The Year of the Horse nods to bold optimism and confidence, a fitting companion for Don Julio tequila, as the brand’s 1942 founding also fell on the Year of the Horse. Now, Don Julio is toasting that agave-fueled milestone with a limited-edition tequila, Maxim can exclusively reveal.
Don Julio previously toasted the Year of the Snake in 2025 with an eye-catching luxury release, but the Year of the Horse holds a deeper level of meaning entirely and pays homage to 17-year-old Don Julio Gonzalez founding the company more than eight decades ago.
The Don Julio 1942 Year of the Horse release, available as of today, arrives in a Lunar New Year-inspired bottle adorned with ornate equestrian art on a fiery red vessel housing ultra-premium tequila. “Connecting Don Julio’s origins to the Year of the Horse has felt incredibly natural and meaningful,” said Ari Anderman, Tequila Don Julio’s brand director. “The values often associated with that zodiac sign, like confidence, perseverance and forward momentum, have long been reflected in how we as a brand approach craft and celebration,” Anderman said.
As with other Don Julio releases, 100 percent Weber blue agave drives the spirit forward, while its refined bottle and presentation nod to “the craftsmanship behind the liquid while celebrating the rituals of gathering, gifting, and raising a glass to prosperity and new beginnings,” Anderman said.
Spirits enthusiasts should note that means the company’s excellent, luxury añejo and its oak-forward profile are the centerpiece of the release, with at least two-and-a-half years of aging in the barrel.
The company’s tribute to its founder and the year of its inception is wide-reaching, well beyond a refined bottle of tequila. The new Don Julio 1942 Year of the Horse is perhaps best showcased in a campaign featuring Singapore-born, Chinese-Malaysian actor Ross Butler, squarely “bringing his heritage and fearless energy to the forefront,” Don Julio notes. “His personal connection to his Asian heritage aligns with the spirit of the zodiac while bringing a modern perspective to celebrating the holiday,” Anderman added.
Butler proved a driving force in more ways than one: Along with starring in the campaign, Butler showcases a distinctive and one-of-a-kind Don Julio apparel collection designed and released alongside cult favorite brand Siegelman Stable. The duo have developed a series of collaborative collections over the years, blending streetwear, workwear and sportswear seamlessly. For good measure, 10 percent of proceeds from sales of this year’s collection will go towards national non-profit The Asian American Foundation.
Working with its longtime partner in Siegelman Stable was a natural fit, Anderman said, nodding to the duo’s “shared respect for craftsmanship and storytelling that has always made the partnership feel very natural.” It doesn’t hurt that brand founder Max Siegelman was also born in the Year of the Horse, with the limited-edition unisex offering boasting a coach’s jacket, signature Siegelman Stable cap and a short-sleeve tee.
A robust cocktail program celebrating the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse adds another level of flair and dedication to the release, with bartenders across a wide swath of Asia (from Greater China to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines) crafting a variety of custom Don Julio cocktails. The Dǎ Xiǎo Rén, created by Tong Li of Greater China’s Lotus Lounge, features Don Julio 1942 alongside maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, Bergamot Tepache Syrup and kombucha, and is a favorite of Anderman’s.
“These collaborators represent the diversity and modern expression of Lunar New Year today,” Anderman said, with various drinks and recipes nodding to ancient rituals while further solidifying Don Julio’s commitment to the Year of the Horse. For now, adding a limited-edition bottle of Don Julio 1942 Year of the Horse (SRP: About $160) to your bar cart should be top priority as you toast the Lunar New Year.
