Martell in miniature

Cognac house Martell is introducing a striking new miniature L’Or de Jean Martell bottle in Asian travel retail stores retailing at $1,070, designed to appeal to gift-giving travellers.

L'Or de Jean Martell Cognac in a miniature decanter

The 200ml decanter is crafted by French house Cristal de Sèvres using the tradition of hand-blown crystal. It features authentic gold etching and comes in a gift box created by renowned French interior architect and designer Eric Gizard. Each bottle is decorated individually during a complex and time-intensive process consisting of 67 individual procedures by master glassworkers, and “subtly alludes to French classicism and precocity”, according to the company. Additionally, a unique fastening system ensures the carafe and its stopper are sealed securely.

L’Or de Jean Martell Cognac is made from a blend of over 400 rare eaux-de-vie - including some aged for over 100 years - and offers a balanced blend of rich aromas and power.

The product will be sold at Singapore Changi, Hong Kong International, Kuala Lumpur International, Macau International and airports throughout Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and China.

Sandrine Tesniere, marketing manager for Martell at Pernod Ricard Asia Travel Retail, enthused: “The launch of this iconic bottle is bound to cause a stir in Asian travel retail as its miniature size will give travellers the opportunity to experience the ultimate Cognac. Its convenient size and ornate design make it ideal for gifting and so we’re confident that it will encourage trial of L’Or de Jean Martell.”

Bombay Sapphire spices up the gin category

Bacardi has unveiled a new, spice-infused gin called Bombay Amber Limited Edition, a super-premium extension of its premium Bombay Sapphire brand. It is described by the drinks giant as “an intriguing new gin expression in both look and taste”. 

Launched as a world exclusive presentation in partnership with DFS at Singapore Changi airport in March, Bombay Amber has been created for sophisticated international gin drinkers and their love of the artisanal craftsmanship of barrel-finished spirits and cocktails, according to the company.

Presented in a distinctive arc-shaped bottle, the 47%abv London dry gin is vapour infused with nutmeg, toasted black cardamom and balanced with bitter orange zest. This selection of botanicals is enhanced by resting the finished spirit in vintage French vermouth barrels to create a new and contemporary gin experience, both in flavour and appearance.

Bombay Amber super-premium gin

Richard Cuthbert, Bombay Sapphire’s global marketing manager, said the launch of Bombay Amber marked a significant development in the brand family and the company’s commitment to drive value in the gin category. “Our continuing emphasis on innovation enables us to strengthen differentiation and premiumisation in the category through such exciting limited editions as Bombay Amber. Quite simply, no other gin looks or tastes like Bombay Amber and we are immensely excited by the differentiation we have created with this travel retail exclusive,” he said.

Irving Holmes Wong, regional director APAC-MEA at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, added: “We’ve had a remarkable reaction to our strong emphasis on the taste experience and the visual impact of the activation — including a number of travellers stopping to have their photo taken in front of the unit [installed at Changi airport].”

Brooke Supernaw, senior vice president, global merchandising – spirits, wine & tobacco at DFS Group, commented: “This carefully crafted spirit is very innovative, marrying a London dry gin with nutmeg, toasted cardamom and orange zest, creating a unique profile that will appeal to connoisseurs all over the world over.”

DFS Group's Bombay Amber gin promotion at Singapore Changi airport

Bombay Amber will also launch at a number of major international airports, including Sydney in April, and at Las Vegas and Toronto airports from May.

The product comes in 70cl/75cl bottles and carries a retail price of S$55 at Changi airport.

Tasting notes

The very pale golden liquid opens up to reveal warm orange citrus, nutmeg spice, slight earthiness and a hint of smoke. With a blend of spicy cardamom, nutmeg, orange citrus and a distinctive elegant woodiness, the spirit can be served on the rocks or neat, or used in cocktails such as the Negroni or classic gin and tonic.

Bacardi premieres $15,000 Scotch whisky

Bacardi has launched a rare, limited-edition bottling of The Royal Brackla 35 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky, retailing at $15,000. A limited edition of 100 bottles (70cl) is being premiered at Singapore Changi airport in partnership with leading travel retailer DFS Group.

“This is one of the most remarkable whisky launches in travel retail, targeted at the connoisseur’s desire to discover and covet a rare and refined, luxury single malt,” says Bacardi.

