SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY IS PUTTING TOGETHER A SELECTION OF SINGLE CASK COGNACS

 

SMWS Single Cask Spirits, Cognac Selection of Single Casks

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) more known for their scotch whisky selection and single cask scotch whiskies is now introducing a few Single Cask Cognacs. This is not the first time as they had one Single Cask Cognac in late 2015.

In addition, they are working with Michelle Brachet who has recently joined the world of cognac after working on a documentary assignment about cognac in 2014 which got her started thinking about cognac, and her interests grew further since.

SMWS is rather influential in the scotch whisky category. Let's hope that their venture in creating other single cask selections and in particular cognac will get whisky drinkers to become interested in cognac.

Source:  TheDrinksReport.com

ARIK LEVY DESIGNS LAST HENNESSY LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE

To mark the arrival of Hennessy’s eighth generation master blender Renaud Fillioux, 7th generation Yann Fillioux has created his ultimate blend: the legacy cognac Hennessy·8, presented in a limited edition of 250 bottles.

Hennessy 8 designed by Arik Levy crafted by Baccarat limited to 250 bottles

Hennessy·8 is also named after the eight blends it contains. Seven of these were hand-selected by Yann Fillioux to illustrate each of the seven successive generations of Hennessy master blenders, and the 8th blend was selected by Renaud Fillioux.

Hennessy asked the internationally renowned artist Arik Levy to design an exceptional bottle.

Baccarat crystal produces the 250 crystal decanter, with this unique design of  8 inset rings.

The number 8 is obviously culturally revered in Asia, which might be part of the appeal.

Each carafe is individually numbered and signed by Arik Levy and may be personalised upon request. It is accompanied by an elegant box containing four tasting glasses originally designed by glassmaker Georg Riedel and Yann Fillioux 30 years ago; these have been re-edited exclusively for Hennessy·8. A pipette made of oak barrel wood and a cork holder are also included.

A  brochure describing the Hennessy·8, as well as a dedicated key, a personalised authentication plate and a numbered certificate signed by Yann Fillioux complete the presentation.

The debut edition of Hennessy·8 features just 100 carafes and chests worldwide. These 100 bottles were initially offered through a VIP email campaign sent to a targeted list of clients, and it has now been opened to the public through Harrods in the UK.

Price on request through Harrods.

Source: The Drinks Report

HENNESSY VS LIMITED EDITION SCOTT CAMPBELL

The Hennessy V.S Limited Edition by Scott Campbell embodies a shared a passion to Blend the Unexpected with artistry and expertise.

Hennessy VS Scott Campbell

The Hennessy legacy of artistic collaboration continues with Hennessy V.S Limited Edition by Scott Campbell. It is the sixth in a prestigious series that includes world-renowned artists such as Shepard Fairey, Futura, and Ryan McGinness.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWvh6qxVqFk&w=560&h=315]

Hollywood’s famous tattoo artist Scott Campbell uses his design talent usually applied to tattoos for the limited edition label VS from Hennessy. Very graphic, round lines and a touch feminine characterize Scott Campbell's style and can be easily recognized on the label.

It looks very nice and why not!

Hennessy VS Scott Campbell

Source: Hennessy.com

BAPTISTE LOISEAU REVEALS ITS FIRST LIMITED EDITION COGNAC FOR REMY MARTIN CALLED CARTE BLANCHE No.1

'Carte Blanche' in French means 'blank card', words used in the sense of a 'blank check' for instance.

Rémy Martin has just granted 'Carte Blanche' to his new master cellar Baptiste Loiseau to select a few casks to make a limited edition cognac named 'Carte Blanche No.1'.

Baptiste Loiseau is the cellar master of the House of Rémy Martin, who was appointed in 2014 at the age of just 34. During the years he spent perfecting his craft alongside his predecessor Pierrette Trichet, he tasted every eau-de-vie that had been set aside by previous cellar masters.

Remy Martin, Loiseau, Limited Edition, Carte Blanche No.1

Rémy Martin limited edition Carte Blanche No1 is presented in the traditional cognac bottle with a big punt at the bottom of the bottle, and in a simple yet elegant case which shows 

Rémy Martin is looking to position this cognac into the premium craft spirits.

Loiseau chose to particular casks from the Gensac-la-Pallue cellar which reveal harmonious notes of lilac and spicy notes of nutmeg. The remarkable long finish, with intense aromas of leather, incense and black tea, has given life to this powerful and refined cognac. These eaux-de-vie were bottled at 41.10% Alc. Vol. to preserve their original attributes and to create a cognac of exceptional aromatic strength and finesse.

Rémy Martin only used grapes from both the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, which when blended together are called the Fine Champagne.  Fine Champagne Cognac, ir regulated by French law, which means the cognac is made exclusively from eaux-de-vie of the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, is the only blend of two crus protected by the AOC, the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée.

Just 7,000 numbered bottles of Carte Blanche No.1 have been created with a price of US$400 per bottle. From June 1, Carte Blanche No1 will be rolled out in DFS stores at Hong Kong International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, where it will remain exclusive to DFS until the end of October when distribution will be extended to selected domestic markets.

Sources: DFS, The Drinks Report

HENNESSY JUST RELEASED HENNESSY 8 LAST WEEK

Last week, Hennessy Cognac unveiled one of its newest creation to a limited number of selected customers via email.

