Hennessy has collaborated with architect Daniel Libeskind to create a new design for one of the rarest bottlings in the Cognac brand’s collection, Richard Hennessy.
Named after the founder of the brand, the Richard Hennessy decanter was first unveiled in 1996 as a tribute to the brand’s 250 years of history. The Cognac inside is made with some of the rarest eaux-de-vie from Hennessy’s reserves, aged between 40 to 50 years and up to 150 years old. Quantities are “extremely limited” as only 12 French oak barrels are used every year to make the expression.
“It’s the ultimate expression of pure quality and represents the whole story of Hennessy in a glass,” says Hennessy master blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde. Bottled at 40% ABV, it has notes of orange peel as well as tobacco and offers a spicy taste with notes of leather and candied fruits.
The new Daniel Libeskind designed Richard Hennessy decanter is made from Baccarat crystal. He started with a classic cognac bottle shape, imbuing the geometric, crystalline forms of Baccarat crystal with soft, organic curves, bringing new energy and complexity to the Cognac it contains, all while capturing the founder’s spirit.
Libeskind took inspiration from the founder’s ‘intense and complex’ characteristics to create the design of the decanter, which combines geometric crystalline forms of Baccarat crystal with soft curves. The creation of the new bottle took three to four years to develop and symbolizes the future of the brand, while honoring the past.
“I have admired Hennessy for many years—it is the epitome of heritage luxury— so I was honored to take on the challenge,” Libeskind recalls. “The design process began several years ago with the common goal of creating something spectacular and rare.”
“There is a complexity, process and structure to Cognac, just as there is in architecture,” added Libeskind. “I am inspired by the interplay of history and the future – a particular magic happens when the two come together.
This is the first time Libeskind has partnered with Hennessy. The Polish-born artist is known for rebuilding the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, as well as projects such as the Jewish Museum Berlin (Germany), the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, Canada), Crystals at City Center (Las Vegas, US), and the Museum of Zhang Zhidong (Wuhan, China).
Richard Hennessy will be available in the UK from Harrods and Hedonism beginning in mid-March for £5,000 ($6,800 USD).
For more information, head over to Hennessy’s official website.