As its name suggests, The Royal Brackla has regal connections. It was the first Scotch whisky ever granted a royal warrant, bestowed by King William IV in 1833. The whisky was known as ‘the King’s Own Whisky’ and ‘the Drink Divine’.

The Royal Brackla 35 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky

The Royal Brackla’s current Master Blender, Stephanie McLeod, hand-picked the whisky to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of The Royal Brackla distillery in 1812 by Captain William Fraser.

The rich, complex and smooth signature character of the 49%abv, cask-strength spirit is complemented by the delicate oak tones imbued by the finishing in sherry casks. “The finishing in sherry casks produces the sherry notes so much appreciated by King William IV, shown from historic records to have been a keen sherry drinker and connoisseur,” says Bacardi.

Irving Holmes Wong, regional director Asia-Pacific and MEA at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “The Royal Brackla is an extraordinarily beautiful presentation and marks a stunning entry to travel retail for the brand. The Royal Brackla is one of the true leaders in malt whisky production and this expression is the ultimate luxury for the discerning connoisseur and collector.”

Brooke Supernaw, senior vice president, global merchandising – spirits, wine & tobacco at DFS Group, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Bacardi Global Travel Retail in bringing the global launch of the extraordinary and exclusive, The Royal Brackla to our flagship store in Singapore Changi airport.  The passenger profile provides the perfect audience for the launch and this presentation sets a new, royal standard for the category.”

Tasting notes

Auburn in colour, the whisky has a rich, complex and smooth signature. Subtle green leafy and fresh apple notes complement the rich, buttery toffee and velvety notes of vanilla. This melts slowly to reveal aromatic spices, such as cinnamon and star anise, reminiscent of a moist ginger cake. The complex notes of the sherry wood are finally revealed, with plump vine fruits, and the zesty peel of citrus.

The palate is described as sweet and enticing, melting slowly to reveal a biscuity base on which settles tingling spices. Each sip, and if preferred, the addition of still water reveals more flavour, with a zing of menthol and rich ground coffee. The mouth feel is smooth and velvety, while the lingering finish is of delicately scented oak.

Stars shine at MCM's Hong Kong anniversary party

The stars came out at a party hosted by German luxury brand MCM to celebrate the third anniversary of its flagship store at Hong Kong’s landmark Entertainment Building, located on Queen's Road Central.

At the gala dinner, MCM auctioned a desk and wardrobe set crafted in the brand’s signature Cognac Visetos monogram material as well as items from its vibrantly coloured Spring/Summer 2014 Flower Boys in Paradise collection. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Li Ka Shing Cathy Foundation "Glamour To Give" which was established in 2008 to help underprivileged children in Hong Kong and on the mainland. The event raised a total of HK$1m.

Remarking on the wonderful evening, attended by many celebrities and VIPs, MCM’s chief visionary officer Sung-Joo Kim said: “We are overjoyed to be able to help children in China and Hong Kong in this way. The Li Ka Shing foundation helps with projects related to healthcare and education which are two sectors that are vital to society.”

Here are some of the VIPs who attended the event:

MCM chief visionary officer Sung-Joo Kim and socialite Cathy Lee

Actress and singer Cecilia Cheung

Actress Jessica Jann

Actor Anthony Sandstrom and model Jocelyn Luko

Davidoff lights up New York JFK

Davidoff has opened a walk-in cigar humidor at New York JFK airport - the first humidor of its kind in a US airport.

The 100sq ft humidor, located at the DFS-operated Davidoff store in JFK’s Terminal 4, incorporates the design style and concept of “Davidoff of Geneva – since 1911” and aims to be an oasis of peace and tranquillity. The interior decor features fine wooden and natural materials, earth tones reminiscent of the colour of cigars combined with copper accents, creating a contemporary warm and elegant atmosphere.

Cigar lovers can choose from the entire Oettinger Davidoff product range: Davidoff, AVO and Winston Churchill.

From left: Lina Chan, merchandising manager, DFS, Nina Zieling, general manager, JFK Operations, Shari Cooper, PSM Store Operations JFK, Christian Vonthron, senior vice president global travel retail, Davidoff 

“Thanks to our strong relationship with DFS Group, we are proud to introduce our first Davidoff walk-in humidor for airports in the United States today. Regardless of where cigar aficionados are, when they select our top quality cigars from multiple origins and territories, we offer the best service and conditions,” enthused Oettinger Davidoff AG CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard.

