Happy Lunar New Year!
And, like we’ve said before, over one-fifths of the world’s population is celebrating today (February 8th, 2016) since it is Day 1 of the Lunar Calendar Year¹. In Chinese culture, this new year is the Year of the Monkey. This year comes every 12 years. So, if you’re born in any previous years of the Monkey (2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, etc.), you’d be especially lucky this year.
People born in the Year of the Monkey are known to be clever, curious, flexible, enthusiastic… which means we know you’re going to love discovering new whiskeys with us. (And, if you’re not born in the Year of the Monkey, you’re still awesome and will benefit from using our service! *wink*)
Aside from many traditions such as wearing red, cleaning the home, hanging the Chinese character for fortune upside down and eating heartily (especially dumplings, fish and this black moss called fa cai), another tradition is to drink and be merry. For Chinese people, the Chinese New Year is Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s combined. Festivities are aplenty. (Just look at the two-week long “out-of-office” replies you get when you try to reach Chinese business people during this time.)
Anyways, back to drinking and being merry. We wanted to celebrate this event in our own Whiskey Me Up style.
So, this year, we put together a super shortlist of Asian whiskeys that you should absolutely try!
Our Short List for Lunar New Year:
YAMAZAKI 12 (Japan).
Well-balanced. Not smokey. Hints of dried fruits and honey. We typically recommend this to Whiskey Personas™: Modern Lady, Modern Gent or Entrepreneur. [See product site.]
HIBIKI 12 (Japan).
A blend of soft fruit tastes and soft blossoms. Delicate. Exuberant. We typically recommend this to Whiskey Personas: Fashion Icon or Hipster. [See product site.]
KING CAR CONDUCTOR by KAVALAN (Taiwan).
Sweet, rich and round in flavor. Warm. Delightful. We typically recommend this to Whiskey Personas: Modern Lady or Modern Gent. [See product site.]
And, if you find yourself lucky, celebrate this day with a bottle of the Whisky Bible‘s “2015 World Whisky of the Year” Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013. (Read our founder Rose Jia’s interview with Jim Murray, the author of Whisky Bible.)
Speaking of celebrities, here are some born in the Year of the Monkey: Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Yao Ming, Celine Dion, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor,Truman, Michael Douglas, Owen Wilson, Daniel Craig, Mick Jagger, Julius Caesar, Bette Davis, Annie Oakley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betsy Ross, Gisele Bundchen, Kim Cattrell, Nick Carter, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez.
Now, go enjoy and let your Whiskey Personas™ out! (Don’t know yours? Sign up and find out.)
FOOTNOTES:
Lunar New Year is also celebrated by many other Asian cultures (Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Tibetan and Vietnamese).
SOURCES:
“Monkey (Zodiac)” | Wikipedia
“Year of the Moneky” | The China Travel Guide
“Whiskies of Asia” | Wikipedia
“Japanese whisky” | Wikipedia
“5 Asian Whiskies to Try” | Wine Enthusiast | Kara Newman | 2013
“Pacific Overtures in the Global Whiskey Market” | Huffington Post | John Mariani | 9.26.2104
“Pursuitist Travels to Taste Taiwan’s Kavalan Whisky” | Pursuitist | Kate Michael
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