GlenAllachie Celebrates the Lunar New Year with Exclusive Year of the Snake Edition

The GlenAllachie Distillery has released a special limited-edition single malt whisky to honour the fast-approaching Lunar New Year 2025. Known as the Year of the Snake Edition, this 11-year-old expression is a nod to the celebration’s cultural significance, both here in Malaysia and across Asia. Renowned whisky maker Billy Walker, the distillery’s master blender and a distinguished innovator in cask finishes, crafted the whisky to mark this auspicious occasion.

This Lunar New Year bottling is not only a testament to GlenAllachie’s whisky-making expertise but also a visual celebration of the Year of the Snake. The bottle is housed in a bespoke carton adorned with hand-drawn illustrations and embossed gold details. A gold-coloured 3D snake charm graces the bottle’s neck, while the green packaging reflects the wood element associated with this Chinese zodiac year.

Commenting on the release, Walker expressed his enthusiasm for creating a whisky to commemorate the occasion: “The team and I are thrilled to unveil this very special bottling for Lunar New Year. Having travelled to numerous Asian countries this year, I’ve witnessed firsthand the demand and appreciation for Scotch whisky in the region… The expression we’ve devised, in my view, is worthy of a toast to this momentous occasion.”

A Masterful Blend of Flavours and Techniques

This edition features a multi-wood cask finish, blending Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Spain with toasted and charred virgin oak barrels. This careful selection and maturation process produced an exceptional single malt, bottled at 48% ABV, non-chill-filtered, and free from artificial colouring. (For us, this is the ‘holy trinity’ that connoisseurs should look for in any fine Scotch whisky – 46% or higher ABV, no chill filtration, and no colouring added.) According to the distillery, the whisky balances the Speyside distillery’s characteristic profile with indulgent layers of fruit, spice, and sweetness.

The tasting notes for the Year of the Snake Edition include:

• Nose: Bright orange peel, caramelised ginger, and rich chocolate, complemented by buttercream and brandied dark cherries.
• Palate: A luxurious medley of butterscotch, poached pears, and blood orange, underscored by hints of cinnamon butter, honeycomb, and chocolate gâteau.

Availability and Price

The limited-release GlenAllachie 11-Year-Old Year of the Snake Edition is priced at approximately RM600 and will be available at select specialist retailers in Malaysia, as well as across Asia, including Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and Hong Kong. A limited number of bottles will also be available at the distillery and its online shop starting January 2025.