He added: “Terminal 4, with over 30 airlines and almost 15m passengers per year, is one of the avant-garde meeting points at John F. Kennedy international airport with a strong cosmopolitan and cultural stronghold, whose diversity always surprises, time after time. Adding 11 more gates to its structure, this terminal is unique - it tempts shoppers with must-haves, latest trends and exclusivity.”

Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s senior vice president, global merchandising – spirits, wine & tobacco, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Davidoff to bring cigar affectionados across the world an unprecedented and luxurious setting to enjoy Davidoff’s wide range of high-quality cigars. This sets another industry benchmark as this is the first humidor of its kind in the United States. The new humidor confirms the depth of our relationships with some of the world’s most sought-after brands, and our commitment to enhance every world traveller’s journey.”

Inaugural Davidoff Art Weekend in the Dominican Republic

In other news, the Davidoff Art Initiative hosted the inaugural Davidoff Art Weekend in the Dominican Republic. The highlight of the weekend was the ground breaking of the new artist studio facilities for the Davidoff Art Residency at Altos de Chavón School of Design in Santo Domingo, which will welcome its first five international artists in January 2015, helping to further the ties between the local art community and the larger art world.

Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard (third from right, back row) at the ground breaking ceremony
Photo: Ivan Mendez

“The establishment of the international residency programme at Altos de Chavón is the next significant step for the Davidoff Art Initiative,” said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, the art-loving president and CEO of Oettinger Davidoff AG. “For Oettinger Davidoff, our aim is to give back to the cultural community, where much of our production and so many of our employees are based. The inaugural Davidoff Art Weekend brought the arts community together to focus on a shared mission. We are delighted to be working with Altos de Chavón School of Design and Casa de Campo to help make our long-term mission a reality in the Dominican Republic.”

Davidoff relaunches Classics assortment

In product news, Davidoff has relaunched its Classics assortment of cigars, namely Davidoff No. 2, 2000 and Special R. The relaunch of the Davidoff Timeless Classics under the banner “Great cigars don’t need to shout” will be supported by a global Davidoff brand campaign “Viva Subtlety – Viva Sophistication”.

Davidoff No. 2 is described as “woody and earthy” in flavour, 2000 as “creamy and peppery” and Special R as “creamy and spicy”.

Also new from Davidoff are the Short Pleasures cigar assortment, described by the Swiss brand as “the ideal way to fill time beautifully when time is short”, and the Inspirational Robusto assortment, dubbed “masterfully blended full-bodied cigars for rich, intense experiences”.

Plymouth Gin sets sail after revamp

A month-long promotion at London Heathrow airport for Plymouth Gin is proving more than a regular marketing campaign for the Pernod Ricard-owned brand. “It’s our coming out party,” enthuses global brand director JC Iglesias, referring to the brand’s dedicated bar installed at the Terminal 5 during March, and its return to the shelves at the airport’s World Duty Free stores after a period out of distribution.

Plymouth Gin, which has been distilled in Plymouth, a port city in the west of England, for more than 200 years, has been rejuvenated under the French liquor giant. The packaging was redesigned in 2012, and for the past 12 months or so, local markets around the world have been restocking their stores with the new-look, repositioned super-premium spirit.

Plymouth Gin has undergone a redesign

“For us as a super-premium gin, we find ourselves in a unique position,” says Iglesias. “We have a great history dating back to 1793, a true sense of craft – we’ve been made the same way for so long – and this sets us apart from other brands. We have great stories to tell. We have a long, enduring history, and the milestones of the gin category itself can be marked with Plymouth Gin.”

Iglesias notes that the new, green-tinged glass bottle is a nod to past packaging seen in the brand’s archive, while the Mayflower ship depicted on the label references the brand’s heritage as the British Royal Navy gin. “The redesign brings the brand back to its roots.” 

Today, Plymouth gin’s most dynamic markets are the US, Spain, travel retail and the UK. Iglesias points out that Spain, despite the deep recession, has seen “a gin explosion at every tier of the market”, with fellow Pernod Ricard-owned Beefeater Dry Gin being the best-selling spirit in Spain. Meanwhile, the Plymouth Gin brand is growing worldwide, says Iglesias, namely in Japan and Australia, with increasing interest being shown across Europe.

