LUXE Serendipity magazine

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.

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.

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.

A Celebration of Colour and Craft

Capturing the energy shared by Maison Martell and the 2026 zodiac animal, the bottles and boxes of these limited editions celebrate the rare vitality of the cognacs within through their rich colours and designs.
The dominant colours for the Martell Noblige and Martell Cordon Bleu limited editions, for example, are red and electric blue with flashes of gold, a combination that is both festive and eye-catching. For Martell XO and Martell XXO, gold and silver tones shine, creating an effect that is precious and refined. Overall, the artist’s
touches lend these striking designs a prestigious hand-crafted quality which echoes the craftsmanship behind the cognacs themselves, making them apleasure to give and a privilege to receive.