In honour of the Chinese Year of the Horse in 2026, Maison Martell celebrates its special bond with this noble and free-spirited creature through magnificent calligraphy emblazoned across its most emblematic cognacs.
Martell is presenting a full range of limited editions for Chinese New Year, galloping into the Year of the Horse with even greater spirit. Inspired by its connections to this powerful animal — in modern Chinese, the word for horse “馬” (mǎ) matches the first character of Maison Martell (馬爹利) — the House presents artistic calligraphy expressing this special link. Adapted across its cognacs, from VSOP to Cordon Bleu, the designs yield unforgettable limited editions and auspicious holiday gifts.
Martell 2026 Festive Limited Edition Collection Features Calligraphy by Contemporary Chinese Artist He Datian
Maison Martell and the Noble Steed: A Natural Connection
To embody its link with the Horse, Maison Martell called upon the Chinese artist He Datian, known for his drawings of horses, to create bespoke calligraphy that reveals a profound resonance with the noble animal itself. Propelled by audacity and courage, the artist imagined magnificent calligraphy in which a horse emerges from the Chinese characters that form the word Martell.
The connection between Maison Martell and this powerful creature is more than literal or graphic. The animal is inextricably linked to the history of the House, founded in 1715 by the audacious 21-year-old Jean Martell, who travelled frequently on horseback across Cognac, growing to know and love the terroir and selecting the region’s very best eaux-de-vie.
Masterful Artistry Meets Artisanal Mastery
To bring this unique relationship to life, Maison Martell has designed packaging that pays tribute to ancestral Chinese culture, reinterpreted in a modern way through the work of the artist He Datian. The artist, who shares a near-spiritual bond with horses, created a series of drawings with the finesse of Chinese brush painting and calligraphy. Boldly emblazoned across several of Martell’s most premium cognacs, from VSOP to Cordon Bleu, this vivid imagery powerfully evokes the energy of both the House and the Horse.
In masterful strokes, the artist adapted his illustrations to correspond to the personality of each cognac. For Martell VSOP, overlapping images of a galloping steed evoke the richness and intensity of its fruity aromas, while for Martell Noblige, a rearing horse dramatically conjures the cognac’s vibrant, energetic personality. When it comes to Martell Cordon Bleu, the animal is represented as it changes direction at speed, suggesting the elevated trajectory of Maison Martell’s most iconic cognac.
Incarnating the energy shared by Maison Martell and the 2026 zodiac animal, the bottles and boxes of these limited editions celebrate the rare vitality of the cognacs within through their rich colours and designs. The dominant colours for the Martell Noblige and Martell Cordon Bleu Limited Editions, red and electric blue with flashes of gold, a combination that is both festive and eye-catching. Overall, the artist’s touches lend these striking designs a prestigious, handcrafted quality which echoes the craftsmanship behind the cognacs themselves, making them a pleasure to give and a privilege to receive.
Maison Martell The Year of the Horse Festive Offers
As the year draws to a close, Martell also introduces a series of festive offers, allowing everyone to enjoy Martell with friends and family during the festive season.
At City’Super and SOGO:
Purchase a bottle of Martell VSOP or Noblige to receive a VSOP miniature and red packets set; purchase a bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu or XO to receive a set of rock glasses and coasters; purchase any Martell products totaling HKD 2,500 or more to receive a Martell miniature set (including VSOP, Noblige, Cordon Bleu and XO).
Offer valid from now until February 16, while stocks last.
At Watson’s Wine and Liquid Gold:
Purchase a bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu or XO to receive a Cordon Bleu miniature and red packets set; purchase any Martell products totaling HKD 2,500 or more to receive a set of Japanese handmade glasses.
Offer valid from now until February 28, while stocks last.
Gifts of the Festive Offers
Suggested Retail Prices:
Martell XXO HK$ 4,680
Martell Cordon Bleu HK$ 1,698
Martell Noblige HK$ 688
Martell VSOP HK$ 488
Points of Sale:
Watson’s Wine, Liquid Gold, Wai Shing Wine & Spirits, HK Liquor Store, HKTV Mall, City’Super, Yata, AEON, SOGO, etc.
