For more than 200 years, the Hennessy clan and the famille Fillioux have created the finest cognacs for royals and rappers. The former founded the maison in 1765; the latter has been its master blenders since the early 1800s.
Last week, after 50 years at the helm, seventh generation master blender Yann Fillioux handed the keys of the cellar to his nephew Renaud Fillioux. To mark the occasion, the maison has created Hennessy 8, a commemorative blend that comes in a limited edition bottle and case designed by Arik Levy.
Levy worked with Baccarat to design the 60kg carafe. It features eight crystal rings that loop around a bottle inspired by the tasting flacons of old and is wrapped in a wooden case made in oak from the Hennessy cooperage (where barrels are still made by hand). A copper inlay references the metal tools used in the distilling process.
‘I used all the raw materials associated with making cognac,’ says Paris-based Levy, who worked with Hennessy on a methusaleh for its XO in 2012. ‘I was asked to imagine where the company would be in 200 years’ time. For that reason, it’s a highly technical work which took three years to develop.’
The blend was equally complex to create. It’s a fusion of eight eaux-de-vie, seven of which were created by Yann, one by Renaud. ‘Each has a strong personality and combining them was a challenge,’ explains Fillioux senior. There are no plans to produce any more of the rare elixir, and Levy has created only 250 bottles. Which for €35,000 each can be yours.
The bottle features eight crystal rings that loop around a bottle inspired by the tasting flacons of old. Pictured: Arik Levy's original sketch of the bottle, with the finalised white edition to the left
A copper inlay references the metal tools used in the distilling process
The blend was equally complex to create. It’s a fusion of eight eaux-de-vie, seven of which were created by Yann Fillioux, one by Renaud Fillioux
There are no plans to produce any more of the rare elixir, and Levy has created only 250 bottles - which can be yours for 35,000 euros a pop
The bottle is wrapped in a wooden case made in oak from the Hennessy cooperage (where barrels are still made by hand)
Levy explains, ‘I was asked to imagine where the company would be in 200 years’ time. For that reason, it’s a highly technical work which took three years to develop'
INFORMATION
For more infromation, visit the Hennessy website
Photography courtesy Hennessy
-
Nothing pitches itself into the premium realm with its new flagship Nothing Phone (3)The Nothing Phone (3) is a serious creative tool that brings fresh design, new features and a commitment to keeping tech fun
-
Nothing takes its first step into high-end audio with the new over-ear wireless Headphone (1)Created in partnership with KEF, the Nothing Headphone (1) is designed to shake up the sector and present over-ear audio in a wholly new way
-
In Copenhagen, Charlotte Taylor gave us a glimpse into the mess of real lifeAt 3 Days of Design, Charlotte Taylor staged ‘Home from Home’, a group exhibition in collaboration with Noura Residency, showcasing the chaos of the everyday, from unmade beds to breakfast leftovers
-
Celebrate Lunar New Year with tiger claw buns and coin-shaped dumplingsLondon restaurant Bao is celebrating Lunar New Year with festive treats, plus seasonal gifts from its online store, and the chance to win a year’s supply of bao buns
-
Vincent Darré reimagines the Cointreau bottleCointreau celebrates 170 years of the Art of The Mix with a limited edition bottle designed by Vincent Darré
-
Artist Michael Rakowitz celebrates the humble date in sweet and sticky cookbook -
Sharjah’s new lagoon-side bookstore weaves literary references into its interior design -
Wonka meets Gatsby at Compartes’ new Los Angeles outpost -
Ham-mer time: a slice of Berkel's history goes under the gavel -
Still life: brandy distiller Christoph Keller explains how art influences his business -
Against the grain: Brooklyn Bread Lab's experimental baking is a real raising agent
