Johnnie Walker Blue Label has become one of the most recognisable luxury blended Scotch whiskies in the world.
But for collectors, the standard blue bottle is only part of the story.
Over the years, Johnnie Walker has transformed Blue Label into a canvas for limited-edition artwork, city releases, collaborations and annual Lunar New Year designs.
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label 2021 Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox is one of the most distinctive examples.
Created for Lunar New Year 2021, the bottle features artwork by award-winning Chinese artist Shirley Gong, centred on a majestic golden ox rising above mountain clouds alongside lanterns and cherry blossom. The imagery was designed around themes of prosperity, growth, longevity and good fortune.
Inside is the luxurious Blue Label blended Scotch whisky, presented in the UK at 40% ABV in a 70cl bottle. HTFW records the bottling year as 2020, with bourbon and sherry oak listed as the cask types.
For anyone collecting the wider Johnnie Walker range at Hard To Find Whisky, the Year of the Ox has additional relevance because it sits within a continuing sequence of annual zodiac-themed Blue Label editions.
What Is Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ox?
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ox is a limited-edition presentation of Johnnie Walker Blue Label created for the 2021 Lunar New Year.
The key details are:
- Brand: Johnnie Walker
- Expression: Blue Label
- Edition: Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox
- Lunar year: 2021
- Bottling year recorded by HTFW: 2020
- Bottle size: 70cl
- Strength: 40% ABV in the UK
- Whisky style: Blended Scotch Whisky
- Cask wood listed by HTFW: Bourbon and sherry oak
- Artist: Shirley Gong
- Presentation: Illustrated bottle and matching original gift box
- Theme: Prosperity, growth, diligence, honesty and good fortune.
The important distinction is that this is not a completely separate whisky range from Blue Label.
It is a special Lunar New Year edition built around the established Blue Label liquid and a highly collectable artistic presentation.
Why the Year of the Ox?
The Ox is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
The 2021 Lunar New Year began on 12 February 2021, marking the beginning of the Year of the Ox.
Within the artwork, Johnnie Walker used the ox to represent qualities including:
Diligence.
Honesty.
Strength.
Prosperity.
and
Growth.
That symbolism makes the bottle particularly appropriate as a Lunar New Year gift.
Rather than simply adding the zodiac animal to the standard packaging, Johnnie Walker built an entire visual scene around the meanings associated with the ox.
The Shirley Gong Artwork
The artwork was created by award-winning Chinese artist Shirley Gong.
The central figure is an elaborate golden ox positioned high above the landscape.
Around it appear:
Mountain clouds.
Celebratory lanterns.
Cherry blossom.
Decorative flourishes.
And vivid gold detailing.
Each element has a role.
The ox represents prosperity and growth.
The mountain clouds represent longevity.
Lanterns and cherry blossom reinforce the sense of celebration and good fortune.
This makes the artwork more than decorative packaging.
It is designed as a visual expression of the wishes traditionally associated with Lunar New Year.
The Golden Ox
The ox dominates both the bottle and presentation box.
HTFW describes it as a majestic golden ox, emphasising qualities of diligence and honesty.
Its elevated position above the clouds gives the design a sense of movement and ambition.
That is important because Johnnie Walker’s wider brand identity has long revolved around progress through its Striding Man and “Keep Walking” philosophy.
The Year of the Ox artwork therefore fits naturally with the broader brand.
The zodiac animal represents effort and achievement.
Johnnie Walker represents forward movement.
Mountains and Longevity
The mountain clouds are not incidental background decoration.
Contemporary launch material explicitly associated them with longevity.
This adds another layer to the gifting story.
The bottle effectively carries wishes for:
Prosperity.
Growth.
Good health.
Longevity.
And future success.
That symbolic richness helps explain why Lunar New Year releases have become increasingly important within Johnnie Walker’s luxury portfolio.
Cherry Blossom and Lanterns
The surrounding cherry blossom and lantern imagery gives the design a more celebratory feel.
Diageo described these elements as signifying good fortune in the year ahead.
They also make the bottle immediately different from ordinary Blue Label.
Even from several metres away, it is clearly a special edition.
For collectors displaying several Lunar New Year releases together, that visual distinction becomes particularly important.
What Is Johnnie Walker Blue Label?
