(Hong Kong, 16th July 2019) Prized for crafting exquisite cognac, loved by royalties and the most discerning connoisseurs, Hennessy has been elevating the tasting experience of the classic French spirit by enriching its creative expression in mixology with over 141 original cocktail recipes to date.

Now the exponent of joy and beauty à la française turns up the volume once again with a colourful tribute to the magic hour, unwind after a day of action to replenish and recharge the soul. Headlining this celebration are 5 ‘Hennessy V.S.O.P Sunset’ cocktails, which are available in multiple outlets in Hong Kong. Each one of them a burst of twilight colour to allude to life in its fullest. These cocktails, including the brand-new Paint the Sky created by award-winning mixologist Shelley Tai; the well-received Hennessy Sunset Lime which debuted last year, and the newly concocted Hennessy Sunset Tea Ceremony, Hennessy Sunset Lychee Fizz and Game Changer, represent a new perspective on the connoisseurship of Hennessy V.S.O.P in the iridescent glow of the setting sun.

This creative, almost poetic, perspective was unveiled at the ‘Owning the Sunset’ party on 16th July at The Villa, which offered an immersive experience for guests to savour the notion of ‘Hennessy Sunset Cocktails’ amid high-octane performances against the backdrop of one of the world’s most magnificent cityscapes. Cocktails were created in collaboration with the legendary mixologist Antonio Lai and his team from Quinary, one of the world’s Top 50 bars for 5-straight years, including the ‘Diageo World Class Competition 2019 HK & Macau Bartender of the Year’ Shelley Tai. Canapés were curated by chef Vicky Cheng from the Michelin-starred VEA. A multisensory journey proceeded along a continuous flow of experiential spaces, chasing the colours of sunset with a change of mood and music every 30 minutes. Beach chairs, a zen-inspired circular installation, a pinkish bubble bathtub, and the neon-lit Sunset Bar, the effervescent sense of joy rippled as the night sank deeper and deeper. The changing hues of sunset also inspired the colour coding of the evening’s performances, which in turn matched with different cocktails and experiential spaces. Performances included a flash mob, synchronised swimming, urban ballet and a circus fire act which took up different thematic colours of the setting sun to complete a multifaceted experience.

A fizzy, sweet & sour mix of Hennessy V.S.O.P with zesty lime, Hennessy Sunset Lime is a light, citrus and fresh concoction that wakes up all senses to the beauty of the summery sunset. Meanwhile a note of subtlety in Hennessy Sunset Tea Ceremony washes the palate with unsweetened tea and an orange twist, whereas Hennessy Sunset Lychee Fizz ups the cognac cocktail game with a pinch of juicy lychee, offset by unsweetened tea and dry sparkling wine to give a bubbly sensation. As the night falls, the heavier, smoky Game Changer hearkens back to the mysterious veil of the night for a sophisticated palate mixing pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, agave nectar and the lingering Ardbeg 10 Year in one.

Crafted by Shelley Tai at Quinary, Paint the Sky captures the first hint of a velvety night with a slightly stronger taste combining the amber-coloured Hennessy V.S.O.P with sweet and sour roselle syrup, lemon juice and jasmine tea. The purplish pink cocktail is a surprising yet perfect coalition of opposites in the spectrum of tastes: the cognac and the light infusion of citrus and tea contrast and complement each other to round off the happy hour in a summer evening. 

With over 9 years of bartending experience under her belt, Shelley Tai is the rising star in the cocktail bar scene in Hong Kong and beyond. Before joining Quinary, the city’s foremost high volume multisensory mixology cocktail bar helmed by master mixologist Antonio Lai, Shelley cut her teeth at legendary clubs and restaurants. Her knack for marrying unlikely flavours in her creations has earned her multiple industry accolades, including the most recent ‘Diageo World Class Competition 2019 HK & Macau Bartender of the Year’. She will be representing Hong Kong & Macau to vie for World Championship later in Glasgow.
 

Hennessy V.S.O.P invites you to ‘Own the Sunset’ and soak up the taste of cognac- based cocktails at Quinary, Aqua, Hutong, W Hotel, ANA Ten, Club Albergue 1601, Divino, Divino Patio Ristorante Bar, Epure, FoFo By El Willy, Spasso Ristorante & Bar, and other selected bars, where ‘Hennessy V.S.O.P Sunset’ cocktails will be served starting in August.
 
Connoisseurs can sip at Paint the Sky by Shelley Tai exclusively at Quinary from August 1st to 31st, Price $160 / glass (+10% service charge)