Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Snake is a limited edition Blended Scotch Whisky from Johnnie Walker, released to mark the Lunar New Year 2025. The whisky in the bottle is the standard Blue Label blend – what sets this edition apart is the decoration of the packaging.
The artwork was created by Asian-American visual artist James Jean. The design depicts three intertwined snakes surrounded by orchids and auspicious motifs, with each snake symbolising wisdom, intelligence and intuition, and together representing the past, present and future, while the shedding of the snake's skin becomes a metaphor for renewal, transformation and growth. The artist himself described the concept behind the design in these words: "I depicted a snake shedding its skin to convey the idea of renewal and growth. The three snakes symbolise wisdom, intelligence and intuition, while representing the past, present and future."
The blend itself is created under the supervision of Master Blender Emma Walker. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is made using some of the rarest whiskies from Johnnie Walker's maturing Scotch reserves, including irreplaceable casks from long-closed distilleries known as "ghost distilleries". Only 1 in 10,000 casks from the reserves is selected for this blend.
The whisky's sensory profile is led by a rounded, velvety texture. Rippling waves of spice give way to a deep wave of vanilla and honey sweetness, while caramel and hazelnuts interweave with a backdrop of dark chocolate, and a long, smoky finish leaves a lasting impression. The whisky is best enjoyed neat or with a splash of chilled water, which helps to open up its complexity. Bottled at 40% ABV.