Architectural Cognac heads for HK

Martell XO underlines its innovative streak with the Martell XO Architect Special Edition

The Martell XO Architect Special Edition

French cognac giants Martell XO recently launched its latest exclusive packaging, the Martell XO Architect Special Edition in Hong Kong.

This second edition of the Architect Edition – the previous unveiling took place in 2009 with a Paul Andreau-designed effort – showcased a unique and eyecatching offering by French architectural legend Christian de Portzamparc, winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize – the “Nobel Prize” of architecture –  in 1994.

De Portzamparc’s portfolio is as wide-ranging as it is notable and includes the LVMH Tower in New York and the French embassy in Berlin, alongside large-scale projects such as the Quartier Masséna neighbourhood of Paris, and complexes of concert halls in Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Luxembourg.

Known for his “mastery” of light, De Portzamparc represents the ideal choice to design a bottle that best showcases the spirit’s visual qualities – a distinctive, arch-shaped bottle, accented by a bird in flight, draws attention to the cognac’s complex amber colour.

The bottle, which carries De Portzamparc’s signature close to the bottom, is housed inside a carafe covered in criss-crossing horizontal lines, curving and rising to accentuate the effervescent airiness of the design.

The Martell XO Exclusive Architect Edition is limited to 60 sets in Hong Kong, available in selected premium wine and spirit shops at a price of HK$3,200.