Hennessy in high spirits

A small private dinner was hosted by a seventh generation Hennessy the other day for a select number of people from Manila’s high society, politics and business at the Peninsula’s Old Manila restaurant. Gilles Hennessy (who is turning 64 this May) is a descendant of Richard Hennessy, an Irish soldier serving at the army of Louis XV who founded a small distillery in 1765 that has since become one of the most recognized cognac producers in the world.

Gilles, who began his involvement in the business when he was just a teenager starting “from the very bottom,” told Spy Bits that the measure of a country’s economy – whether it is doing well or not – can be gauged via the amount of cognac consumption. Indeed, the demand for “spirits,” particularly Hennessy cognac in Asia, has continually hit record figures in the last couple of years, with the brand surpassing the one million-case mark in China during the first quarter of 2012 alone.  In the Philippines, Hennessy’s sales has reached 25,000 cases – admittedly a small quantity but Gilles is anticipating significant growth in the country, with the current sales figures projected to hit double in the next year as the Philippine economy continues to grow. In contrast, cognac sales slowed down in Europe last year – reflective of the troubled economy that continues to hobble the region.

The French-born Gilles is very proud of his family heritage and the reputation Moet Hennessy has developed as one of the most respected brands in the world of spirits. The name Hennessy connotes elegance and sophistication, with the brand acknowledged by cognac connoisseurs as the standard for the industry. Over the years, Hennessy has become inevitably linked with history, with a treasure trove of stories adding to the brand’s status. For instance, King George IV asked for a very superior old pale cognac to be concocted – and thus was born the initials “V.S.O.P.”

One of the most expensive products in Hennessy (and cognac) history is the limited edition “Beaute du Siecle” (Beauty of the Century) priced at over $233,000, with only 100 bottles produced to signify one century. Another popular product is also the limited edition, standard cognac  “Hennessy 44” produced in 2009 in honor of US president Barack Obama. It comes in a black bottle with the label bearing the number “44” and the words “In honor of the 44th president” done in gold letters.

Perhaps a secret to the success of Moet Hennessy – now part of the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Group – is the consistency of the taste precisely because the company has employed the same blenders all these years – consisting of several families where the father trains the son and then the grandson, passing on the recipes from one generation to another to ensure that people will always get that same Moet Hennessy taste they first appreciated say, five or 10 years ago. The company, however, is “modern” enough to introduce new ways of drinking cognac –mixed with other drinks and juices to cater to the “hip-hop generation,” which is also one way of showing the drink’s versatility. Not surprisingly, this has also generated increased demand from the younger set – which is why Moet Hennessy continues to be in high spirits.

From Swiss chocolates to Swiss helicopters

Swiss helicopter maker Marenco is ready to launch the SKYe SH09 prototype at the three-day Heli Expo in Las Vegas that will run until Thursday. The light turbine helicopter with a maximum takeoff weight of 2,560-kg has a low-noise signature owing to a revolutionary design featuring a shrouded tail rotor. It has a high-ceiling concept, a flexible cabin configuration that can accommodate up to seven passengers, and offers the kind of versatility that makes it suitable either for passenger transport or for emergency evacuation purposes.

Marenco commercial director Matthias Senes, who was formerly with Eurocopter, told us the company is eyeing Asia as one of its markets, saying they want to see the aircraft take off in China as well as the Philippines where the demand for aircraft seems to be growing not only for private transport but for industries involved in mining, gaming and resorts as well as tourism. The Swiss manufacturer is partnering with an Australian company to become its distributor in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

Spy tidbit

The plan of AirPhil Express to start direct flights to Sabah from Zamboanga City could be put on hold due to the standoff in Lahad Datu, with the tensions continuing to escalate. AirPhil president Iñigo Zobel told us he is monitoring the situation, hoping the issue will not escalate further and that a peaceful resolution will be arrived at soon.

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