Hennessy VS has released a new bottle design with a VERY Irish connection
Ireland may not take up very much space on the map, but by God have we left our mark on the world. From the Oscar winning actors and global music superstars of today to the movers and shakers of years gone by, there are simply too many names to mention.
One name that deserves a greater level of recognition is Richard Hennessy, the Corkonian who put his family name to the now globally recognized brand. When he made his way to France in the 1700s, joining Louis XV’s army and making a name for himself in the wine industry, we doubt that even the Cork man himself would have thought that hundreds of years later his cognac would be sold in more than 160 countries.
Given how beloved the brand has become, it’s only right that we celebrat its founding figure. To coincide with Richard Hennessy’s birth in Killavullen in 1724, Hennessy has teamed up with some of Ireland’s leading creatives to come up with something very special (pun intended) indeed.
Exclusively in SuperValu stores from September 30 until October 16, and other retailers after that date, a Hennessy Very Special Founders Edition bottle will be available. To find out more about the incredible story of its founder and why this bottle is a very poignant way of celebrating him, visit the Hennessy website here.
Hennessy Very Special Founders Edition
The two artists that Hennessy is linking up with are Maser and Conor Harrington. They have both been heavily involved in the Irish arts scene for many years, working on projects ranging from music videos and street art to exhibitions in some of the world’s leading art institutions.
When trying to find inspiration for this project with Hennessy, the two lads threw themselves right into the deep end. They made the trip to the French region of Cognac, spending time in the original Maison Hennessy to capture the unique and unparalleled spirit of the man himself.
It’s something of a full circle moment. Two Irish artists making the same trip that Richard Hennessy made all those years ago, both to better understand what his life would have been like but to also create something that honours it.
Another part of the Hennessy story that is worth celebrating is its longstanding tradition of being associated with music, sports, and the arts. On these shores alone, Hennessy’s collaborations with Ireland’s creatives include partnerships across music, art and street fashion with the likes of Emporium, Dublin Block Part, the Future of Irish Music and Ireland’s rap duo Travis & Elzzz.
Speaking about where his inspiration came from, Maser said: “There are so many parallels to this real time project and the historic story of Richard Hennessy. We travelled to Cognac, the same trip as Richard and when staying in the Château, got to live in his time for that brief moment.
“The opportunity to experience those surroundings did not pass me by. We met the master blender and he explained to us the textures, smells, colours, and gradients to be aware of in order to make the perfect blend.
“In that moment I saw the elements he spoke about are the same as those we use in our paintings. Paint is our ingredient, we mix it and introduce new blended colours and textures to give our work that rich gradients, depth, uniqueness.
“You can see this in the deep orange tones we have in the painting. When he spoke about the different grapes in my mind those flavours were like pops of colour! The contrast between Conors work and mine is a great example of the perfect blend, painting together to create a unique piece in my option is similar to the work of the Hennessy cellar masters.”
As for Cork man Conor Harrington, he said, ““I portrayed Richard striding forward confidently into his new terrain while at the same time glancing around and over his shoulder, always with an eye on his roots and where he has come from.
“I used Ireland as the main inspiration for the colour palette in his portrait, with the green of his coat and the yellow and gold in the background reminiscent of the Irish tricolour, a palette we are known for the world over.
“My painterly language is both solid and grounded but at the same time the blurs, swipes and erasure marks evoke a strong sense of time and memory, highlighting the strength of history and heritage that is so unique to the Hennessy brand.”
The Founder’s Edition bottle is available exclusively in SuperValu from 30th September and all other retailers from thereafter from 16th October.
Featured Image Credit: Hennessy
Shpat Bajrami