Last night Hennessy, the world’s best-selling Cognac, ushered in the Year of the Boar in New York City with a celebration that paid tribute to the Cognac producer’s rich history and connection with Asian and Asian-American communities.
In 1872, China was among the first global markets to receive Hennessy X.O, when the refined amber-hued spirit was dubbed the “Golden Elixir.” Today, Asia continues to be one of the largest and most important markets for Hennessy’s Prestige portfolio – X.O and Paradis Impérial. An encounter of two cultures, two traditions and savoir-faire, Hennessy celebrated the journey of this storied relationship through music, entertainment, cuisine and finely crafted Hennessy cocktails, bringing to life the brand’s heritage, and its storied connection with Asia.
Hosted high atop Manhattan with 360-degree views, the glittering lights of New York City provided an enchanting backdrop to an evening that blended centuries-old traditions with contemporary elements. The festivities commenced with an intimate dinner attended by actors Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg. During the dinner, guests were treated to a special presentation of Hennessy Paradis Impérial, a precisely crafted Cognac of which on average only 10 of 10,000 eaux-de-vie of any given vintage are deemed eligible to become a part of this rare spirit. The dinner concluded with the unveil of artist Guang-Yu Zhang’s Hennessy-inspired custom Lunar New Year artwork that beautifully fuses Eastern and Western symbolism. The custom artwork, along with a bespoke Paradis Impérial experience, was auctioned off onsite with proceeds benefitting the Asian-American Business Development Center, whose focus is to promote greater recognition of Asian American business contributions.
A high energy celebration followed dinner, seamlessly blending modern and traditional elements including calligraphers and a classic dragon dance, modernized with an LED light show, all set to a soundtrack by musician Alice Longyu Gao. And in the X.O Lounge, guests learned more about the tradition and history of Hennessy X.O, the world’s first “Extra Old” Cognac that established the category in 1870, with specialty tastings and X.O served over ice.
Marking the biggest familial gathering in Asian culture, Lunar New Year, Hennessy’s “East Meets West” event was held on Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 at The Bay Room & Manhatta in New York City.
