Gold Gin, the super premium citrus gin from Spanish gastronomy house Osborne, is making a glittering entrance into Asia’s travel retail scene as it takes centre stage at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for the company’s Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations.

The immersive activation, located in the Arrivals area at KLIA and created in partnership with PBH Duty Free, marks Osborne’s first travel retail celebration of the Year of the Horse and signals a confident push into the Asia Pacific market ahead of the key holiday travel period.

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Gold Gin Shines in KLIA Arrivals

Arriving passengers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport are being greeted by a striking Gold Gin installation that brings the brand’s luminous aesthetic into one of Southeast Asia’s busiest gateways. The pop up, which will run across the Lunar New Year peak, is designed as a high visibility showcase of Osborne’s super premium gin at a moment when gifting and celebratory purchases are at their highest.

The space highlights the liquid’s golden hue and refined profile through illuminated displays, branded backdrops and prominent bottle merchandising. Sampling plays a central role, with trained brand ambassadors guiding travellers through tastings that focus on Gold Gin’s fresh citrus character and smooth finish. For Osborne, the Arrivals hall positioning is strategic, capturing both returning Malaysians and regional visitors as they touch down in the country to begin Lunar New Year festivities.

By anchoring its first Year of the Horse travel retail celebration at KLIA, Osborne is tapping into one of the region’s most dynamic travel hubs. The Malaysian gateway serves as a key transfer and origin point for Chinese, Southeast Asian and international travellers, making it an ideal stage for a brand seeking to build recognition across markets while associating itself with the optimism and abundance linked to Lunar New Year.

A Lunar New Year Platform for a Super Premium Gin

Lunar New Year remains one of the most important trading periods for the global duty free industry, and Osborne’s decision to put Gold Gin at the heart of its 2026 celebrations underscores the brand’s confidence in the category. Gin has been on an upward trajectory among Asian consumers in recent years, helped by the rise of cocktail culture and curiosity around premium, craft and botanically led spirits.

The Year of the Horse, which begins in early 2026, is traditionally associated with energy, dynamism and forward motion. Osborne’s activation plays into these attributes by positioning Gold Gin as a spirited, modern choice for gatherings, reunion dinners and gifting occasions. The brand’s golden visual identity naturally aligns with Lunar New Year motifs, where gold is seen as a symbol of prosperity, good fortune and success.

At KLIA, that festive story is brought to life through visual cues that blend East Asian celebration codes with contemporary European design. Rich red accents and equine motifs referencing the Year of the Horse sit alongside sleek glass and metallic finishes that underline the gin’s super premium credentials. The result is a hybrid aesthetic that speaks both to traditional symbolism and to the aspirations of a globally minded, travel savvy audience.

From French Grain to Spanish Tangerines: Inside Gold Gin

Beyond the eye catching presentation, Osborne is using the KLIA celebration to educate travellers about what makes Gold Gin distinctive within an increasingly crowded premium gin segment. Crafted using traditional distillation and maceration methods, the spirit is built on a base of French origin grain alcohol that undergoes five separate distillations. This multi step process is designed to deliver exceptional purity and a clean, refined backbone for the botanicals.

Spanish tangerines sit at the core of Gold Gin’s flavour profile and serve as a central storytelling pillar for the KLIA activation. The citrus fruit, long associated with luck and abundance in Chinese culture, lends the gin an intense yet balanced fresh citrus character. Through maceration, the tangerines infuse the spirit with aromatic oils and bright notes that are intended to shine in both classic gin and tonics and more adventurous cocktails.

At the tasting bar, brand representatives are highlighting how those citrus forward notes can be paired with typical Lunar New Year dishes or used to create celebratory serves at home. Recommendations range from a simple Gold Gin and tonic with a tangerine twist to more elaborate signatures using Asian ingredients such as lemongrass, ginger or yuzu. By linking the product’s flavour signature to festive food and drink rituals, Osborne is aiming to move Gold Gin from a curiosity to a must have component of the holiday table.

KLIA as a Strategic Showcase for Osborne in Asia Pacific

The Lunar New Year 2026 celebration at KLIA is part of a broader regional strategy for Osborne, which in recent years has sharpened its focus on Asia Pacific travel retail. The family owned company, whose roots date back to 1772, has been positioning itself as an ambassador of Spanish gastronomy, leveraging a portfolio that spans premium spirits, wines and gourmet food to appeal to an increasingly experience driven traveller base.

In the travel retail channel, Osborne has already established partnerships with major operators in key Asian locations and has signalled its ambition by showcasing brands such as Gold Gin, Nordés gin, Carlos I brandy and Montecillo wines at trade events in Singapore and beyond. The KLIA activation provides a tangible consumer facing expression of that strategy, translating trade marketing messages into a real time encounter for passengers.

Kuala Lumpur’s role as a regional aviation hub gives Osborne a valuable springboard into multiple markets. Travellers flying in from China, Korea, Japan, Australia and across Southeast Asia are able to discover Gold Gin as part of their arrival journey, and many will then encounter Osborne’s wider portfolio again in other airports or domestic channels. For a brand that prizes storytelling and heritage, the airport environment provides an opportunity to compress that narrative into a few influential moments with highly receptive consumers.

Cinco Jotas Joins the Celebration From Europe

While Gold Gin dominates the scene in Kuala Lumpur, Osborne is extending its Lunar New Year 2026 activity into Europe through its renowned Cinco Jotas brand. The 100 percent Iberian acorn fed ham, considered one of the benchmarks of Spanish gastronomy, is being presented in travel retail exclusive packaging at select airports across Spain and other European gateways.

