Hennessy Intertwines Snakes and Cognac With Trio of Chinese New Year Bottlings

(Photo: Hennessy)

On Monday, Hennessy Cognac toasted the Chinese New Year with a trio of bottles helmed by fashion designer Shuting Qiu. Dubbed the “Reimagination” series, the collection retinkers the brand’s VSOP, X.O and Paradis expressions with crimson-red twists featuring snakes and floral embellishes.

Qiu was born in Hangzhou, China, and now resides in Shanghai, where she focuses on intricately patterned work noted for its “collision course” of textures and motifs. Bringing her skills to Hennessy, she was inspired by a catalog of archive bottles that illustrated a deep dive into the brand’s design legacy.

“This collaboration came about because Hennessy approached me, and my initial reaction was one of surprise and delight, as I had never collaborated with a brand on a fashion and spirits partnership before,” Qiu told V Magazine. “I thought that the combination of fashion and cognac would create a unique and unexpected ‘chemical reaction,’ and I decided to go for it, to try, and to see what sparks would fly.”

The X.O, described by Qui as “bold and dynamic,” features contrasting shades of purple, gold and red surrounded by embossed grapes. The VSOP bottling sports a printed flower design with Hawaian-inspired motifs; the Paradis features an enormous snake that winds from top to bottom, intended as a symbol of nature and renewal.

The trio is available exclusively as the Hennessy Boutique in Harrods, London, at three markedly different prices. X.O is now on sale at £65 ($84), the VSOP at £200 ($258) and the Paradis at £1,345 ($1,733).

“First of all, I want to thank Hennessy for choosing me, as I am honored to be the first female fashion designer to collaborate with them,” Qiu continued. “This collaboration holds special meaning for me, as I enjoy challenges that are full of unknowns and variety. The fashion and spirits collaboration is very interesting, and the theme of the collaboration is something I really like, ‘a Chinese female designer’s interpretation of the Chinese New Year.’ Through the Hennessy platform, I can showcase my ideas to the world and let more people learn about Chinese culture. “

More so than any year in recent memory, Hennessy has stuffed 2024 to the brim with limited-edition releases.

The historic cognac maker kicked off the festivities in June with the launch of Richard Hennessy Magnum, a $21,600 statement piece housed inside a Baccarat crystal decanter. Its sharp edges and steel frame exuded a slick modernism that the brand is not typically noted for. Hennessy X.O Masterpiece, unveiled in September at over $38,000, was more in line with the usual vibe; hand-carved wood stands and gold decorations aplenty.

In other news, the brand recently reintroduced its Master’s Selection after a three-year hiatus and joined forces with LeBron James for a one-off bottling some have taken to calling “LeBronessy.”