Blue Label sits at the luxury end of the Johnnie Walker portfolio.
Johnnie Walker creates it by blending selected mature malt and grain Scotch whiskies from across Scotland.
The result is intended to balance richness, fruit, sweetness, oak and gentle smoke.
The standard Johnnie Walker Blue Label remains one of the most recognised premium blended Scotch whiskies, while limited-edition bottles such as Year of the Ox add a collector dimension to the same core prestige proposition.
Blue Label and Rare Whisky
One of Blue Label’s defining characteristics is its emphasis on mature and carefully selected stocks.
Johnnie Walker’s blending team has access to a huge range of Scotch whisky casks from across Diageo’s distillery portfolio.
In 2025, Diageo described its luxury blending inventory as including more than 10 million casks from over 30 distilleries, including very old stocks and whisky from historically closed distilleries.
That enormous inventory is what makes a whisky such as Blue Label possible.
The blender is not trying to express one distillery.
The objective is to combine many individual whiskies into one consistent flavour architecture.
Is the Year of the Ox Whisky Different from Standard Blue Label?
For the UK release, the most important distinction is presentation.
The Year of the Ox uses the established Blue Label style while adding limited-edition Shirley Gong packaging.
Some markets received a higher-strength edition.
Contemporary US reporting described a 46% ABV / 92-proof version, while UK confirmation established that the British release was 40% ABV.
That explains why collectors may encounter apparently conflicting ABV information online.
UK / European-style release
70cl.
40% ABV.
US-market release
750ml.
46% ABV.
The HTFW bottle is the 70cl, 40% ABV edition.
This distinction is important when comparing bottles or researching historical pricing.
Bourbon and Sherry Oak
HTFW lists the Year of the Ox release under bourbon and sherry oak.
That combination helps explain the whisky’s broad flavour profile.
Bourbon-influenced maturation can contribute:
Vanilla.
Honey.
Toffee.
Coconut.
Soft oak.
Sherry influence can add:
Fig.
Dark dried fruit.
Chocolate.
Nutty richness.
Orange peel.
Spice.
Blue Label then layers subtle smoke and mature oak through the wider blend.
The result is much broader than a whisky driven by one cask type.
What Does Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ox Taste Like?
HTFW provides a detailed tasting profile for this specific release.
Colour
The whisky shows a deep amber-gold colour with copper and bronze tones.
It is immediately rich and polished in appearance.
Nose
The aroma opens with:
Polished oak
and
vanilla.
These are joined by:
Dried apricot
fig
toffee
dark chocolate
almond
and
orange zest.
A delicate spicy note completes the nose.
This is classic luxury-blend territory.
Sweetness is balanced by nuts, oak and darker fruit.
Palate
The texture is silky and velvety.
Creamy vanilla and honeyed toffee lead into:
Almond
dried fig
dark chocolate
orange zest
and
walnut spice.
Oak adds structure while sherry-led sweetness develops underneath.
The profile is rich without becoming excessively heavy.
Finish
The finish is long and refined.
Expect:
Dark dried fruit
cocoa
toasted oak
warming spice
honeyed nuts
and
citrus zest.
A gentle smoky quality sits underneath the sweeter flavours, giving Blue Label its familiar balance.
Vanilla and Toffee
Vanilla and toffee provide much of the whisky’s immediate accessibility.
They soften the oak and help create Blue Label’s velvety impression.
For drinkers moving from younger blended Scotch into premium whisky, these flavours make the transition easy.
The whisky is complex.
But it is not designed to be difficult.
Fig and Dried Fruit
Dried fig introduces a richer, more mature flavour.
It works naturally with:
Chocolate.
Oak.
Walnut.
Orange.
This is one of the areas where the sherry influence becomes most noticeable.
Rather than bright fresh fruit, the whisky moves towards richer dried-fruit territory.
Dark Chocolate and Cocoa
Chocolate appears at several stages.
Dark chocolate adds depth to the palate.
Cocoa carries into the finish.
These slightly bitter flavours are particularly important because they counteract:
Vanilla.
Toffee.
Honey.
And dried-fruit sweetness.
The result remains balanced rather than dessert-like.
Almond and Walnut
Nutty flavours contribute another layer.
Almond appears alongside the fruit.
