to both past and future, with the dragon symbolizing life and creativity.

The artistry extended beyond the bottle—the presentation box carries the same elaborate artwork, making the set especially striking for collectors.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Snake 2025

James Jean returned the following year. In 2025, the spotlight moved to the Snake, and he handled the design once again.

Notably, the artwork features not one but three snakes, which Johnnie Walker says represent wisdom, intelligence, and intuition. The snake itself also symbolizes a fresh start.

Place the Dragon and Snake bottles side by side and you’ll instantly recognize the same artistic hand—both designs are vividly colorful and brimming with intricate detail.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Horse 2026

For 2026, a new designer was invited once again. This time, Hong Kong–born, London-based fashion designer Robert Wun was given the chance to showcase his craft on the Blue Label bottle.

In his design, the horse symbolizes energy, resilience, and progress. Wun also linked that to the layered flavor profile of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

The result is a bottle on which the horse almost seems to be in motion. In that sense, the design pairs strikingly well with the striding man who has graced Johnnie Walker bottles for years.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Goat 2027

Which brings us to the latest bottle in the series. Although 2027 has yet to begin, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Goat has already surfaced. The whisky celebrates Lunar New Year, which begins on February 6, 2027.

For this edition, Johnnie Walker teamed up with Chinese artist and illustrator Jiayi Li, who works out of Paris. She placed the goat center stage, surrounding it with colorful flowers, clouds, and other elements that pay homage to Chinese culture and artistic style.

If the new look has you expecting a completely different whisky, you’ll be disappointed. Inside the bottle is the familiar Johnnie Walker Blue Label. It’s bottled at 40% ABV and features notes of dried fruit, honey, chocolate, spice, nuts, and a gentle smokiness.

What really stands out is how early this edition is available. In the Netherlands, the Year of the Goat is already on sale—meaning you can have it on your shelf before the year it represents has even begun.

Whisky spotlight from Whisky Exchange	Price
Octomore 17.1	144 pounds
Octomore 17.2	159 pounds
Octomore 17.3	201 pounds

And what comes after the Goat?

Collectors aiming for the full lineup aren’t done yet. The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals, and after the Goat come the Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The cycle then restarts with the Rat.

If Johnnie Walker continues the annual series in the same fashion, we can expect several more standout Blue Label bottles. Which artists will be tapped and what their designs will look like remains to be seen.

There’s another challenge for collectors, though. The earliest editions are no longer bottles you’ll easily find on every shelf. Anyone looking to assemble a complete run starting with the Year of the Rat will have to hunt down releases that have since disappeared.

FAQ

What are the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year editions?
They are special releases of Johnnie Walker Blue Label that appear each year around Lunar New Year. The bottle and packaging receive a design inspired by the corresponding animal from the Chinese zodiac.
Do the Johnnie Walker Lunar New Year bottles contain a different whisky?
The special editions are primarily about the bottle and packaging design. In current releases, the whisky itself remains Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Which Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year edition is the newest?
The latest announced edition is the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Goat for 2027. This bottle was designed by Jiayi Li and is already available in the Netherlands.