(Photo: Hennessy)
On Wednesday, Hennessy Cognac joined forces with French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel for the latest in a line of opulent showstoppers. Far from its flagship Very Special and V.S.O.P. offerings, the brand appears to be on a renewed mission to place its products in the hands of collectors.
The release comes in two varieties dubbed Hennessy X.O Masterpiece and Hennessy X.O Limited Edition. Both draw upon the stylings of Othoniel, known for sculptures that incorporate glasswork into winding, snake-like compositions. Fans can find his work across the globe at locations including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Fondation Cartier Pour l'Art Contemporain.
For the Limited Edition bottling, Othoniel placed the liquid inside a gold metal structure that resembles something halfway between a Faberge egg and a Ferrero Rocher wrapper. The Masterpiece, meanwhile, features a Baccarat crystal decanter housed inside a hand-carved French oak wood stand.
The spirit contained within both is Hennessy X.O, a blend of over 100 eau de vie aged between 10 and 70 years. While a standard bottle will run you $200, the new Limited Edition will cost approximately $286. The Masterpiece costs a hefty $38,927.
"Othoniel’s mastery is on full display in these creations, blending tradition and innovation. These decanters are destined to become coveted pieces in private collections and cultural institutions, transcending traditional spirits packaging while containing exceptional cognac," Hennessy wrote in a news release.
The release is the latest in a trend as Hennessy goes toe to toe against brands like The Macallan for the flashiest liquor bottlings on the market.
Earlier this summer, the French cognac maker celebrated the 300th anniversary of its founder with the unveiling of Richard Hennessy Magnum. Similar to X.O Masterpiece, the $21,600 decanter was composed of Baccarat crystal, though the general vibe leaned toward sharp modernism rather than old-school palace luxury.
In 2022, the brand took the concept in an entirely different direction with the debut of a $226.5k NFT. Known only as Hennessy-8, the ornate package featured everything from a commemorative sculpture to a jeweled copper key.
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