Walnut introduces a more savoury, slightly bitter spice.
Together they reinforce the mature sherry-oak character.
Orange Zest
Orange zest gives the whisky much-needed freshness.
Without citrus, the combination of:
Fig.
Toffee.
Chocolate.
Oak.
And nuts
could feel extremely heavy.
Orange cuts through the richness.
It also gives the finish greater lift.
Is Year of the Ox Smoky?
There is smoke, but Blue Label is not a heavily peated whisky.
The smoke is generally soft and integrated.
It appears behind:
Fruit.
Vanilla.
Chocolate.
Oak.
And spice.
Contemporary launch material described the whisky as velvety with layers of fruit, spice and a long lingering smokiness.
Someone wanting extremely powerful peat would be better served by an Islay single malt.
Blue Label uses smoke as part of a much broader composition.
Is Year of the Ox Sweet?
Yes, although balance is the key.
Sweet flavours include:
Vanilla.
Honeyed toffee.
Dried fig.
Sherry fruit.
But these are countered by:
Oak.
Dark chocolate.
Walnut.
Citrus zest.
Spice.
And gentle smoke.
The result is rich rather than sugary.
Why 40% ABV?
The UK edition is bottled at 40% ABV.
This keeps the whisky soft and approachable.
Blue Label is built around texture, integration and elegance rather than alcoholic intensity.
Someone accustomed to cask-strength whisky may find 40% relatively restrained.
But that is deliberate.
The purpose is to let the component whiskies work together without the alcohol becoming a major part of the experience.
Blue Label Year of the Ox vs Standard Blue Label
The obvious comparison is the regular Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Standard Blue Label
Continuing release.
Classic blue presentation.
Designed primarily around the whisky itself.
Year of the Ox
Limited-edition Lunar New Year presentation.
Shirley Gong artwork.
Golden ox design.
Matching illustrated box.
2021 zodiac significance.
For someone simply wanting to drink Blue Label, the standard bottle is the natural choice.
For someone collecting Johnnie Walker or zodiac editions, Year of the Ox has considerably greater relevance.
Year of the Ox vs Year of the Rat 2020
The previous Lunar New Year release was Johnnie Walker Blue Label 2020 Year of the Rat.
Both the Rat and Ox editions feature work associated with Shirley Gong’s Lunar New Year designs, making them particularly natural companion bottles.
Displayed together they represent consecutive zodiac years:
2020 – Rat.
2021 – Ox.
That chronology is a major part of the appeal for series collectors.
Year of the Ox vs Year of the Tiger 2022
The following edition was Johnnie Walker Blue Label 2022 Year of the Tiger.
HTFW lists the Tiger edition at the same familiar 70cl and 40% ABV specification.
Together:
Ox 2021.
Tiger 2022.
Rabbit 2023.
Dragon 2024.
Snake 2025.
Horse 2026.
form a particularly attractive modern run of annual Blue Label collector bottles.
The Modern Zodiac Sequence
Collectors can continue the sequence through:
and
For collectors, this annual progression is important.
Each edition works independently.
But together they become a visual timeline.
Earlier Lunar New Year Blue Labels
The Blue Label zodiac tradition began well before 2021.
HTFW also lists earlier collector editions including:
and
Even earlier HTFW listings include Blue Label Lunar New Year bottles for the Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Ram.
That means the Year of the Ox belongs to a much larger collecting tradition rather than being a standalone novelty.
The Lunar New Year Bottle Collection
Collectors who want several modern zodiac releases together can also explore the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year Bottle Collection.
HTFW currently presents the bundle as a five-bottle Blue Label Lunar New Year collection.
For someone building a display, the attraction is obvious.
The whisky remains broadly recognisable from bottle to bottle.
The artistic presentation changes dramatically.
That makes the range visually coherent without becoming repetitive.
King George V Year of the Ox
The Year of the Ox was not limited to Blue Label.
HTFW also lists Johnnie Walker King George V 2021 Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox at 43% ABV.
This is particularly interesting for collectors interested specifically in the 2021 zodiac rather than Blue Label alone.
The two bottles can be displayed together as complementary prestige Johnnie Walker releases celebrating the same Lunar year.
Why Lunar New Year Became Important to Johnnie Walker
Diageo has spoken directly about the importance of culturally relevant luxury releases within Asian markets.
