Posts tagged Hennessy
Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition JonOne Launch Party
Hennessy knows how to make cognac attractive. I mean just look at these gorgeous vintage Hennessy ads. The brand knows how to pair striking creative with a classic, time-tested spirit. Not that they need help getting the word out. Just a few months ago, there was news that first quarter Hennessy sales were so strong that there could be of a shortage of bottles for the rest of the year. Shortages aside, there is a very special bottle of Hennessy that won’t be around for very long: the Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition by JonOne.
Originally from New York, JonOne is a graffiti artist who moved to Paris in 1987 and quickly established himself as a force in the street art scene. He’s appeared in exhibitions all over the world, including eight solo shows last year alone (six in France, one in Israel and one in the U.S.).
Back in 2012, we had a blast at the party that launched the Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition by Futura, another graffiti artist originally from NYC who has public collections in France. This year’s event marked the seventh collaboration between Hennessy and world-renowned artists.
The launch party was held a couple weeks ago at Monk Space in LA. The event featured tunes by DJ Politik, celebs like Jamie Chung and Morris Chestnut and a live-painting session from JonOne. Primary color-inspired cocktails were served (cinnamon-y red, tonic-y blue, lemon-y yellow). These bright, glow-in-the-dark libations fit in well with JonOne’s lively bottle design and overall color-party aesthetic.
The Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition by JonOne bottles are on sale now. You can pick them up on ReserveBar.com or other fine liquor retailers who appreciate classic spirits in sexy packages. Cialis noire est une nouveauté cool des sociétés pharmaceutiques. Mais il existe des dizaines d’alternatives au tadalafil sur le marché pour satisfaire l’amateur le plus sophistiqué de pilules https://www.tricotin.com/lib/pages/ed.html anti-impuissance.
Jul 25th
A Very Special Hennessy V.S.O.P. Cognac Crawl
NYC’s Cognac Classics Week is officially underway and we got an early jump on the festivities with a very special Hennessy V.S.O.P. pub crawl last week in Los Angeles. With a solid crew of people in place, we hit up three different LA hot spots to test out some interesting new takes on classic Cognac cocktails crafted by local bartenders. With us was Jordan Bushell, Hennessy’s U.S. Head of Mixology & Brand Education. Well-dressed and well-equipped with quotes from the movie Cocktail, Bushell was good company and he provided some extra info on each of the cocktails we sampled.
Our first stop was Mama Lion, a swanky corner gem in the heart of K-Town that just opened up in the past couple weeks. There’s an old school glamour and supper club charm to this place. It’s a big, boldly decorated space that combines a nightclub vibe with a quality bar feel and plenty of seating for a nice meal. Todd Eames created a signature cocktail for us to sample, The Baby Lion. It was a refreshing start to the night. Check out the details:
From Mama Lion: Todd Eames’s The Baby Mama
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège
- .75 oz. pomegranate liqueur
- .75 oz. lemon juice
- .5 oz. Demerara syrup
- 2 oz. Chandon champagne
Directions
- Shake all ingredients (except for champagne) with ice and strain into a champagne flute.
- Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
Next up was Lock & Key, K-Town’s lowkey speakeasy with a super friendly staff, inviting indoor bar and a nicely nestled outdoor patio area. Here we got to sample Miranda Zeiger’s Inferno’s Spirit, a fiery cocktail with just the right amount of kick. The prep for this drink was as entertaining as the effects. Looking for reliable trading website in South Africa? Best forex copy trading in South Africa platforms. With Real reviews. Find out more. Check it out:
From Lock & Key: Miranda Zeiger’s Inferno’s Spirit
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège
- .5 oz. Grand Marnier
- .5 oz. Amaro Meletti
- 2 dashes of Firewater (by Scrappy’s Bitters) can be substituted with any bitters with a bit of spiciness
- 2 dashes of Chocolate Chili Bitters (by Miracle Mile Bitters Co.) can be substituted with any chocolate bitters
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with cubed ice.
- Stir well for 45 seconds then strain cocktail into a Winchester glass.
- Use a slice of orange peel and express the orange oil on top of the cocktail and around the rim of the glassware.
- Garnish with the slice of orange peel and one dried chile de arbol.
