Sydney culinary genius Dan Hong and Crazy Rich Asians actor Remy Hii have joined forces to celebrate the Year of The Dragon by opening the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club.

The one-night-only event will take Merivale’s Est. on 17 February, with the duo inviting Sydneysiders to celebrate Lunar New Year by trying their hand at the fast-paced Mahjong tile game. In between tournaments led by a local mahjong master, guests can enjoy an auspicious menu of reimagined delicacies and bespoke Johnnie Walker Blue Label-infused cocktails.

The menu will see crustaceans – which represent wealth – transformed into King Crab & Scallop potsticker dumplings alongside Rock Lobster Bao with ginger and shallot. Prawn toast will get a luxe makeover with otoro tuna belly and finger lime, alongside Hot & Numbing Wagyu Skewer. A modern play on longevity noodles will also be served, with Chilled Truffled Noodle with Caviar and, to end on a sweet note, Hong’s version of a Hong Kong-style Warm Egg Tart.

Merivale mixologist Jonathan Liu has designed a trio of unique cocktails infused with popular flavours from across the Asian continent. Highball lovers will enjoy the Hi-Prosperity – a tall, refreshing tipple featuring notes of ginger, yuzu, and chrysanthemum, while those with a sweet tooth can try the Blue Wishes, which sees Johnnie Walker Blue Label infused with apple and rose honey, and topped with champagne. Finally, the Peace and Peaches takes Scotch to the next level with clarified coconut milk, peach and pandan.

Hong said: “I have vivid memories of growing up watching my friend’s mum play mahjong and spending Lunar New Year with my family, surrounded by food. The menu I’ve created for the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club pays homage to those memories and traditions, and the ingredients that have important cultural symbolism around Lunar New
Year, but each with a fresh new twist – a modern makeover and a few extra extravagant touches.”

Remy Hii added: “For me Lunar New Year is all about getting together with family and friends, enjoying delicious food and
each other’s company. That’s why I’m so excited to be hosting the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club. Mahjong is such an important game in Chinese culture, I’m thrilled to be inviting Sydneysiders to an experience where they can connect with their own loved ones and with other players, whether it’s over a game, a bowl of noodles or a Scotch.”

The launch of the Mahjong Club coincides with the release of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year, Year of the Dragon, a limited-edition bottle designed in collaboration with Asian-American artist, James Jean.

Diageo National Whisky Ambassador Kate McGraw said: “A symbol of life and creativity, James Jean’s depiction of the vibrant dragon and colourful flora and fauna are a wonderful reflection of the complex spice, vanilla and caramel notes that roll through a sip of Johnnie Walker Blue Label while the fiery haze surrounding the dragon provides a subtle nod to the Scotch’s luxuriously long, smoky finish.”

Book a seat at the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club here.