With Lunar New Year falling at the end of January, we are sandwiched between two holiday seasons, each with their unique customs, traditions and lore. The snowy white backdrop of Christmas melts away to reveal the flaming red and gold colours of Lunar New Year while ethereal choirs bow out to the pentatonic scales of the gǔzhēng and pípá to herald the Year of the Snake.
Maison Martell chimes in on the festivities, albeit with poise and elegance, as they unveil the L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Serpent, the fourth of many exclusive releases to commemorate Lunar New Year. The collection took flight in 2022 with the tiger as its inaugural zodiac and has since welcomed the rabbit and dragon in the preceding years. While the series is focused on the prestigious L’Or de Jean Martell, each edition highlights the qualities of that year’s zodiac animal, envisioned by Martell’s Cellar Master, Christophe Valtaud.
Nüwa, the ancient goddess thought to be the mother of humankind who also mended the Pillars of Heaven and often depicted with a human head and serpentine body, served as Valtaud’s inspiration for the 2025 release. A medley of over 1400 eaux-de-vie hailing from four of Cognac’s finest terroirs, Fins Bois, Petite Champagne, Borderies and Grande Champagne, were combined to form the exquisite cognac. To make things more special, Valtaud narrowed the selections to those that fell on previous Years of the Snake that happened once every 12 years (e.g. 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965).
Armed with a culmination of 300 years of expertise and the perfected mastery of ageing and maturation, the L’Or de Jean Martell – Assemblage du Serpent glistens a light amber with mahogany highlights. On the nose, the 2025 release evokes a mysticism on top of the intensity and elegance of the original L’Or de Jean Martell’s subtlety, delicacy and refinement. Notes of citrus and soft spices are apparent in the first sensations of the cognac in reference to the snake’s delicacy and finesse. However, a gentle swirl and agitation aerate the cognac, revealing the bottom layers of mild tobacco, cedar and walnuts that bloom with a fruity dimension towards the rich nuances of candied fruit, fresh blackcurrant and quince marmalade. On the tongue, a sip of the cognac envelopes the palate with fruity and woody flavours and an initial impression of plenitude and velvety smoothness that is the signature of the legacy cognac maison. Bold citrus notes come to the fore with subsequent sips, while a long, lingering persistence of wood and tobacco conveys qualities of the snake in both its gentle and provoked state.
Given the exquisite nature of the L’Or de Jean Martell – Assemblage du Serpent, Martell ups the ante with an equally special packaging. A beautifully crafted red cabinet interlaced with snakeskin patterns opens to reveal a droplet-shaped decanter nestled in a gold-toned pedestal against a gold backdrop of Martell’s coat of arms, grapevines, and gracefully coiling snakes. Baccarat, one of France’s most revered manufacturers of fine crystal, was tasked with shaping the decanter, though it is a challenge not new to them after the duo collaborated on last year’s L’Or de Jean Martell – Assemblage du Dragon decanter. The mouth-blown crystal decanter shaped after a single, pure drop of cognac is crowned by a red snake’s head crystal stopper. An intricate snakeskin motif and the bottle’s edition number (one of only 500) engraving wrap around the 19-carat gold decanter neck. Given the curved bottom of the decanter, an accompanying pedestal with snake scale engravings allows one to proudly display Martell’s objet d’art for the Lunar New Year.
In celebration of Lunar New Year, Martell presents L’Or de Jean Martell Assemblage – Du Serpent through a Feng Shui-inspired exhibition at 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road. The immersive experience that is open to the public explores the five elemental forces — Water, Earth, Fire, Wood, and Gold — representing the delicate balance of the liquid.
The exhibition highlights include a gold-scaled photo wall, a heritage walkway detailing Martell’s legacy, and the Infinity Photo Wall symbolising water and the exclusivity of the 500-bottle L’Or de Jean Martell – Assemblage du Serpent release. Visitors can experience Earth through vineyard visuals and olfactory pods, while the Fire chamber celebrates the collaboration between Martell and Baccarat with videos of crystal craftsmanship and exclusive tastings. The Wood zone reflects cask ageing, offering a Martell Bar offering the Martell Noblige, Martell Cordon Bleu and Martell Chanteloup XXO and inspired cocktails. Guests conclude their journey by leaving their hopes for 2025 on a “Raining Wishes” tree.
The Golden Age Journey: L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Serpent Popup Experience is open to public on 10 to 12 January from 1pm to 930pm at 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Rd. Click here for more details and registrations.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our December/January 2025 issue.