To celebrate the fast-approaching Lunar New Year, Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker has released three new limited-edition pack designs, created by London-based Chinese artist Shan Jiang.
The designs, which celebrate ancient myth, Chinese idioms and mythical creatures, are featured across the three packs – Johnnie Walker Blue Label, John Walker & Sons King George V, and John Walker & Sons XR 21-Year-Old, Jiang’s limited-edition designs.
Following the success of past collections, these limited edition packaging designs have become collectible, as a luxurious way to commemorate each Lunar New Year.
In creating the artwork for the Johnnie Walker Blue Label pack, Jiang pays homage to the tiger as a symbol of strength and progress.The animal is depicted with golden wings, as from the famous Chinese idiom; an expression of vigour and vitality representing how we are stronger when we walk together.
The designs on the John Walker & Sons King George V pack mark the beginning of a new year, and are inspired by the ancient myth of the Bai Ze. The bottle features an illustration of the Bai Ze, a mythical creature that symbolises virtuousness, nobility and protection from evil. It is also believed that the creature only appears when a wise emperor rules.
John Walker & Sons XR 21 pack designs honours the well-known Chinese idiom Master of the Pen and Sword; the key attributes of any great leader, brains combined with brawn. Images of a dragon and a horse are depicted in an intricate dance representing the ying and the yang of all great leaders.
“In the last two years we’ve triumphed over tremendous challenges. I used that thought to look to the year ahead with positivity and use Chinese mythology and the idea of progress, of always moving forward, to inspire my designs and discover ideas from my culture that resonate with Johnnie Walker," explained Shan Jiang, who is known for his colourful and intricate illustrations, and says he is heavily influenced by his Chinese roots and his homeland’s flourishing subcultures.
“That is why I chose the tiger with wings for Johnnie Walker Blue Label, it’s a common Chinese saying. My mother and father immediately came to mind, they have always supported me as an artist no matter how things were going, they gave me great strength to achieve – like the winged tiger ascending above the mountains to the sky. It gives me energy to think of this and to create something beautiful from this idea.”
Shan Jiang says his intricate illustration is matched by the rare whiskies and centuries of craft that creates the rich fruity flavours found in every bottle of Johnnie Walker.
He said, “I like to think that the thought and time that goes into my designs echo the craft of Johnnie Walker. Each brings a distinctive character, and I hope to bring that to my work.”
The limited-edition Johnnie Walker designs are available at selected independent bottles shops, whisky specialists, Dan Murphy’s, Liqourland, Costco, Langtons, Boozebud and Amazon.
Johnnie Walker has a goal to use 100 per cent recycled plastic for all its packaging by 2030.
