With exports reaching East Asia as early as 1858, Martell’s ties to the region run deep. Over the decades, the maison has marked this enduring relationship through singular events and limited editions that pay homage to Asian culture. Among its most eloquent tributes is the L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition—a series that ushers in the Lunar New Year through a rarefied presentation of the brand’s most exalted cognac.
For 2026, Maison Martell unveils the latest chapter in the series: L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval, created in honour of the Year of the Fire Horse. Here, Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud builds upon the sui generis identity of the prestigious cognac, while weaving in qualities that echo the horse’s noble, free-spirited dynamism. Drawing from exceptionally old eaux-de-vie distilled in previous Years of the Horse, Valtaud spent months assembling a blend that balances the original cognac’s intensity and elegance with a sense of verve, poise, and controlled energy.
The resulting assemblage is composed predominantly of eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne—the storied terroir where Valtaud was born, raised, and still resides. The cognac reveals a vibrant aromatic profile marked by vitality and depth: a generous nose of honey, candied fruits, floral nuances, and subtle rancio, followed by a palate alive with red fruits and blackcurrant, underpinned by gentle sweetness, impressive volume, and a lingering, complex finish that vividly channels the intrepid spirit of the horse.
Such a creation demands an equally distinguished presentation. To that end, Maison Martell has once again collaborated with Baccarat, crafting a sculptural decanter and cabinet worthy of the liquid within. Mouthblown and shaped to resemble a single drop of cognac, the crystal decanter is crowned with a dramatic horse’s head stopper in deep red crystal—an allusion to the fiery energy of the year ahead—while a golden pedestal adorned with a horseshoe motif completes the tableau.
Produced in a strictly limited run of just 500 decanters worldwide, with only 26 allocated to Malaysia, L’Or de Jean Martell – Assemblage du Cheval stands as both a collector’s piece and a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and cultural dialogue—where time-honoured savoir-faire meets the symbolism of the Lunar New Year.
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