Hennessy '8'.

Hennessy 8 - Edition 250th Anniversary designed by Arik Levy

Only a few thousands people received direct communication from Hennessy that 100 bottles of the 250 bottles limited production Hennessy 8 would be released for $40,000 each.

The limited edition bottles were designed by Anik Levy a designer from Paris who had previously worked with Hennessy in 2012 on a limited edition oversized bottle of Hennessy XO.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGoPal0fyJw&w=560&h=315]

The Hennessy '8' marks the 250th anniversary of Hennessy's establishment in Cognac in 1765 which was celebrated last year in 2015, but particularly in June with multiple amazing events.

The crystal bottle is produced by Lalique and it is representing a rather standard bottle used in the cognac trade when producers exchange samples of cognac for the sake of creating blends, with multiple circles surrounding the bottle to remind of the circles one will find around a cask.

Perhaps more impressive is the packaging which is made of layered thin piece of woods which opens of the left and right of the bottle to leave a small crack in the middle when the box is closed reminescent of the Charente river running accross the whole Cognac region in south west of France.

The box, almost as large as a chest really also includes a drawer with multiple tools to allow for a very elegant ceremonial to serve the cognac. Altogether the cognac weights 60kg or about 150 pounds!

Arik Levy made a real masterpiece with these and one can see that he has a very strong opinion on design and materialism in this video.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBQYF0RRqxs&w=560&h=315]

The purchase of this cognac also gives the owner many perks such as 2 business class plane tickets from wherever to go as a special guests to visit Hennessy Cognac and get extra pampered.

This incredible extravaganza also marks the change of hands between Yann Fillioux and his nephew Renaud Fillioux taking over the cellar management of Hennessy as the tradition has been that the cellar management be given to a 'Fillioux' since the 1800s.

In fact, Yann contributed to 7 of the blends and Renaud added the 8th blend.

Source: Wallpaper

CAFE PARISIEN IS LATEST ADDITION TO GRAND MARNIER'S LIMITED EDITION

Grand Marnier unveils latest bottle design.

Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge has unveiledits 13th limited edition bottle design – Le Café Parisien.

Marnier Cordon Rouge Cafe Parisien

The Parisian café scene has seduced the world for centuries, and these hidden gems of the Ville Lumière are the inspiration behind the Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge new limited edition bottle.

Le Café Parisien is the latest addition to Grand Marnier’s limited edition collection, which was established in 1927 to pay tribute to its Parisian heritage.

Dressed in Grand Marnier’s iconic vibrant red, and adorned with an intricate golden pattern, Le Café Parisien is designed to echo the flamboyance of the Parisian café scene and capture the spirit of early twentieth century Paris, a time when many famed cafés and palaces were put on the map.

This was the decade in which the classic, contemporary cocktails of today were created, such as the Cosmopolitan, which put the spotlight on the exotic, tangy orange flavour of Grand Marnier and seduced people all over Europe.

The Parisian café scene of today draws upon the splendour of the past and combines it with the energy of today’s mixologists, baristas and chefs. This is something that Grand Marnier has tried to capture in its new bottle.

The Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge Le Café Parisien bottle launched in October 2015 during the show at TFWA Cannes and is the 13th addition to Grand Marnier’s limited edition collection.

Source: The Drinks Report

NEWEST HENNESSY'S VS DESIGNED BY MCGINNESS

Following Hennessy's artistic collaboration with OS GEMEOS, FUTURA, SHEPARD FAIREY, KAWS, KESH BURROWS, to name a few, Hennessy now welcomes American contemporary artist Ryan McGinness as the designer of the new Hennessy V.S Limited Edition bottle. Influenced and inspired by his life experiences and the frantic energy of New York City, McGinness transforms public signage, logos, and icons into fine art. Elements of his renowned Black Holes series are at the heart of the reimagined label, as bright colors radiate to embody the Maison’s Art of Blending.

Hennessy VS McGinness

Very colorful and more feminine than some other editions, perhaps a little more geometrical and electric rock n'roll than some others, sort of a blend of KAWS and FUTURA. A blend? That makes sense!

Source: Hennessy Tumblr

HENNESSY COGNAC V.S. HAS JUST LAUNCHED ITS 4TH LIMITED ARTISTRY EDITION WITH DESIGNER SHEPARD FAIREY

Moët Hennessy USA has partnered with artist Shepard Fairey to release the fourth edition of its Limited Edition Hennessy V.S. label.

Hennessy Cognac VS designed by Shepard Fairey

This year’s Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition bottle design features Fairey’s trademark color palette and iconography, including the artist’s signature star icon and “Obey” imagery.

Each individually-numbered bottle will retail for $32 a 750-ml. Additionally, Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition Deluxe sets ($150) are slated to launch in July, comprising two new and distinct 750-ml.

Hennessy Cognac designed by Shepard Fairey

Bottles were designed by Fairey.

Shepard Fairey and Cognac

Previous iterations of Hennessy’s Limited Edition V.S. Cognac have featured designs from contemporary artists such as Kaws, Futura and Os Gemeos.

Hennessy Cognac VS by Kaws

Hennessy Cognac VS by Futura

Hennessy Cognac VS by Os Gemeos

Sources: hennessy.com