Hennessy’s Brand Ambassador for Africa Neil Hendriksz says the Kenya@50 limited edition Hennessy VS will bear a detailed emblem trimmed with Kenyan colours. Photo/ FELIX MAGARA
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 15 – One of the world’s top Cognac brands, Hennessy, is to release a special commemorative bottle to mark Kenya’s 50 years of independence.
Moet Hennessy’s Brand Ambassador for Africa Neil Hendriksz says the Kenya@50 limited edition Hennessy VS will bear a detailed emblem trimmed with Kenyan colours and covered with the original Hennessey Label from 1963.
And going in line with Hennessy’s rich heritage for special occasions, Hendriksz says there will only be 2013 Kenya@50 Hennessy bottles available – making it a true collector’s item with a savvy Kenyan connoisseur.
Hennessey will host an exclusive Kenya @50 party in early December where the special edition bottles will be auctioned with proceeds going to a local charity organisation to be announced at the event.
“Even though we are a big global brand, we take notice to upcoming markets, like Nairobi,” brags a beaming Hendriksz.
The international brand has recently upped its marketing in Kenya, hosting several exclusive events in Nairobi where the Brand Ambassador makes the case for the world-acclaimed cognac.
“It is an exciting time to be in the wine and luxury market with world’s most powerful cognac brand, while consumers take interest to learn more about what they consume.”
The Hennessy cognac distillery was founded by Richard Hennessy, an Irish officer serving in the army of Louis XV in 1765.
In 1817 The Prince of Wales, later King George IV of Great Britain – asked Hennessy to create a “very superior old pale cognac.” Since then the initials V.S.O.P – Very Superior Old Pale – have been used as a benchmark for the entire industry.
Other notable events in Hennessy’s long timeline include an order from Russian Empress Maria Federovna in 1818 who asked Maison Hennessy to produce the most exceptional cognac as a birthday present for her son Czar Alexander I.
In 1865, Maurice Hennessy, great-grandson of founder Richard Hennessy, decided to create a cognac classification.
He used varying numbers of stars to designate different quality, giving rise to Hennessy’s Three Star Cognac, today known as V.S (Very Special). Soon this classification was adopted by the entire industry.
(Story by Capital FM’s Angela Muiruri)
