A Few Ideas,

to see in the Chinese New Year, 

image credit: courtesy, Bao London, today starts the Year of the Wood Dragon (from Lunar New Year on 10 February 2024), so here are a few ideas to see the New Year in, above BaoLondon is known for its particularly delectable Taiwanese Bao buns, and present these dragon claw buns, creative director Erchen Chang’s heartening message: ‘We’re looking forward to spreading prosperity this Lunar New Year by encouraging everyone to eat gua BAO for good luck,’ she reveals. A limited number of buns is offered on 10 and 11 February at BAO eateries – which now include BAO and Dover Street Market pop-up until 11 February, as well as BAO Mary, which opened in Marylebone in £22 for a box of 4,

image credit: Courtesy, Glenfiddich, and to wash the buns down how about a 21-year-old Gran Reserva 2024 Chinese New Year limited-edition Scotch whisky? The Wood Dragon appears once every 60 years in the lunar calendar, bringing notions of growth and renewal with it. Glenfiddich’s collaboration with artist Raku Inoue encapsulates brings us the sprit above, Inoue has intertwined Glenfiddich’s traditional stag motif with the magnificent Wood Dragon in a beautiful presentation box, which can be personalised. ‘What better way to encapsulate the spirit of both than to combine aspects of their characters on a journey that harnesses the magnificence of nature, petal by petal, element by natural element,’ says Inoue, £195, at Selfridges,  

image credit: Courtesy, Martell, or perhaps whisky is not your tipple, so how about seeing in the Year of the Wood Dragon with the exclusive L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition brandy? cellar master Christophe Valtaud has carefully chosen a selection of very old eaux-de-vie drawn from previous Dragon lunar years and combined them with the original L’Or de Jean Martell blend, the drink is supplied in a beautiful Baccarat decanter, finely decorated with 19ct gold, and crowned with a dramatic sculpture of a dragon’s head. Available in strictly limited quantities – fewer than 750 pieces, each individually numbered, €9,900, at today's rate £8,450.28 or $10,671.85 Martell.com, available from thewhiskyexchange.com

image credit courtesy Fortnum & Mason and to round off your drink what could be nicer than vanilla scented biscuits? artfully iced in a variety of charming designs, which makes for a joyful gift to mark the Lunar New Year, nibble one of these with a cup of fragrant jasmine tea as you contemplate the start of the Year of the Dragon, £19.95, Happy New Year!