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Cognac Hardy is offering a fresh take on its Tradition collection with five new packaging designs described by the house as “innovative, daring and colourful”.
The VS, VSOP, VSOP Organic, XO and XO Rare qualities reveal five different facets of the Hardy style, with an emphasis on mild flavour and elegance, according to the company.
The designs are described as “elegant and daring in a way that would certainly have won the approval of Anthony Hardy”, the founder of the Cognac house.
“We have always asserted our own, very particular spirit,” said Bénédicte Hardy, Ambassador of the firm and a direct descendant of the founder. “Our Cognac style is the exact opposite of robust and we wanted the colours of the collection to embody the mild character, finesse and daring style that are our hallmark.”
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Cognac Hardy’s repackaged Tradition collection reveals five different facets of the house |
Tasting notes
Hardy VS: Elegant, pale colour with golden tints. This alliance of the four finest Cognac crus exhales floral scents and offers subtle balance between fresh and smooth.
Hardy VSOP: Bronze colour and deep, attractive tints. On the nose it has fresh pear scents, leading into warmer walnut notes and spicy cinnamon hints. The flavours on the palate are balanced.
Hardy VSOP Organic: Small batches of the highest quality were selected to make this VSOP, evoking fine, mild elegance. This VSOP stands out by its added hint of freshness and aromatic purity.
Hardy XO: Amber-tinted, vermilion colour and delicate bouquet of rose petals, ripe dates and cigar box. Silky texture and long-lasting aromas.
Hardy XO RARE: Amber-tinted vermilion colour, with fresh rose petal, ripe date and cigar box scents. Silky texture and long-lasting flavours.
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The Lalique Printemps carafe is presented in a round case of white and pastel leather |
Lalique carafe alludes to the perfume world
Hardy has unveiled details of its latest creation, the Printemps carafe.
French crystal maker Lalique has created a new scent bottle for Hardy, whose motto is “Haute couture for Cognac”. Its lines are feminine and its sculpted stopper with almond-green tints is reminiscent of some of the creations by René Lalique in the early 20th Century.
The Printemps is the first in a series of four carafes, all by Lalique. At two-year intervals the Eté, Automne and Hiver carafes will be launched. Their colours and designs are being kept secret. Just 400 examples of the Printemps series are set to be released.
The Printemps carafe is placed in the middle of a round case of white and pastel leather with an innovative front-opening system, designed to evoke sophistication and originality.
The carafe contains a blend of small batches of Grande Champagne, which were carefully partitioned off by Armand Hardy at the end of the Second World War, Cognac Hardy said.
It will come in two formats, 70cl and 75cl, to meet the requirements of all markets, with the US and China at the forefront.
The first carafe will be on sale at the famous Cognac auction La Part des Anges, the eighth edition of which will be held on 19 September 2013.
For more than 30 years Hardy has released an impressive collection of Daum and Baccarat carafes. “The recent collaboration with Lalique has resulted in a highly original combination of the world of perfume and that of Cognac,” it said.
The collaboration with Lalique began in 2012. “Hardy and Lalique are both companies steeped in tradition and expertise, and were both born in the mid-19th Century,” explained Lalique CEO Silvio Denz. “The exceptional is extremely important to both our companies. Creating products together was a logical step.”
Added Bénédicte Hardy: “We have been hoping for this collaboration for some time. The purity of the creations of this famous company located on the Rue Royale perfectly matches the elegance of Hardy Cognacs.”
About Cognac Hardy
Cognac Hardy was founded in 1863 by Victorian English gentleman Anthony Hardy. A lover of France and the French, he even had his first name changed to Antoine and chose the French cockerel as the symbol of his Cognac house. Hardy’s signature is “Haute couture for Cognac”. “Like the great couturiers, Maison Hardy crafts rare and precious items,” the company says.
Visit www.hardycognac.fr
