The distinguished Hennessy brand has unveiled a new design concept for its rarest cognac, Richard Hennessy, paying tribute to both its 18th-century founder and heritage.
12 tierçons
The fine cognac is crafted from some of the rarest, most aromatic Eaux-de-vie in Hennessy’s reserves, carefully selected and preserved in The Founder’s Cellar on the family estate. As such, Richard Hennessy is available in an extremely limited quantity, with just 12 ‘tierçons’ having been made. This historic barrel is handcrafted in French oak by generations of cooper masters at Hennessy’s own ‘Tonnellerie’, or barrel-making workshop, before being used to prepare the fine liquid.
A living tribute to the legend
The forefather of Hennessy serves as the inspiration for this contemporary take on the classic cognac. Held in a bold, architectural, and graceful decanter of Baccarat crystal, it comes with ritual accessories (glasses, a fusil, and a tray) designed by the world-renowned urban architect Daniel Libeskind. The decanter is an art piece in its own right and perfectly expresses the man who was Richard Hennessy and the cognac he inspired: visionary, complex, and unapologetically intense.
Libeskind says of the project: “There is a complexity, process and structure to cognac, just as there is in architecture. I am inspired by the interplay of history and the future — a particular magic happens when the two come together. And I relish bringing a myriad of ideas from different areas to the design process because I believe it elevates and brings new meaning to design.”
Paying tribute to the Hennessy Maison
The architect first had to immerse himself in the House’s rich 250-year history, with the weighty task of designing a bottle that would be as visionary as the innovative Master Blender who inspired it. He captures the founder’s spirit using a classic cognac bottle shape, contrasting geometric, crystalline forms of Baccarat crystal with soft, organic curves that bring a sense of vibrancy and detail to the cognac it contains.
Rich, intense, controlled and timeless, the cognac has a unique complexity and incomparable aromas marking it out for the true connoisseur. Richard Hennessy is available from Harrods and Hedonism from mid-March, with an RRP of £5,000.