In 2021, the company highlighted the Year of the Ox bottle as one of several innovations designed around Chinese consumers’ interest in premium Scotch, cultural pride, gifting and business entertainment. Diageo reported that the Year of the Ox edition sold out quickly in that market.
That provides useful context for the wider series.
These bottles are not simply standard Scotch with a decorative sleeve.
They form part of a deliberate long-term programme combining:
Luxury whisky.
Art.
Cultural storytelling.
And gifting.
Why the Original Box Matters
HTFW lists the Year of the Ox with its original box.
For this particular product, the box matters more than it would with standard Blue Label.
Shirley Gong’s design continues across the packaging.
The bottle and box are therefore intended as one complete visual composition.
Collectors should ideally consider:
Bottle condition.
Closure.
Label and artwork condition.
Original box.
Box corners and edges.
Fill level.
Storage.
And provenance.
A complete bottle-and-box set better preserves the original Lunar New Year presentation.
Is Johnnie Walker Year of the Ox Rare?
It is a discontinued limited-edition release.
However, no reliable public bottle count appears to have been published for the UK edition.
It is therefore better to describe the bottle as:
Limited.
Discontinued.
Collectable.
rather than claiming a specific numerical rarity.
Its scarcity increases naturally as bottles are:
Opened.
Gifted.
Consumed.
Damaged.
Or absorbed into long-term collections.
That process makes surviving complete examples increasingly relevant to zodiac-series collectors.
Is Year of the Ox Collectable?
Yes.
Its strongest collector characteristics are:
- 2021 Lunar New Year release
- Shirley Gong artwork
- Golden Ox design
- Original illustrated presentation box
- Discontinued edition
- Part of the long-running Blue Label zodiac sequence
- Connection with Year of the Rat 2020
- Followed by Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake and Horse releases
- Established Blue Label brand recognition
- Strong gifting and cultural significance.
That does not guarantee future investment returns.
Collector demand can change.
But as a piece of Johnnie Walker history, the Year of the Ox has a clearly defined position.
Why Complete Zodiac Runs Appeal to Collectors
One limited bottle is interesting.
A complete sequence tells a story.
Consider the visual progression:
Pig.
Rat.
Ox.
Tiger.
Rabbit.
Dragon.
Snake.
Horse.
Different artists and visual treatments give each release its own character.
But the underlying Blue Label bottle creates continuity.
This is exactly the type of structure that naturally encourages collectors to build vertical runs.
Missing one year becomes noticeable.
That can increase interest in older discontinued editions such as the Ox.
Should You Open It?
From a pure whisky perspective, yes.
Blue Label is designed to be enjoyed.
The Year of the Ox offers a luxurious combination of:
Vanilla.
Toffee.
Fig.
Chocolate.
Almond.
Walnut.
Orange.
Oak.
And gentle smoke.
From a collector’s perspective, keeping a discontinued Lunar New Year edition sealed also makes sense.
The matching artwork is one of the principal reasons to own it.
Ultimately, the choice depends on whether the buyer values:
The whisky experience.
Or preservation of the collectable release.
How Should Blue Label Year of the Ox Be Served?
Neat is the best starting point.
Use a whisky tasting glass and allow the spirit several minutes to open.
At 40% ABV, additional water is not essential.
A few drops may help reveal:
Orange.
Fig.
Vanilla.
Nutty spice.
But excessive dilution could soften the already elegant structure.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label also works well served alongside a glass of chilled water, allowing the palate to reset between sips.
Is Year of the Ox a Good Gift?
This is arguably one of its strongest uses.
The combination of:
Blue Label.
Golden zodiac artwork.
Prosperity symbolism.
Premium illustrated packaging.
And Lunar New Year significance
makes the bottle particularly appropriate for:
Lunar New Year gifting.
Business gifts.
Milestone birthdays.
Collectors born in an Ox year.
Or anyone building a zodiac whisky collection.
The bottle carries more symbolism than standard Blue Label without changing the familiar luxury whisky proposition.
Who Is the Year of the Ox For?