The last spot of the night was Serafina on Sunset. The LA installation of the famed NYC Italian eatery, Serafina featured some good grub and airy décor that features artwork from Mr. Brainwash, the eccentric Frenchman who went from street art documentarian/fanboy to pop art pseudo celeb (see Exit Through the Giftshop). Before making headlines with their divorce, Stephen Belafonte and Spice Girl Mel B were part of the ownership crew that brought Fabio & Vittorio’s Italian fare to Hollywood. While snacking on plate after plate of solid dishes (I’m thinking of you, yummy meatballs), we were treated to Balke Porter’s take on the classic Sidecar. Here’s how Porter doctored up this classic:
From Serafina: Blake Porter’s Blackberry Sidecar
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège
- 1.5 oz. St. Germain
- .5 oz. pineapple juice
- .25 oz. lemon juice
- 3-5 blackberries
Directions
- Shake all ingredients in a mixing glass.
- Pour cocktail into a rocks glass over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Check out #CognacClassicsWeek to find more interesting takes on timeless Cognac cocktails that we all know and love.
May 17th
Kendrick Lamar Steals Show at the Shepard Fairey Hennessy VS Limited Edition Launch Party
Shepard Fairey is a recognizable brand. From Andre the Giant Has a Posse stickers to OBEY to the Obama Hope poster, Fairey has carved out a familiar, easily identifiable aesthetic of pop-heavy propaganda couched in geometrically stenciled street art. Fairey’s most recent collaboration was on display in Hollywood last night at the launch party for his newly designed Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition bottle.
The evening started with DJs D-Nice, Z-Trip and DJ Diabetic (aka Mr. Fairey himself) stirring up a crowd that was well-lubricated on free flowing Hennessy cocktails. Guests got to view the new bottle, sample the goods and share the dance floor with celebs like Chris Brown, Karrueche Tran, Ne-Yo, Travis Barker and Tam Walker.
Although Fairey was the man of the hour, the main attraction was this guy named Kendrick Lamar. And when I say main attraction, I really do mean attraction. Given the size of the venue, it’s amazing how many girls were actively looking to get impregnated by the man who earned seven Grammy nominations this past year.
Lamar was the ultimate crowd pleaser, showering the place with his fluid flow and familiar hooks from hits like “Swimming Pools (Drank)”, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, and “Poetic Justice.” Everyone in attendance soaked it all in with a smile. From the view of the stage, everyone shared the same expression. Like the entire place was about to eat ice cream. Especially that girl in the pink dress.
Whatever “it” is, Kendrick has it for days. D-Nice, Z-Trip and Shepard Fairey set the stage, but Kendrick Lamar stole the show.
Jul 11th
Hennessy Ad Says Never Stop. Never Settle.
The newest Hennessy “Wild Rabbit” spot features narration by NAS and highlights the incredible “Never Stop. Never Settle.” attitude of 1920’s driver Malcolm Campbell.
In 1924, Malcolm set the world land speed record, clocking in at 146 miles per hour. He went on to set 8 more land speed in his lifetime, shattering the 300 mph speed barrier, a feat most thought impossible. His story is one of grit, determination and unwavering drive and beautifully brings to life the essence of Hennessy’s campaign: Great things can be achieved when you push the limits of your potential.
Nov 13th
Hennessy Launches VS Limited Edition Bottle Designed By Futura
Last week I attended a Hennessy event in LA to celebrate the launch of the new VS Limited Edition Bottle designed by graffiti artist Futura. The event featured live art demonstrations by Futura and sweet music sets from Diplo and Santigold. There were plenty of beautiful people in attendance and of course, the Henny was flowing freely throughout the night.
I have no idea why it took me so long to try Hennessy. I’ve always been a Scotch and whiskey kinda guy, but I never gave Hennessey a real chance. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe it’s a maturity thing. I always reached for what was familiar – beers, scotch and so forth. I just never really got into Cognac.
But things change. People change. Palates grow more sophisticated. After-dinner drinks graduate past the light beer stage. So this may come as news to no one, but Hennessey is actually pretty tasty.
Hennessy isn’t too sweet and it’s not too gut-punching. It’s not as surpy as whiskey. It doesn’t have that same acquired taste as Scotch. It’s just a friendly, end-of-the-day reminder of the finer things in life – a born nightcap that says good meal and good night. It’s a change of pace beverage, a relaxing spirit that has a chill-mellow finish.
Anyway, back to the Very Special bottle. Futura’s bottle design was inspired by the Cognac itself, as evidenced by the warm, energetic colors. He wanted to incorporate the action of swirling the spirit in a glass, and this movement is also present in the design. Futura adapted his design aesthetic to this smaller scale canvas, and the result turned out great.
The marriage of appealing art, good drinks and great music made for a pretty successful party. Kudos to Henny for putting together a solid event and a smart partnership.
Aug 8th
