2019 marks the Year of The Pig on the Chinese calendar. Believers in the Chinese zodiac look at the animal associated with the new year to get a glimpse at what the year will hold. Let’s find out more about the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac was originally identified over 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–9 A.D.) and the zodiac became a popular way to determine a person’s birth year during the North Zhou Dynasty (557-581 A.D.). The zodiac involved a cycle of sixty years where each animal in the zodiac symbolises a different year. According to Chinese mythology there are different stories and tales about the origin of the zodiac. One of the most common myths proclaims that there was a great race organised by the Jade Emperor, ruler of all the gods, to decide which twelve animals would be included in the calendar.

The noble pig secured the 12th place which made it the final animal on the zodiac calendar. In Chinese culture pigs are a symbol of wealth with their faces and big ears being signs of fortune. According to Chinese myth pigs, and therefore the people born on years of the pig, are energetic, compassionate and generous. Recent years of the pig include 1935, 1947,1959,1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and this year – 2019.

Johnnie Walker Year of The Pig Limited Edition

This Chinese New Year Johnnie Walker are celebrating the Year of The Pig with a limited edition bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, designed by famed illustrator Chrissy Lau. Her signature delicate lines and intricate patterns are instantly recognisable and inspired by Chrissy’s Chinese heritage. This year's release features a beautiful illustration on three of the four faces of the iconic square bottle. Presented at a strength of 40% abv, each bottle is individually numbered. As for the liquid, every bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the pinnacle of Blended Scotch Whisky making from Johnnie Walker. Only 1 out 10,000 casks is deemed to be of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste, and these casks are drawn from the largest reserves of whisky in the world. Blue Label is a big flavoured whisky that reflects the Walker belief that neither whisky age alone, nor whisky from a single location, is enough to achieve the creation of a masterpiece. Layers of big flavour, deep richness and smoke, layers of honey and fruit and an incredibly smooth finish deliver this truly rare character. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of The Pig is available to pre-order now with orders being dispatched W/C 4th February, the week we celebrate Chinese New Year.