Martell: Horse Power
Maison Martell brings craft and flair to limited-edition Martell cognac bottles that celebrate the spirit of the Lunar New Year.
Courage and spirit
In the Chinese zodiac calendar, the Year of the Fire Horse appears once every 60 years, combining the unbridled vitality traditionally associated with the horse with the intensity of the fire element. This auspicious occasion is regarded as a period defined by dynamism and conviction, one that inspires bold action and major life transformations. Those same qualities find a parallel in Maison Martell, the Cognac house founded in 1715 by Jean Martell.
Aged just 21 when he founded his company, Jean Martell rode frequently on horseback across the Cognac region, selecting eaux-de-vie and cultivating an intimate understanding of the terroir. The horse wasn’t simply a mobility solution for Martell; it was integral to how his company built its knowledge and reputation. In Mandarin, the character for horse – 馬 (‘mǎ’) – echoes the first syllable of Martell, a linguistic alignment that resonates with the house’s long-standing ties to Asia.
Finely crafted
To mark the Year of the Fire Horse, Maison Martell has commissioned Hunan-born artist He Datian to interpret its best-known Cognacs. Renowned for his equestrian paintings which have graced the Olympic Games, Datian used his mastery of traditional Chinese brush painting to develop a series of gestural artworks that reflect the distinct personalities of each cognac. For Cordon Bleu, the maison’s most iconic blend, the horse pivots mid-stride, suspended in motion.
Datian’s artistry is reflected in Martell’s approach to its craft. The distillation of exclusively clear wines, aged in fine-grained oak and blended meticulously, have defined the House for more than three centuries. The result is Cognacs that are renowned the world over.
A bold tribute
Cordon Bleu forms one part of Maison Martell’s wider Lunar New Year celebrations. The maison also presents Noblige with artwork by He Datian and a limited release L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval that arrives crowned with a deep-red horse-head stopper.
Together, the collection reflects Martell’s enduring connection to moments of gathering and celebration, where craft and storytelling meet in the glass. The result is not only a dramatic convergence of heritage, artistry and cultural resonance but also a bold tribute to the Year of the Fire Horse – and the maison that captures its spirit.
