Martell launches TR-exclusive Cordon Bleu

Pernod Ricard-owned Cognac brand Martell has partnered with artist Sabrina Transiskus on a travel retail-exclusive design for its Cordon Bleu expression.

Martell Cordon Bleu has notes of “stewed prunes soaked in Earl Grey tea”

The exclusive bottling was designed by German-born artist Transiskus to “go beyond appearances and stimulate curiosity with unsuspected ideas”.

The design’s launch coincides with Chinese New Year celebrations and is inspired by the wishing tree, on which people would hang red envelopes containing their wishes.

It features a blue carton, which includes elaborate cutouts revealing the Martell emblem, and embossed red envelopes and gold vine leaves to evoke the wishing tree. Inside, the Martell Cordon Bleu bottle is entirely covered in blue, with a pattern echoing the gift box.

The release has been supported by a number of pop-up bars in airports around the world, where travellers have been able to personalise their bottles by recording audio messages, which can be shared online using QR codes.

The Cordon Bleu expression is blended from more than 100 eaux-de-vie from the Borderies area, one of the smallest Cognac regions.

The expression has notes of “stewed prunes soaked in Earl Grey tea” and is described as “aromatic and characterful” with “aromas of dark chocolate, pink peppercorns, pineapple and mango”.

The Cognac house recently launched Martell VS Single Distillery, an expression created using eaux-de-vie produced solely from one distillery.