Hennessy has revealed the Hennessy X.O 2017 limited edition bottle by Marc Newson, launching across the US beginning this month.
The new limited edition Hennessy X.O 2017 will be launched in the US starting this month.
In the hands of the world-renowned designer, a dynamic, streamlined variation on the bottle's iconic shape breaks convention and propels Hennessy X.O, the world's original Extra Old Cognac, towards exciting new horizons.
As distinctive as a work of modern architecture, the design amplifies the blend inside – unchanged since 1870 – while placing Hennessy X.O on a modern aesthetic frontier.
"It's both an honor and a little daunting to approach an icon like Hennessy X.O," said Newson. "Clearly, this Cognac has transcended time and continues to live in a very contemporary way. As a designer it's important to me to create things that will likewise stand the test of time. The Hennessy X.O bottle has a wonderful fundamental shape. What I wanted to do was use design to magnify the Cognac – its color and sensorial qualities – as much as possible."
Newson's limited edition design gives the signature Hennessy X.O bottle a wholly unexpected twist. Once he had pared the bottle's shape to its purest form, the designer chose to reprise its traditional decorative motifs – grapes and leaves – in a corrugated relief. These striations are perhaps the most daring design elements ever incorporated on the iconic Hennessy X.O bottle.
"Straight lines seemed to me a more modern interpretation of what already existed," explained Newson. "To me, the stripes really emphasize the strength of the decanter's shape. When they catch the light, they highlight both the bottle and the contents, making the whole feel warmer and more tactile. Taken together, all of these design elements are meant to convey the unique, immersive experience of Hennessy X.O."
To reinforce the modern spirit of the new Hennessy X.O bottle, Newson and Hennessy reached beyond the usual confines of spirit bottle design to create a modern gift box presentation. To dramatize the fusion between the blend and the glass, Newson designed a clear transparent gift box, requiring cutting-edge manufacturing.
The outer packaging design perfectly conveys Hennessy X.O's forward-looking spirit. The clear, ergonomic shape is molded in a complex plastic more typically used for perfume bottles.
The limited edition design perfectly complements the Hennessy X.O multi-faceted, sensorial taste experience. Simultaneously both elegant and complex, the original X.O Cognac is aged and blended to be bold, rich and persistent.
Hennessy continues to develop modern ways to enjoy the Cognac including serving over ice which releases the liquid's subtle flavors, particularly the aroma of candied fruit and spicy notes.
The Hennessy X.O 2017 limited edition bottle by Marc Newson will be available for a suggested retail price of $200 at fine retailers nationwide beginning in July and until supplies last.
