John Walker King George V Chinese New Year Hare (70cl, 43%)

A blended Scotch whisky in a 70cl bottle, bottled at 43%. This limited New Year edition of King George V was released for Chinese New Year 2023, the Year of the Hare. The box was designed by Angel Chen, a designer from Shanghai, in bold red and gold with the Peng, a giant bird from Chinese mythology. The blend draws on whiskies from Scottish distilleries that were operating during the reign of George V. These include Port Ellen from Islay, which lends a coastal smokiness, along with malts from the Highlands and Speyside. The nose opens with sweet, smoky Port Ellen, then orange, raisins and figs with cinnamon. The palate is spicy with dried fruit, vanilla, dark chocolate, toffee and roasted nuts. The long finish is rich and creamy, with maritime smoke growing as it fades.