As the Lunar New Year approaches, the House of Rémy Martin once again turns to art as a language of celebration. For the Year of the Horse, the historic Cognac house unveils a limited-edition Lunar New Year collection created in collaboration with acclaimed Chinese contemporary artist Xue Song.
At the centre of the narrative stands the Rémy Martin Centaur, the Maison’s enduring emblem. Reinterpreted through Xue Song’s distinctive collage technique, the Centaur becomes a guiding force – leading a powerful herd forward into a year defined by momentum, resilience, and optimism.
A contemporary artwork rooted in heritage
Xue, a 2024 Hurun Top 100 Chinese artist, is known for his bold pop art-inspired collages that fuse fragments of history, literature, and visual culture into richly layered compositions. An existing admirer of Rémy Martin XO, the artist blends images from the brand’s archives, alongside scenes from the Maison and terroir, with Chinese ink, to embed layers of symbolism into his exclusive artwork for the House.
The resulting Lunar New Year masterwork depicts five galloping horses led by the golden Centaur – six figures in total, a number associated with smooth progress and success in Chinese culture. The horse represents strength, speed, and perseverance in the Chinese zodiac; while the Centaur connects the earth and skies, with its feet on the ground and head looking to the stars.
Set against an auspicious red backdrop symbolising good fortune, the scene depicts the hooved creatures racing over bamboo groves, rivers, clouds, and stone formations. Each element is imbued with meaning. Bamboo signals growth and resilience, rivers reflect harmony and movement, and the earth references the prized terroirs of Grande and Petite Champagne, from which Rémy Martin exclusively sources its grapes.
The Centaur’s golden javelin points skyward, echoing the Maison’s enduring philosophy: feet on the ground, head in the stars – a balance of grounded tradition and forward-looking ambition. This symbolic artwork gallops onto a series of collectible Lunar New Year releases, spanning the Rémy Martin XO and VSOP.
Rémy Martin XO Year of the Horse Limited Edition
At the pinnacle of the collection is the Rémy Martin XO Limited Edition by Xue Song. Its presentation is bold and richly detailed, housed in a sliding gift box embossed with metallic accents. The box slides open to unveil the iconic decanter and neck collar, decorated with a golden Centaur and colourful presentation of Xue’s artwork. Turn it around, and the full artwork is unveiled – making it a true collector’s piece.
Inside, the XO remains the signature of the Cellar Master, composed from hundreds of eaux-de-vie. On the nose, it reveals layers of dried fruits, candied orange, passion fruit, honey, and floral notes. The palate unfolds generously, moving from ripe autumn fruits and warm spice to gourmet accents of cocoa, gingerbread, and roasted hazelnuts. Smooth, full-bodied, and long-lasting, it is a cognac designed to be savoured well beyond the festive season.
Rémy Martin VSOP Year of the Horse Limited Edition
On the other hand, the Rémy Martin VSOP Limited Edition by Xue Song captures the joy and optimism of the season. Its frosted bottle is adorned with the artist’s elegant collage, paired with a matching gift box designed for festive gatherings and meaningful gifting. As the world’s first VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac, it is a reflection of the Maison’s savoir-faire. On the palate, it offers a harmonious balance of vanilla, dried fruits, and subtle spice, finished with a silky texture and refined structure.
Lunar New Year Cocktails inspired by the collection
Beyond the bottles, Rémy Martin extends the Lunar New Year story into the way the season is enjoyed. A pair of celebratory cocktails accompany the collection, designed to complement festive gatherings and moments of pause.
The XO Jü Old Fashioned reimagines the classic cocktail through mandarin, long associated with good fortune and prosperity, offering a subtle citrus lift while allowing the character of XO to remain centre stage.
Ingredients: 50ml Rémy Martin XO, 10ml mandarin liquor, 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters, 1 cube brown sugar, ice cube, fresh mandarin wedge or dried/candied peel for garnish
Instructions: In an XO glass, muddle all the ingredients together, add ice cube and top with mandarin garnish.
For something lighter, the Rémy Honey Coco pairs VSOP with honey, coconut water, and citrus. The result is an easy-drinking, contemporary serve that feels well-suited to the warmth and optimism of the season.
Ingredients: 50ml Rémy Martin VSOP, 15ml lime juice or verjuice, 20ml honey syrup, 100ml coconut water, ice, lime zest for garnish
Instructions: Add the ingredients to a shaker, top with ice, and shake. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with a strip of lime zest.
Galloping ahead into the Lunar New Year
Together, the limited-edition bottles and celebratory cocktails reflect Rémy Martin’s approach to the Lunar New Year: grounded in heritage, enriched by art, and always looking forward. As the Centaur leads the way into the Year of the Horse, the House invites collectors and connoisseurs alike to mark the season with intention, ambition, and progress.
The Rémy Martin Lunar New Year Limited Edition Collection by Xue Song is available at selected retailers across Malaysia, including The Chamber, Hank’s Jaya Grocer, Aeon, The Food Merchant, B.I.G., Village Grocer, Mercato & BSC Fine Foods.
Find more Chinese New Year 2026 stories here.