The release makes particular sense for:
- Johnnie Walker collectors
- Blue Label collectors
- Lunar New Year whisky collectors
- Buyers born in a Year of the Ox
- Shirley Gong artwork collectors
- Luxury Scotch gift buyers
- Collectors building a full Zodiac Series
- Fans of unusual Blue Label designs
- Collectors of discontinued Scotch whisky editions
Someone simply looking for Blue Label to drink can choose the standard Blue Label.
The Year of the Ox is for someone who values the presentation and history as well.
Year of the Ox vs Ghost and Rare
For a collector deciding between different specialist Blue Label bottles, it helps to understand the distinction.
The Lunar New Year editions are primarily differentiated through artwork, cultural storytelling and presentation.
The Ghost and Rare collection changes the whisky concept itself by highlighting scarce stocks from particular historic distilleries.
HTFW carries releases such as:
Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen
and
Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich.
For someone interested primarily in rare liquid and distillery history, Ghost and Rare may be the stronger path.
For someone interested in visual collecting and annual editions, the Lunar range is more natural.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ox?
It is a limited-edition Blue Label created for Lunar New Year 2021, featuring artwork by Chinese artist Shirley Gong.
What year was it bottled?
HTFW records the bottle as 2020, produced for the 2021 Lunar New Year.
What ABV is the UK Year of the Ox?
The HTFW UK release is 40% ABV.
What size is the bottle?
It is 70cl.
Was there also a 46% version?
Yes. Contemporary reporting confirms that a higher-strength 46% ABV version was offered in the US, while the UK edition was bottled at 40%.
Who designed the Year of the Ox bottle?
The artwork was created by award-winning Chinese artist Shirley Gong.
What does the ox symbolise?
The artwork associates the ox with prosperity, growth, diligence and honesty.
What do the clouds represent?
Launch material associated the mountain clouds with longevity.
What do the lanterns and cherry blossom represent?
They reinforce themes of celebration and good fortune for the year ahead.
What casks are used?
HTFW lists bourbon and sherry oak.
What does Year of the Ox taste like?
Expect vanilla, polished oak, dried apricot, fig, toffee, dark chocolate, almond and orange zest, followed by walnut spice, sherry sweetness, cocoa and gentle smoky warmth.
Is it smoky?
Yes, but gently. Smoke is integrated into the fruit, vanilla, chocolate and oak rather than dominating the whisky.
Does it come with a box?
Yes. HTFW lists the bottle with its original illustrated presentation box.
Is Year of the Ox discontinued?
Yes. It was created specifically for the 2021 Lunar New Year and is no longer a current annual release.
What came before Year of the Ox?
The preceding zodiac release was Blue Label Year of the Rat 2020.
What came after Year of the Ox?
The next release was Blue Label Year of the Tiger 2022.
Can I collect several Blue Label Lunar editions together?
Yes. HTFW also offers the Blue Label Lunar New Year Bottle Collection for collectors interested in multiple zodiac releases.
Was there a King George V Year of the Ox?
Yes. Johnnie Walker King George V 2021 Year of the Ox was also released and is bottled at 43% ABV.
Buy Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ox 2021
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label 2021 Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox brings together two very different forms of craftsmanship.
Inside the bottle is the familiar luxury of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Vanilla and polished oak lead into dried apricot, fig and toffee, followed by dark chocolate, almond, orange zest and walnut spice before a long finish of sherry fruit, cocoa, oak and subtle smoky warmth.
Outside is one of the most memorable bottles in the modern Blue Label Lunar New Year sequence.
Shirley Gong’s golden ox stands above mountain clouds, surrounded by lanterns and cherry blossom, combining imagery of prosperity, growth, longevity and good fortune.
For collectors building the chronology, the natural companion bottles include the 2020 Year of the Rat and 2022 Year of the Tiger.
The sequence can continue through the 2023 Year of the Rabbit, 2024 Year of the Dragon, 2025 Year of the Snake and 2026 Year of the Horse.
Those wanting several editions together can explore the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year Bottle Collection, while the wider portfolio is available through Johnnie Walker at Hard To Find Whisky.
The Year of the Ox nevertheless has a particularly strong identity.
A golden ox. A year associated with diligence and prosperity. Shirley Gong’s vivid artwork. And one of Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s most distinctive Lunar New Year presentations.
Shop Johnnie Walker Blue Label 2021 Year of the Ox at Hard To Find Whisky.