Turning to China, traditionally a brown spirits market, Iglesias notes that the gin category has not yet emerged in the country, although the company has business there with Beefeater. “When you look at the IWSR figures, the gin category really isn’t there yet,” he says. “The Chinese do have baijiu [locally distilled white spirit] but that is totally different.”

Plymouth Gin's personalised bar at London Heathrow airport

Heathrow airport promotion

Plymouth Gin’s personalised bar at Heathrow Terminal 5, which welcomed travellers during March, was designed to mirror the original copper pot still that was installed at the historic Black Friars distillery during the Victorian era in 1855, which is still used today. The bar also featured portholes containing Plymouth’s seven botanicals – juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, orris root, angelica root, cardamom pods and coriander seeds – linking to the brand’s naval heritage.

The bar also offered a cocktail masterclass, enabling travellers to create one of three Plymouth gin cocktails – the Hedgerow Slider, Marguerite or Gimlet.

Diageo goes for gold

The drinks giant celebrates the launch of two pioneering products – both exclusive to the travel retail channel. One of them contains real gold flakes.

Diageo-owned vodka brand Smirnoff has launched Smirnoff Gold Apple, a new liqueur which combines Smirnoff No.21 premium vodka with an apple flavour and edible 23ct gold. The company says there is “truly gold in every drop”, as the delicate gold flakes remain speckled and suspended throughout the liquid.

The product will be launched exclusively in travel retail outlets worldwide for a limited time only from now until September 2014, before it is introduced to domestic markets.

Smirnoff Gold Apple liqueur contains 23ct gold flakes

Smirnoff Gold Apple (37.5%abv) uses a natural gum that adapts when shaken or stirred, slightly thickening to form a resting liquid in order to keep the gold flakes suspended. This ingredient means that liquid consistency when pouring and drinking remains smooth.

The striking bottle features a golden apple which reflects the sweet fruit flavour of the liqueur. A golden, Baroque-style pattern surrounds the apple, reflecting the inspiration behind the drink: the orchards of European palaces during the decadent French Renaissance era. The clear bottle shows the even distribution of the gold flakes, adding a hint of luxury.

Steve White, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “White spirits is a key growth area in travel retail where we can deliver more value for Diageo and for our retail partners. Flavour differentiation is increasingly important to us in unlocking new growth opportunities.

“With discerning consumers in the channel seeking out exciting new flavour experiences, we are launching Smirnoff Gold Apple as a travel retail exclusive for six months before it is introduced to domestic markets. It offers a great proposition for travellers – an exclusive offering from the world’s number one premium vodka. We are confident shoppers will love the flavour and the magic of the gold flakes and will see it as a fitting celebratory drink or an ideal gift for friends.”

Smirnoff Gold Apple can be served straight over ice or as a shot and retails at £26.00 for a one-litre bottle.

New Smirnoff White super-premium vodka

In other launch news, Smirnoff is set to introduce a pioneering new vodka - Smirnoff White - a super-premium vodka that will soon be available exclusively to travellers. Freeze filtered at -6°C and passed through modern charcoal filters, Smirnoff White signifies a “true revolution” in Smirnoff’s distillation process, designed to deliver a smooth flavour, the company says. The crisp white bottle seeks to reflect the crystalline formations found in the Arctic ice and highlights the quality of this new vodka.

Smirnoff White (41.3%abv) will be Diageo’s largest vodka launch in travel retail to date, highlighting a commitment to providing ground-breaking products to this sector. A global roll-out in the channel from July will be supported by high-impact promotions.

Smirnoff White super-premium vodka

Matthieu Comard, vice president of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, Western, said: “Global travellers deserve unique and bespoke options to augment their journeys and define them as travellers. Smirnoff White does just that. Building on the innovative principles of Vladimir Smirnoff, it sets a new benchmark in the quality standard of super-premium vodka and will create a new centre of gravity for Smirnoff in travel retail. The launch of Smirnoff White will raise the bar in the white spirits category in terms of the product, its presentation and the scale and quality of activation.”

Steve White, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “Smirnoff White is an innovation that demonstrates our relentless focus on differentiation and premiumisation. It is a major investment by Diageo in the white spirits category and will be supported by bold executions at scale across key travel retail locations globally.”

Smirnoff White will retail at £21.00 for a one-litre bottle.