For the Year of the Horse, Cinco Jotas is dressed in a bespoke festive sleeve that nods to Lunar New Year iconography, positioning the delicacy as a luxurious gift option for international travellers. The limited edition outer, available only in duty free and travel retail, is designed to elevate the product’s gifting appeal and to align with the gold and red visual language that is central to seasonal displays worldwide.

By linking the Gold Gin activity at KLIA with Cinco Jotas celebrations in Europe, Osborne is effectively running a cross continental campaign grounded in shared values of authenticity, craftsmanship and premium gifting. Travellers who encounter Gold Gin on arrival in Kuala Lumpur may later see Cinco Jotas showcased in Madrid or Barcelona, reinforcing the perception of Osborne as a curator of high quality Spanish experiences across categories and regions.

Premium Gifting and the New Travel Retail Consumer

The prominence of Gold Gin at KLIA and the travel retail focus for Cinco Jotas reflect broader shifts in how travellers are engaging with airports and duty free shopping in the post recovery period. As passenger numbers rebound and international travel becomes firmly reestablished, brands are vying for attention through experiential activations that go beyond simple product displays.

Within this context, premium gifting has emerged as a powerful driver of purchases, particularly around cultural celebrations such as Lunar New Year. Travellers are seeking items that combine strong visual impact, authentic backstories and tangible quality. Gold Gin’s golden bottle design, Spanish tangerine narrative and meticulous production process give it a combination of talking points that appeal to both spirits enthusiasts and occasional buyers looking for something distinctive to take home.

At the same time, the rise of foodie culture and interest in provenance has kept demand strong for gourmet products like Cinco Jotas ham. By synchronising a spirits led activation in Asia with a gourmet food focused initiative in Europe, Osborne is targeting multiple consumer passions while presenting a cohesive brand universe built around Spanish excellence. For travel retailers, such multi category campaigns can help drive basket size and encourage cross shopping between liquor, gourmet and gifting zones.

What Travellers Can Expect at the Gold Gin Experience

Passengers arriving through KLIA during the Lunar New Year 2026 period can expect a multi sensory encounter when they step into the Gold Gin activation zone. The space is curated to evoke a celebratory mood, using warm golden lighting, reflective materials and seasonal accents that invite travellers to pause and explore before exiting customs.

Sampling counters allow visitors to taste Gold Gin neat or in simple mixed serves, with staff explaining the role of Spanish tangerines in shaping the spirit’s profile and the impact of the fivefold distillation. Educational touchpoints, such as visual infographics or concise storytelling panels, further break down the production process in an accessible way for a diverse international audience.

For those inspired to purchase, the activation directs shoppers to PBH Duty Free’s retail area, where Gold Gin is prominently merchandised among other premium spirits. Gift ready formats and potential special Lunar New Year presentations are emphasised to help travellers quickly identify options suited for family, friends or corporate contacts. The aim is to create a seamless journey from first impression to final purchase, anchored by the festive atmosphere of the Year of the Horse.

FAQ

Q1: Where exactly is the Gold Gin Lunar New Year 2026 activation located at KLIA?
The Gold Gin celebration is positioned in the Arrivals area of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, in close proximity to PBH Duty Free, so that travellers encounter the experience shortly after landing and before moving into the public arrivals hall.

Q2: How long will the Gold Gin activation run at KLIA?
The activation has been launched to coincide with the build up to Lunar New Year 2026 and is scheduled to run across the key festive travel window around the start of the Year of the Horse, covering the busiest days for seasonal arrivals.

Q3: What makes Osborne’s Gold Gin different from other premium gins?
Gold Gin is crafted using traditional distillation and maceration techniques with a base of French origin grain alcohol distilled five times, and it features Spanish tangerines as a signature ingredient that gives the gin an intense yet balanced fresh citrus profile suited to both classic and contemporary serves.

Q4: Can travellers sample Gold Gin at the KLIA activation?
Yes, sampling is a core component of the experience, with brand ambassadors offering guided tastings so travellers can explore the gin’s flavour, learn about its production and receive simple serving suggestions for home celebrations.

Q5: Is Gold Gin being sold in any special Lunar New Year packaging at KLIA?
At KLIA, the focus is on showcasing Gold Gin’s existing golden identity within a festive environment, with gifting and presentation highlighted through displays and, where available, seasonal gift options created in collaboration with PBH Duty Free.

Q6: How does Cinco Jotas fit into Osborne’s Lunar New Year 2026 plans?
Cinco Jotas, Osborne’s 100 percent Iberian acorn fed ham brand, is supporting the celebrations with a travel retail exclusive festive sleeve for the Year of the Horse, available at selected European airports to position the delicacy as a high end gifting choice during the Lunar New Year season.

Q7: Why did Osborne choose KLIA for its first Year of the Horse travel retail celebration?
Kuala Lumpur International Airport serves as a major hub for regional and long haul traffic, making it a strategic location to reach a diverse mix of Asian and international travellers at a moment when they are in a discovery mindset and actively thinking about festive purchases.

Q8: Are Osborne’s other brands featured alongside Gold Gin at KLIA?
The KLIA activation is centred on Gold Gin, although communications reference Osborne’s broader portfolio and its role as a leading Spanish gastronomy house, while other brands, including Cinco Jotas, are receiving dedicated Lunar New Year visibility in different travel retail locations.

Q9: Can travellers purchase Gold Gin outside of Malaysia during Lunar New Year 2026?
Gold Gin is part of Osborne’s wider international portfolio and is available in selected travel retail and domestic markets, with the KLIA celebration acting as a high profile showcase within a broader regional and global distribution strategy.

Q10: What type of traveller is Osborne targeting with the Gold Gin centre stage celebration?
The campaign is aimed at modern, experience seeking travellers who value premium products with a strong sense of origin and story, including both seasoned spirits enthusiasts and occasional buyers looking for a distinctive, visually striking gift to mark Lunar New Year 2026.