{From heaven and Earth’s embrace: Watch the YouTube video above to discover Jiannan Huang’s inspirations in creating the packaging for the Courvoisier Year of the Dragon collection}
Maison Courvoisier has partnered with Chinese artist Jiannan Huang for a Lunar New Year collection celebrating the Year of the Dragon.
The three-part Courvoisier x Jiannan Huang bottle series comprises the L’Essence de Courvoisier, XO Royal and XO expressions, which all feature a striking, illustrated dragon motif in bright red on the bottles and packaging.
[As reported, Beam Suntory has entered into an exclusive agreement for the proposed sale of Courvoisier Cognac and related assets to Campari Group, for an enterprise value of US$1.32 billion.]
The special-edition L’Essence de Courvoisier is bottled at 42% ABV and has an RRP of US$3,850. The prestige Lunar New Year edition draws inspiration from Huang’s dragon painting. L’Essence de Courvoisier combines more than 100 rare eaux-de-vie, Grande Champagne and Borderies.
The limited-edition release is available at selected international airports in global travel retail including Haikou Meilan; Shanghai Pudong; Hong Kong; Macau; Singapore Changi; Taipei Taoyuan; Incheon; Paris Charles De Gaulle; Hamad; New York John F. Kennedy and Los Angeles.
It is also available in selected downtown duty free locations in Asia Pacific travel retail. In Hainan, the Cognac is available at both the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex and the cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex. It is also available in the Zhuhai Duty Free Shopping Mall.
The Courvoisier XO Royal and Courvoisier XO have also been given Year of the Dragon makeovers courtesy of Huang. The packaging features a deep red dragon designed by Huang, matching the visual elements of L’Essence.
XO Royal was inspired by the Courvoisier blend that graced European Royal Courts in the 1800s and 1900s. It blends two crus – Fins Bois de Jarnac and Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie – and was matured for 30 years in Maison Courvoisier’s signature Limousin and Tronçais casks. XO Royal has a deep, smooth and complex flavour profile with a long finish. It has an RRP of US$289.
Courvoisier XO pays homage to the terroir of Cognac and is made with eaux-de-vie matured in proprietary barrels using complex ageing techniques. It blends Grande Champagnes crus with old Borderies and a selection of Petites Champagnes. The 40% ABV liquid has an RRP of US$191.
Both the Year of the Dragon Courvoisier XO Royal and Courvoisier XO expressions are available in domestic and travel retail doors globally.
Beam Suntory Brand Marketing Director Global Travel Retail Manuel Gonzalez commented: “I’m so excited that we will be offering this very special Lunar New Year collection to selected travel retail doors, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with our valued travelling consumers.
“These exceptional Cognacs showcase the Maison’s commitment to honouring legacy, while embracing innovation and premiumisation.”
He added: “Following its brand relaunch in 2022, Courvoisier has made great progress in reimagining the Cognac category for the modern luxury consumer.
“This latest milestone collection embodies the brand mission to embrace Joie de Vivre and celebrate life’s precious moments. And we are confident that these Cognacs will enhance our gifting offer in travel retail throughout the key Lunar New Year period.”
Huang, who coincidentally was born in the Year of the Dragon, leveraged his expertise in traditional Chinese enamel artistry to create the collection.
Commenting on his partnership with Courvoisier, Huang said: “This creative partnership with Maison Courvoisier has allowed me and my team to fuse enamel techniques and traditional Chinese art, providing not only a remarkable canvas for storytelling, but also enabling me to pay homage to the dragon’s symbolic power and elegance.
“Together, we’ve created something truly enchanting that immerses Cognac aficionados in the rich customs and festivities of Lunar New Year.”
Maison Courvoisier Seventh Chief Blender Thibaut Hontanx added: “Collaborating on the Year of the Dragon collection with Jiannan Huang to create these incredibly special releases has allowed us to explore tradition, heritage, and culture in a new way. It is a truly special and striking interpretation of the Maison’s tenets of joy and light.” ✈
