• by Teresa Buyikian , December 16, 2024

Customizable robotics is lending an automated creative hand to one of the world’s oldest spirit makers.

French cognac manufacturer Maison Hennessy announced it has tapped noted generative artist Florian Zumbrunn for a new, extremely modern take on its classic Hennessy X.O. decanter, which has remained relatively unchanged since the cognac’s creation in 1870.

For Maison Hennessy, Zumbrunn used pre-written algorithms to “autonomously generate new artwork, ideas, shapes, colors and patterns.”

Zumbrunn created 40 numbered collector decanters, each featuring “ultra-customization, artistic creation and robotic innovation.” Each bottle was painted by a robotic arm, which was engineered by robotic expert Jean-Marie Ollivier.

"I blend the old with the new, human gestures with machine output, traditional techniques such as pastel and watercolor with lines of code,” commented Zumbrunn. “I was particularly inspired by Hennessy’s mastery of the fine art of blending, and its continuous dialogue between tradition and innovation.”

The collectable decanters are only available at the brand’s home boutique in Cognac, France, where customers can now also customize their own bottles using the in-house robotic system. Customers select a color palette and, once they approve a preview on a tablet, each design is painted while they watch by a robotic arm located in the boutique onto the shell that encases each decanter.

The “paint” used on the decanters is made entirely from eco-conscious paper pulp, and each is wrapped with a leather label around the neck. Maison Hennessey was actually the first spirit to receive an ISO 14001 certification in 1998, which is an internationally recognized standard for environmental impact.

The artist was brought to the brand by its French creative agency, OK C’EST COOL, which also created the promotional work, running online and in-store in Europe. for the limited-edition decanters.