On 20 August, the evening began with a sense of secrecy. I was picked up from a pre-determined location, and destination withheld until the last moment. The car turned into an industrial estate, where an anonymous warehouse stood in silence.
Only upon stepping inside did the reveal unfold: this was Le Freeport, a high-security facility known for storing masterpieces, rare art, and treasures that seldom see the light of day. The venue’s vault-like halls now transformed into a sanctuary Paradis, Maison Hennessy’s most treasured cognac expression.
Created in 1979 by Maurice Fillioux, Hennessy’s sixth-generation Master Blender, Paradis was conceived as a harmony of over 100 eaux-de-vie. Some of these rare spirits had been resting in casks for more than 130 years, carrying the patience of generations. The result is a cognac often described as music in liquid form. In the glass, Paradis shines with an amber-gold glow, unfolding notes of jasmine, cinnamon, and exotic fruit. Its texture is silky and voluptuous, finishing with a balance that is both elegant and lingering, a composition that rewards contemplation.
At the “return” launch, guests were guided through a masterclass, the first pour of Paradis setting the tone for the evening. Injected into the glasses from a giant pipet held in white gloves, the act itself carried weight: tasting the cognac in this setting reminded us that Paradis is more than a drink; it is an encounter with history and craft.
Hennessy Paradis being poured with gloved hands, from a giant pippette into the crustal tulip glass. [Photo: Kim Choong]
A modern guzheng performance followed, its strings weaving melodies that merged tradition that created the mood for the occasion, and echoed Fillioux’s original vision of Paradis as a symphony, each note and eau de vie carefully blended. Here, the Chinese instrument gave the metaphor a connection for the French’s pride spirit to Asia’s root. The evening opened into mingling, where guests wandered among designer pieces and a leather-printing machine set up to personalise Paradis bottles.
Guests were led to visit the La Chambre du Hennessy, where rare expressions and collaboration bottlings that few outside collectors have ever seen unveiled: Paradis Unlimited, Paradis Gold Edition, the Lorenz Bäumer NBA 3L, Chinese New Year editions from 2023 to 2025, and the coveted Paradis x LOEWE 3L collaboration. Each bottle spoke to the cognac’s prestige and the creative partnerships it has inspired, from haute couture to global sporting stages.
Paradis takes its name from the Paradis Cellar in Cognac, where Hennessy keeps its rarest and oldest reserves. Entry to this cellar is strictly limited, with only a handful ever given access. In Singapore, Le Freeport became the stand-in for this revered vault, a place away from noise, built for preservation and focus.
To understand how Paradis is safeguarded is to glimpse the daily discipline at the Maison. Each morning at 11am, when the palate is sharpest, the tasting committee gathers. Drawn samples from barrels are assessed to ensure the integrity of the blend, that every batch of Paradis resembles its original harmony. This ritual is stringent, requiring years of training and an attuned sensitivity to balance and nuance. It is both science and art, entrusted only to those who can discern the slightest variation in aroma or structure.
Sébastien Vilmot, Managing Director of Moët Hennessy Southeast Asia, called Paradis a “cornerstone” of the portfolio, one that continues to resonate with collectors in a market like Singapore growing more sophisticated each year. For those present, the evening was less about spectacle than about being drawn into the Maison’s idea of time, craft, and the beauty of moments made exceptional.
Paradis is ultimately about intention. It is not designed for casual consumption but for life’s deliberate occasions – to savour it in quiet reflection, to share it over a dinner of equal refinement, or to raise it in celebration – each is an act of marking time with meaning.
The return of Hennessy Paradis to Singapore was less a launch than a reminder: that some creations are not simply to be consumed, but to be experienced.
- T -