Where Hennessy And Graffiti Intersect

Earlier this year, Hennessy announced that American Graffiti writer, JonOne, would be the next in line to have his very own limited-edition Very Special bottle. This marks the seventh edition of their ongoing series that has tapped artists such as Ryan McGinness, Shepard Fairey, Os Gemêos, Futura, and KAWS.

Like those before him, JonOne visited Hennessy’s home in Cognac to learn about their history and how they crafted their spirit One process that stood out the most was how the brand blended their wines. JonOne saw similarities in this approach and likened it to the blending of the paints he uses as he creates his art. JonOne sought to create a label that felt alive, something that people can live with. What resulted is a colourful expression of the artist’s interpretation of how Hennessy’s blends its cognac. While the steps may seem bewildering to some, they are carefully calculated, just as JonOne carefully layered the colours upon each other for this label.

For those of you who are not familiar with the artist, JonOne spent his early years in New York City. During our time together, he fondly recounted his graffiti writing days, pin-pointing moments like the first time he magnificently tagged a subway cart. As the years went by he had kept in contact with French street artist, Bando, who had eventually invited him to come to France in 1987. It was there where he began painting more on canvases, rather than cement walls and trains. It has now been thirty years since JonOne has moved to Paris and with multiple exhibitions under his belt, he has solidified himself as one of the greats in the graffiti art world.

The limited-edition Hennessy x JonOne bottle Very Special bottle will be available in Canada this coming November.

Learn more about the collaboration online at Hennessy.

Words & Photography: Jon Carlo Tapia