Famed cognac producer Hennessy has called out to artist Arik Levy to create a limited edition product: Mathusalem X.O. The box is a true work of art. Entirely handmade, using individually sized pieces of wood covered with embossed Barenia leather, this box, what with its geometric lines, forms a broken rectangle that calls to mind an enormous diamond or prehistoric flint. The real treasure, however, is within: a six liter bottle.
Each numbered copy of Mathusalem X.O is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity as well as a one-page monograph on Arik Levy, made by Hennessy. The metal plaque can be monogrammed or personalized as desired. But more importantly, it contains a prestigious elixir with strong odors of oak, old leather, and black pepper supplemented by clove, cinnamon, and vanilla. It brings to mind the original nobleness of “eXtra Old”, an emblem of the brand since 1870.
The entire history of this great cognac is honored by this sublime collaboration. It’s a story of family, starting in 1765 in Ireland with Richard Hennessy and then continuing in North America, where he first found success. Prestigious clientele would make the brand a legend, such as the Prince of Wales with the “Very Superior Old Pale” (VOSP), since become a reference in the cognac world. Or Empress Maria Feodorovna, who offered a specially ordered Hennessy cognac to Czar Alexander I and thus brought the entire Russian Imperial dynasty to their knees. After these successes, Maurice Hennessy created the distinction XO (extra old). While initially reserved for his inner circle, it soon became an international reference.
Arik Levy says about the collaboration that “ (…) it was an osmosis, what we are doing is perfectly complementary. Hennessy takes its inspiration from nature to produce something beautiful and sublime, strongly tied to my artistic approach. This aesthetic virtuosity is just what was needed to make this noble elixir even better.
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