Johnnie Walker rams it home

Whisky brand Johnnie Walker has released a special edition bottle of its Blue Label blend to mark the Chinese year of the ram.

The release follows on from the launch of a limited edition bottle last year to commemorate the year of the horse.

The ram has long been regarded as a symbol of luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. The Chinese character for “ram” serves as the root of the characters for the words “auspicious” and “beautiful,” and thus is considered lucky in the country.

Inspired by the famous Chinese painting Three Rams, created during the Emperor Qianlong era, the bottle’s design combines painting with calligraphy.

The royal blue colour was chosen for the bottle in a nod to the Chinese tradition of celadon porcelain and on each of its four sides conveys the written characters for ram.

When four bottles are placed side by side, they form a representation of the Three Rams painting.

“Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ram special release marries the best of Chinese ceramic art with the very finest blend of Scottish whisky,” said Drew Mills, marketing director of Diageo Brands.

The limited edition 750ml bottle is on sale across Hong Kong for HK$1,888 in time for the Chinese New Year on 19 February.