This hand-crafted decanter houses cognac assembled from eaux-de-vie spanning previous Years of the Horse.
Five hundred bottles. That’s all Maison Martell produced of its L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval for Lunar New Year 2026. At $12,500 per bottle, this ultra-exclusive cognac transforms cultural celebration into liquid investment. Each bottle sits housed in a hand-crafted Baccarat crystal decanter topped with a sculptural red crystal horse’s head.
The symbolism runs deeper than zodiac marketing. In Chinese, “Ma” (horse) forms the first character of Martell’s name, connecting founder Jean Martell’s 1715 heritage to contemporary Asian markets. Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud assembled rare Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie specifically from previous Years of the Horse. The result delivers notes of candied fruit and honey that mirror the zodiac’s promise of elegance and vitality.
Cultural Bridge Spans Full Range
A $266 Cordon Bleu edition featuring calligraphic artwork extends Martell’s Lunar New Year celebration across flagship products.
This represents Martell’s first extension of Lunar New Year editions across its complete flagship range. The companion Martell Cordon Bleu Lunar New Year Limited Edition features calligraphic horse artwork by Chinese artist He Datian. Horses emerge from Martell’s Chinese characters in flowing brushstrokes. This Borderies-forward blend delivers orchard fruits and spices in festive packaging for $266.
Both editions launch February 17, 2026, via ReserveBar and select retailers. The strategy reflects sophisticated cognac market trends in Asia, where cultural authenticity matters as much as age statements. Valtaud, Martell’s ninth Cellar Master since his 2017 appointment, positions these releases as heritage preservation meeting contemporary luxury collecting.
For collectors eyeing Lunar New Year gifts, the ultra-rare L’Or edition represents scarcity marketing at its most refined. Each individually numbered bottle connects French craftsmanship with Chinese cultural celebration. The limited run transforms annual zodiac cycles into collectible luxury that could potentially appreciate beyond its initial astronomical price point.
