The House of Martell at ION Orchard is now open to the public, offering a festive journey that celebrates the Year of the Horse in style.
As I stepped in, I was immediately greeted by a majestic golden horse statue at the entrance. Inspired by the Chinese character for Horse, ‘馬’ (mǎ), the 2.67-metre golden sculpture felt alive with movement and energy. The level of detail was striking, and it really set the tone for the rest of the experience.
At the entrance, the staff handed me a map of the pop-up and explained the red packet coupon system. Every station required a coupon to redeem, creating an interactive and fun experience while learning about Martell.
My first stop was the He Datian conceptualisation of the horse for this year. The space included a portrait of the artist, along with some of his past designs, including his work for the Olympics. There was an animation of the brush strokes that brought the horse to life, and behind-the-scenes clips showing his creative process. Watching how he translated movement and spirit into each stroke made me appreciate even more how Martell connects the zodiac animal with its heritage.
Next, I tried the Martell-infused gelato, a collaboration with Messina. The scoop was generous and creamy, and I loved the surprise of pineapple tart cubes inside. Each bite was sweet, slightly tart, and festive. As someone with a sweet tooth, this was one of the highlights of my visit.
After that, I visited the Calligraphy Salon. Here, I could write my own couplets on Martell-designed paper in either gold or black ink. It was a simple but meaningful activity, and taking home my couplets added a personal and festive touch to the experience.
I then moved on to view the limited-edition Martell Cordon Bleu and VSOP bottles for this year. The packaging was thematic and well-executed, with vibrant colours and flowing calligraphy that reflected the festive spirit. The pop-up also featured gifts-with-purchase, including high-quality Martell red packets.
The Martell Cellar was one of the most fascinating stops. Every year, only 400 sets of the exclusive L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition are released, making it a must-see for collectors. This year’s edition celebrates the horse, with a premium red box and horseshoe embellishments. I had a chat with the staff to learn that the blend actually changes every year to reflect the personality of the zodiac. This year’s horse blend is bold and strong, while last year’s snake edition was long and lingering. It was fascinating to learn how Martell uses the characteristics of each zodiac to inspire the tasting notes.
In the Courtyard, there were three cocktails on offer. The Tea of Prosperity featured light and flowery notes, the Citrus Harmony was described as sour and spirit-forward, while the Golden Harvest combined brown butter Martell VSOP with pineapple tart flavours, offering a festive nod to Chinese New Year.
To end my visit, I went through the Portraits of Prosperity photo experience. It was a fun and interactive way to create personalised e-greeting cards to share the festive cheer.
For more information, visit Martell’s website here.
