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Bombay Sapphire Revelation enjoys a glittering showcase at Dubai Duty Free |
UAE. And so travel retail witnesses another Revelation, this time in the Middle East. Today Dubai Duty Free (DDF) unveiled Bombay Sapphire Revelation, the limited-edition, US$200,000 ultra-luxury decanter from Bacardi Global Brands, in a prime location, buzzing with interest, airside at Dubai International Airport.
Only five decanters, each unique and individually-designed, are being sold – at London Heathrow T5 (World Duty Free), Singapore Changi (DFS Group), New York JFK (also through DFS), Dubai International (Dubai Duty Free) and Sydney (The Nuance Group) airports respectively. The project is a collaboration between Bombay Sapphire, Garrard jewellers, Baccarat crystal makers and designer Karim Rashid.
A significant part of the proceeds from this unique project, driven by Bombay Sapphire owner Bacardi Global Brands, will go to The Smile Train, the world’s leading children’s cleft charity that has been widely embraced by the travel retail industry over the past year.
The Moodie Report has been on hand at each location to report on this unprecedented initiative.
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The glittering prize: Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin (left) and Deputy Managing Director George Horan prepare to unveil the great Revelation during today’s ceremony at Dubai International Airport |
DDF Managing Director Colm McLoughlin kicked off the official Dubai “reveal” by declaring: “We have become associated with some fantastic brand names through our time in the duty free business, and we’re always happy about that in Dubai.
“But this is very unique. Because we’re linking up with Bacardi, who are well known around the world; we’re linking up with one of the world’s premier designers right now, Karim Rashid; we’re liking up with one of the premier jewellery companies in the world, which is Garrard of London, and we’re linking up with one of the most famous crystal manufacturers in the world, which is Baccarat.”
He continued: “But we did not co-ordinate this; it’s Bacardi that has come together with all these people, and produced five pieces only, which form the Bombay Sapphire Revelation.”
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And all shall be revealed… Revelation makes its first public appearance in the Middle East via Dubai Duty Free |
McLoughlin highlighted the altruistic element of the initiative: “Importantly, Bacardi are giving a proportion of the sales proceeds to a charity called The Smile Train, which has been championed in travel retail by The Moodie Report and Hugo Boss together. I would like to congratulate everyone at Bacardi for putting this fantastic scheme together.”
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Dubai Duty Free dazzles with Revelation launch Click the Podcast icon to listen To download: right click on the Podcast icon and select ‘Save Target As’ option Click here for more information, instructions and previous Podcasts |
Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division Travel Retail Director Europe Michael Coleman responded by thanking those present. “The Bombay Sapphire Revelation programme is being launched simultaneously in five global gateway and important airports,” he confirmed. “Dubai is of course perfect given its role and position as a gateway to the increasingly important Middle East region.”
He continued: “The programme perfectly represents and reflects the way the Bombay Sapphire brand has been developed, on a design platform. The product has been born out of a spirit of co-operation and partnership – in fact, two partnerships. The first partnership is the design collaboration, which has brought together three of most creative organisations in the world: Karim Rashid, Baccarat and Garrards. The result is a true work of art.”
Coleman continued: “The second partnership has been with what we call the industry ‘Trinity’, between ourselves as a supplier; between Dubai Duty Free as a retailer and also between Dubai International Airport, as the airport operator.”
He paid tribute to the way all three had come together to create something so special. “We are delighted that Dubai Duty Free and the airport has given us this amazing space and platform with which to expose and present the bottle.
“Dubai Duty Free in particular came onboard with this project very early on, and shared the vision and ambition behind it.”
Coleman too underlined the importance of Revelation/Smile Train collaboration. “We are very pleased that through the sale of the five bottles around the world, we will be making a substantial donation to a very important charity, The Smile Train, which is becoming very much the charity of choice of the travel retail industry”¦The surgery it provides makes a huge difference to so many children’s lives, and we are proud to be involved with it.”
Coleman concluded by underlining how Bombay Sapphire had disproven conclusively the notion that the liquor category in travel retail had become dull, boring and unexciting.
“I’d like to think the Revelation project demonstrates and delivers excitement, theatre, engagement and that much sought-after wow factor.”
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(Left to right) Bacardi Global Travel Retail Travel Retail Director Europe, Middle East, Africa Michael Coleman; Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin; Bombay Sapphire Revelation; The Moodie Report Associate Editor Rebecca Mann; and Dubai Duty Free Deputy Managing Director George Horan |
In the run-up to the reveal, the Revelation bottle itself had been concealed under a column of fabric, attracting much interest from passing travellers. It was jointly unveiled – literally – by McLoughlin and DDF Deputy Managing Director George Horan.
Features of the “˜Dubai Revelation’ include:
– A 3.08ct central sapphire
– Set in a yellow gold mount for Baccarat crystal bottle
– Central sapphire set in yellow gold and surrounded by
– 10 baguette sapphires (total weight 0.90ct) set in white gold
– 35 brilliant cut diamonds (total weight 0.53ct) set in white gold
The launch was well supported regionally by the Bacardi team. Accompanying Coleman was Bacardi-Martini Global Travel Retail Division Regional Manager Middle East-Africa-Greece Erwin Van Outheusden, Bacardi-Martini Area Manager Ross Calow and Trade Marketing Manager Manuel Cailliau.
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Bacardi celebrates a Middle East first Click the Podcast icon to listen To download: right click on the Podcast icon and select ‘Save Target As’ option Click here for more information, instructions and previous Podcasts |
NEXT STOP: THE NUANCE GROUP, SYDNEY AIRPORT, 31 MARCH
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.
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MORE STORIES ON BOMBAY SAPPHIRE REVELATION
The unveiling of Bombay Sapphire Revelation: the next chapter unfolds at JFK T4 – 28/03/08
DFS Group unveils Bombay Sapphire Revelation in spectacular Changi “˜First’ – 29/03/08
Baccarat’s Revelation looks a million dollars – 27/03/08
Bombay Sapphire Revelation introduced in London as five-city roll-out nears – 25/03/08
Gearing up for the great Revelation – 20/03/08
