Leap to Greatness

BOWMORE limited edition Year of the Dragon Packaging

For Bowmore, a master craftsman of Islay single malt scotch, authenticity and cultural relevance were key to telling a meaningful story during the most auspicious year in the Chinese Zodiac: the Year of the Dragon.

Drawing from Chinese folklore, the legend of the carp leaping over the Dragon’s Gate to become a dragon became the perfect metaphor for Bowmore’s own pursuit of mastery.

Three-Act Unboxing

The legend unfolds in three stages, built directly into the pack’s design. On the outside, the carp’s struggle against the waterfall is illustrated. As the panels slide open, the leap over the Dragon’s Gate is symbolized in the very act of unboxing. And at the center, revealed only once opened, is the final transformation—the dragon in its full glory, perched above the 18-year scotch.

A Poetic Touch

Honouring another Lunar New Year tradition, we composed an original spring couplet—a two-line traditional Chinese poem. As the back panels slide open, the lines part like a doorway, echoing how couplets are traditionally hung during the festival. And a fun little detail: the first two characters of each line—波 (Bō) and 摩(Mó)—are the same characters used to spell Bowmore in Chinese.