Rémy Martin and Anish Kapoor: art meets cognac in London

In partnership with Rémy Martin

Anish Kapoor’s sculptures are adventures in form and human experience that manoeuvre between scale and material, at once confounding and thrilling as they challenge perception. The British artist recently applied his gift for creating light, spectacle and aura to a collaboration with the House of Rémy Martin. A new limited-edition Rémy Martin XO decanter, created with Anish Kapoor, is accompanied by an artwork, Pagan Gold. Together, the works represent an exploration of colour, light, space and storytelling.

From the beginning of the project, Kapoor felt a sense of history with Rémy Martin. ‘My father used to drink it when I was a boy in India, and I carried that with me,’ says the artist, whose decanter design was inspired by the unique colour play of the liquid it holds. ‘To me, the dark red-brown of XO has a radiant presence,’ says Kapoor. ‘It glows deeply from within the glass and alters as the light changes.’

The artist’s nod to the past tied in with Rémy Martin’s own respect for heritage, its savoir-faire in cognac-making developed over the company’s 300 years, and passed from one generation to the next.

Art meets cognac

Kapoor’s decanter took centre stage at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, highlighting a tasting event that celebrated gastronomy and culture. London producers and artisans contributed to an ‘Opulence Table’ that treated guests to a sensory journey through one-bite pairings, each food element complemented and enhanced with the deep, layered profile of Rémy Martin XO.

In a space styled by Bash Studios, with floral sculptures by Wild At Heart, chefs from the east London’s Bistrotheque restaurant served up dishes using locally sourced ingredients – such as honey, candied orange, dried figs, and chocolate truffle – adding cultural references and colour so that each delicacy echoed the aromatic richness of XO, encouraging explorations in touch, smell and taste.

The XO poured from Kapoor’s decanter, a vessel that, explains Jean-Philippe Hecquet, CEO of the House of Rémy Martin, encapsulates the fiery mahogany and opal tones of the cognac and invites exploration.

You’ll find, according to the tasting notes, an olfactory hit of plums and dried figs, candied orange and passion fruit, honey and jasmine. Then, through an opulent blend of eaux-de-vie, a taste that is generous and multifarious. Notes of mature fig and candied orange, hints of spicy nutmeg and freshly ground hazelnuts gradually reveal themselves before finishing with gourmet notes of roasted cocoa beans, honey and gingerbread.

A signature cocktail, the Rémy Martin XO Gold-Fashioned On-Ice, blends aromatic bitters, brown sugar, and edible gold leaf for a luxurious on-the-rocks experience, highlighting the richness of the XO blend.

Present at the ICA event alongside the decanter was Kapoor’s concave mirror sculpture, Pagan Gold (2023), created for the collaboration and here adding intrigue to the visual feast. ‘Concavity creates optical illusions,’ says the artist. ‘It turns the world upside down and induces interiority. It invites us to think about the inner life of things.’

‘Rémy Martin XO perfectly embodies the heritage and savoir-faire of the maison,’ reflects Hecquet. ‘It is the ultimate expression of our terroir, offering an exceptionally smooth, full-bodied blend of eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne that gradually releases a wealth of harmonious aromas. Its opulent radiance paired with the timeless design of its magnificent decanter has inspired Anish Kapoor, whose creation now becomes a part of our brand’s enduring legacy.’

Stockist information for the UK: Rémy Martin XO x Anish Kapoor limited edition RRP £195 (70cl), available from Selfridges