The Year of the Horse at Maison Martell

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.

Maison Martell is excited to announce its celebration of Lunar New Year 2026, the Year of the Horse. This year holds special significance as in modern Chinese, the word for horse matches the first character of Martell, reflecting a deep, natural connection to this noble and free-spirited animal, echoing Martell’s own audacious spirit.

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 matches the first character of Martell—the House presents artistic calligraphy expressing this special link. Adapted across its cognacs, from VSOP to XXO, the designs yield unforgettable limited editions and auspicious holiday gifts.

L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval

Each year, Maison Martell releases an exclusive edition of its most exceptional cognac inspired by that year’s zodiac animal. L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval is available in a strictly limited edition of 500, each bottle individually numbered.

The Horse Embodied by an Exceptional Blend

With each Zodiac Edition, Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud builds on the essential and exquisite character of L’Or de Jean Martell while highlighting the qualities of that year’s zodiac animal. For the 2026 release, the challenge was to enrich L’Or de Jean Martell without modifying its essence, but while bringing to the fore certain characteristics evoking the noble, freespirited dynamism of the horse. To do this, Christophe Valtaud made a careful selection of very old eaux-devie drawn from past Years of the Horse. It required several months’ work and outstanding expertise to combine the intensity and elegance of the original cognac with fullness, vivacity and complexity, evoking the verve, nobility and controlled energy associated with the horse. 

The horse, a symbol of pure strength, is a source of great inspiration for Maison Martell, and it propelled Christophe Valtaud to craft a cognac of special personal significance. For the blend, he selected eaux-de-vie primarily from Grande Champagne, the prestigious terroir where he was born, raised and still lives today. The resulting cognac is distinguished by its vitality, aromatic richness and controlled power. The nose is full and supple, with aromas of honey, candied fruit, floral overtones and a discreet aged quality. On the palate, L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval unleashes the vivacity of red fruit and blackcurrant, complemented by a subtle sweetness, as well as wonderful volume, length and complexity, vividly evoking the noble, intrepid spirit of the horse.

To showcase L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval and to echo the majesty of the horse, an exquisite decanter and beautiful cabinet complete the edition. Created in collaboration with Baccarat, one of France’s most revered manufacturers of fine crystal, the elegant mouthblown decanter evokes a single, pure drop of cognac, complementing the richness and refinement of the blend within. Crowned by a striking horse’s head stopper in deep red crystal manufactured by Baccarat, the decanter rests on a golden pedestal embellished with horseshoe printed pattern. The neck is engraved with the name and series number of the limited edition.

Available in a strictly limited edition of 500, each bottle of L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval comes nestled inside a beautifully crafted wooden case decorated with an intricate horseshoe motif. The magnificent ensemble – decanter, stopper, pedestal – is displayed against a dramatic golden backdrop of grapevines and a spirited, rearing horse. Conceived and crafted in tribute to the Year of the Horse, this L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition pays homage to the majestic power of horse as well as to the flourishing friendship between Maison Martell and China.

Maison Martell and the Noble Steed: A Natural Connection

To incarnate 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 to life this unique relationship, 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 has 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 XXO, this vivid imagery powerfully evokes the energy of both the House and of 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. He Datian worked similarly to reflect the singular characteristics of Martell XO and Martell XXO as well.

Further information – Maison Martell