THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DESIGNER PROJECTS HENNESSY X.O TO A NEW FRONTIER WITH THE 2017 LIMITED EDITION DECANTER.

Hennessy is proud to reveal Hennessy X.O 2017 limited edition by Marc Newson. In the hands of the world-renowned designer, a dynamic, streamlined variation on the decanter’s iconic shape breaks with conventions and propels Hennessy X.O toward exciting new horizons.

Starting in July and through September 2017, Hennessy will present Marc Newson’s bold reinterpretation of the Hennessy X.O decanter in markets worldwide. 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.

Says Marc Newson, “It’s both an honor and a little daunting to approach an icon like Hennessy X.O. Clearly, this blend has transcended time and continues to exist 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 decanter has a wonderful fundamental shape. What I wanted to do was use design to magnify the blend – its color and sensorial qualities – as much as possible.”

Marc Newson’s limited edition design gives the signature Hennessy X.O decanter 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 decanter.

“Straight lines seemed to me a more modern interpretation of what already existed,” explains Marc 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 X.O.”

A universally admired talent, Marc Newson joins an elite stable of visionaries, among them Arik Levy, Tom Dixon and Nicolas Winding Refn, who have each brought a unique perspective to Hennessy X.O.

AN INNOVATIVE PRESENTATION

To reinforce the modern spirit of the new Hennessy X.O decanter, Marc 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, Marc Newson designed a clear transparent gift box in injected plastic, requiring cutting edge manufacturing. The outer packaging’s design perfectly conveys Hennessy X.O’s forward-looking spirit, yet its apparent simplicity belies the technical challenge it presented. Its clear, ergonomic shape is molded in a complex plastic more typically used for perfume bottles. The Hennessy X.O 2017 limited edition marks the first time this kind of plastic has been scaled up and transposed to the world of spirits.

It will be available in select retail and travel retail locations worldwide as of July 2017.

THE HENNESSY X.O TASTE EXPERIENCE: MULTISENSORIAL

The Hennessy Comité de Dégustation has parsed Hennessy X.O's taste odyssey into seven distinct chapters that flow seamlessly into one another. While these perceptions tend to vary depending on each person's individual palate, understanding and life experiences, the chapters typically unfold as follows:

• SWEET NOTES: Flavors of candied fruit embrace the palate as the faint sweetness of oranges fuses with the subtle tartness of apricots.
• FLOWING FLAME: A wave of warmth breaks into immense roundness. Robust and voluptuous.
• RISING HEAT: Warm fruit flavors lead into a sensation of rising heat, slowly revealing the complex taste of patiently aged eaux-de-vie.
• CHOCOLATE LULL: The familiar, well-rounded flavor of a rich, dark chocolate caresses the palate with silky, slightly sweet smoothness.
• SPICY EDGE: A strong spicy note tantalizes the palace with distinct peppery overnotes.
• WOOD CRUNCHES: The striking sensation of oak notes interlaced with vanilla makes its presence felt and then subsides.
• INFINITE ECHO: Evanescent oak notes leave a long, omnipresent finish, echoing the subtleties of each flavor and the complexity of Hennessy X.O's blending and long aging process.

ABOUT MARC NEWSON

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Marc Newson has been described as the most influential designer of his generation. He has lived and worked in Tokyo, Paris and London, where he is now based, and his designs span a wide range of disciplines, from transport to sculptural pieces and architecture. A recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, Marc Newson has been included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and has been created a Commander of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. His work is present in many major museum collections, including the MoMA in New York, the Victoria & Albert and the Design Museum of London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The Hennessy X.O 2017 limited edition is Marc Newson’s second project with Hennessy: In 2015, he designed the strikingly decanter for James Hennessy Cognac, available exclusively in select travel retail destinations.