UAE. Bombay Sapphire Revelation, the extraordinary US$200,000 a bottle project from Bacardi, is set to continue its world tour in the Middle East.
Earlier this year, Revelation was launched at five major international airport locations: London Heathrow Airport (via World Duty Free), New York JFK Terminal 4 (DFS Group), Dubai International (Dubai Duty Free), Singapore Changi (DFS Group) and Sydney (The Nuance Group).
Following its Dubai debut, Revelation will go on sale next at Rafic Hariri International Airport through Beirut Duty Free, which is operated by a partnership between Phoenicia Trading and Aer Rianta International-Middle East, for a period of two months starting on 17 November.
 |
Revelation made its first appearance in the Middle East via Dubai Duty Free; next stop: Rafic Hariri International Airport |
Rafic Hariri International is the first airport in the Middle East to exhibit Revelation since its launch in Dubai on 30 March, according to Bacardi. Beirut Duty Free was chosen because “it offers travellers a memorable shopping experience in a luxurious environment”.
On 15 December, a second Revelation piece will be available for sale at Bahrain International Airport for two months in partnership with ARI-Middle East.
 |
Bombay Sapphire Revelation’s glittering showcase at Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport back in March |
Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division recently won two industry awards at the TFWA World Exhibition for Bombay Sapphire Revelation: Most Creative Marketing Concept from Drinks International and Best Partnership Initiative of the Year by a Supplier from Frontier.
Profits from Revelation will benefit The Smile Train, a charity which provides life-enhancing cleft surgery to children in under-privileged countries.
About Bombay Sapphire Revelation
As reported, Revelation consists of five handmade crystal bottles individually decorated with diamonds and sapphires. Three leading names in luxury and design – crystal maker Baccarat, Garrard the jeweller and hot design talent Karim Rashid – joined forces to create the luxury project for the Bacardi-owned super-premium gin.
 |  |
The luxury worlds of crystal, jewellery, design – and super-premium gin – converge with Revelation | |
THE KEY FORCES BEHIND REVELATION
The creator: Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire is claimed to be unlike any other gin or any other spirit. The master distiller for Bombay Sapphire (www.bombaysapphire.com) hand-selects a unique combination of the finest botanicals from around the world.
Based on a secret 1761 recipe, the spirit is delicately infused with the aromatic flavours of 10 botanical ingredients. The result is a complex and refined taste which gives Bombay Sapphire an extraordinary mixability in an endless number of classic and contemporary cocktails. The striking translucent blue Bombay Sapphire bottle reflects the distinctive taste of the spirit inside and is recognised around the world for its inspiring design.
The designer: Karim Rashid
“Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, sensorially and emotionally. To change human nature is to change the world,” says Karim Rashid www.karimrashid.com
His internationally acclaimed work has won numerous awards, features in the permanent collections of 16 museums worldwide and covers a broad range of design disciplines. Karim was born in Cairo, raised in England and Canada, and now practices in New York. His association with Bombay Sapphire began when he designed a martini cocktail glass inspired by Bombay Sapphire in 1999. He is a member of the Bombay Sapphire Foundation set up to support contemporary design.
The jeweller: Garrard
The jewellers and silversmiths set the stones that form the centrepiece of Revelation in their in-house London workshops following a tradition of excellence that dates back to 1735, when Garrard www.garrard.com was established.
Garrard is the oldest jewellery house in the world, synonymous with fine craftsmanship and service and was honoured with the title of Crown Jeweller in 1843. Garrard made the crown in 1870 that Queen Victoria wears in the famous image that appears on the Bombay Sapphire bottle.
A sapphire set in each glass stopper by Garrard is the centrepiece of Revelation.
The crystal maker: Baccarat
Founded in 1764, Baccarat www.baccarat.com is recognised globally as the eminent creator of luxury crystal.
With more than 3,000 permanent references, from traditional crystal lighting to stemware, barware and home décor, and with commissions for the likes of Japanese Emperors and Russian Tsars, as well as European royalty, Baccarat is rightly proud of its heritage.
For over 200 years, Baccarat has illuminated royal palaces and presidential residences worldwide. The traditional crystal-making skills are passed down through generations and the deftness of touch, attention to detail and rigorous drive for perfection create a flawless beauty from what begins, incredibly, as sand.
But even this most basic ingredient is carefully sourced, and a closely guarded secret. When you have the secret to perfection, you give nothing away.
ABOUT THE SMILE TRAIN
The Smile Train www.SmileTrain.Org is the world’s largest and most cost-effective cleft charity. 100% of donations goes directly towards programmes. All overheads are met separately.
Since 1999 The Smile Train has provided free cleft surgery to over 400,000 children and trained tens of thousands of medical professionals. It now has programmes and partners in 61 countries.
A simple surgical procedure, costing around US$250, can cure 100% of all clefts, but it is beyond reach for families in many emergent countries.
MORE STORIES ON BOMBAY SAPPHIRE REVELATION
Diary of a launch: Bombay Sapphire Revelation – 03/04/08
And then there were four: Bombay Sapphire Revelation makes dazzling Dubai debut – 30/03/08
