An exclusive edition of Maison Martell’s most prestigious cognac welcoming the Chinese Year of the Snake in 2025
Each year, Maison Martell releases an exclusive edition of its most exceptional cognac, inspired by that year’s zodiac animal. Celebrating the Year of the Snake, the 2025 edition evokes all the enigmatic power of the serpent. L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Serpent is available in a strictly limited edition of 500, each bottle individually numbered.
The enigma of the snake expressed in an exceptional blend
With each Zodiac Edition, Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud builds on the essential and exquisite character of L’Or de Jean Martell while highlighting the qualities of that year’s zodiac animal. For the 2025 release, he made a scrupulous selection of very old eaux-de-vie from past Years of the Snake, combining them with the original blend – a symphony of over 1,400 eaux-de-vie from Cognac’s four finest terroirs. Perfected over months of careful tasting and deliberating, the blend preserves the intensity and elegance of the original cognac with extreme subtlety, delicacy and refinement. Rich nuances evoke the enigmatic personality of the snake, which is associated with courage, wisdom and caring. As with all L’Or de Jean Martell editions, this precious blend is a culmination of 300 years of expertise and a perfected mastery of ageing and maturation.
A prominent figure in Chinese mythology, the snake appears in countless legends and works of art. Inspired by the delicate wisdom of the snake, L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Serpent opens with notes of citrus and soft spices, creating an instant sensation of delicacy and finesse. With a gentle swirl in the glass, the enigma begins to reveal itself through notes of mild tobacco and precious wood, while its fruity dimension evolves towards candied fruit, fresh blackcurrant and quince marmalade. The first taste sensation is one of plenitude and velvety smoothness, followed by bold citrus notes – courageous in their prominence. A generous and lingering finish recalls the snake’s caring qualities, while its balance of fruit and wood represents its wisdom.
…and a striking, yet delicate design
In collaboration with Baccarat, one of France’s most revered manufacturers of fine crystal, Maison Martell created an object of sheer elegance for L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Serpent: a decanter echoing a single, pure drop of cognac. In a nod to the refined blend within, the mouth-blown crystal decanter is crowned by a red crystal stopper in the shape of a serpent’s head. The neck of the decanter, covered in 19-carat gold, is engraved with an intricate snakeskin motif and the edition number – one of only 500 – recalling its rarity.
Nestled in a beautifully crafted red case decorated both inside and out with an interlaced snakeskin pattern, the decanter rests on a gold-tone pedestal finely engraved with tiny scales. This striking ensemble is displayed against a dramatic, golden backdrop adorned with the Martell coat of arms, grapevines and gracefully coiling snakes.
Conceived and crafted in tribute to the Year of the Snake, this L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition is a reflection of the serpent’s wisdom as well as of the flourishing friendship between Maison Martell and China.
