Everyone knows that James Bond likes his martinis shaken, not stirred—but you may not know that when it comes to Champagne, he’s all about the Bollinger.
The relationship between Bond and the French Champagne house is legendary. It dates back to 1978, when Bond producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli met Christian Bizot, then General Manager of Champagne Bollinger, which led to the uncorking of everlasting friendship between their two families. As of the 1978 film Moonraker, Bollinger became James Bond’s official Champagne through every Bond reincarnation from Timothy Dalton to Pierce Brosnan to Daniel Craig.
Fourteen films later, the relationship is going strong. To celebrate Bollinger’s 15th film as Bond’s official bubbly, this November the Champagne house will release a completely luxe, $9,500 crystal set. Only 307 numbered pieces of the brand’s crystal set have been produced, each weighing in at 30 pounds and measuring two feet in height.
Saint-Louis—a crystalworks company founded in Lorraine, France in1586 and which now belongs to the Hermès group—created the crystal decanter. The base of the Crystal Set 007 base echoes Bond’s iconic gun barrel, while the top of the metallic neck label featuring the Bollinger 007 signature is set off with a cabochon marked with the sign of the octopus, the “Spectre.”It acts as a showcase for Bollinger R.D 1988, a champagne that has matured for an unusually long period on its lees to give an exceptional aromatic complexity and long finish.
Additionally, the brand is releasing a limited edition “Bond” vintage—a unique 2009 Bollinger cuvee exclusively released to celebrate the partnership. The bottle is encased in a limited edition chill box, designed by Carré Basset, which keeps the bottle chilled for two hours after refrigeration.
James Bond’s Spectre, starring Daniel Craig, hits theaters on Nov. 6.
Haute Beauty
October 14, 2015The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale Unveils New Destination Spa
