Right in the time for all office Christmas parties, and family dinner’s, Bombay Sapphire – a popular gin brand that’s enjoyed in more than 120 countries over the world – decided to serve up Christmas with a twist and assigned five artists to re-think and then re-do the traditional symbols of the festive period. Their New Tradition Collection shows how each of these artists took on recreating conventional crackers, candles, baubles, party poppers, and the often-horrendous Xmas jumpers. Their stylish ideas are accompanied by a release of new line of cocktails that will – (un)like the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit, Seedlip – spice up your festive season.
The world’s #1 premium gin brand has created an all-round campaign where each bespoke piece takes inspiration from the iconic blue bottle and creates a unique spectacle by first introducing the traditional Christmas cracker reinvented by Studio Boo. The studio specializes in workshops, various installations and overall brand experience, that are heavily influenced by nature and craftsmanship, and has created a glass cracker containing a 3D-printed spring portraying a juniper three with three unusual capsules filled with pine-, cranberry-, and lime-scented oils that can also be found in the new Winter Pine Twist cocktail — already bringing parts of campaign together.
Lucy Scott, of Bombay Sapphire, said for GQ “We launched the ‘New Tradition Collection’ which is a series Bombay Sapphire festive cocktails and Gin & tonic Twists which you can make at home this Christmas. To add to this we took inspiration from our drinks and worked with five incredible designers & artists to create untraditional takes on typical festive items.”
The group of interesting artists also includes California-born sculptor best known for producing large-scale architecturally ambitious installations, Stephen Hendee, who has produced his take on a festive candle – a Free Form sculpture made from acrylic and light. Lucy Scott adds more information about the unusual forms of traditional objects: “People today like to hold on to long-standing traditions whilst trying new colours, designs and flavours to keep Christmas fun. We have a great history in working with artists and pushing the norms, so to celebrate this attitude we wanted do something new and unexpected with traditional festive drinks and items we take for granted.”
One thing that people who decorate their Christmas tree, would definitely appreciate is the modern bauble by Richard Clarkson and his studio. The Brooklyn-based studio offers “a range of innovative perspectives on traditional material ideologies, new technologies and adventurous opportunities”. With this approach, they seem like the perfect match for Bombay Sapphire’s campaign by following their intent to “distort the ever-blurring lines between art & design”.
The last but one creation has so far become our favourite – the Christmas jumpers were brilliantly blended together by a design-led creative agency DBLG and knitwear designer and radiographer, Brooke Roberts, who is also a fashion tech blogger for TECHstyler and at Huffpost Style. While many wear the old festive favourite with a cheeky smirk and more on the ironic side, the new version definitely brings out quite unexpected style to the jumpers.
My collaboration with @DBLG_LDN for @BombaySapphire launched tonight @SUSHISAMBA pic.twitter.com/DJoYkRX3Xj
— Brooke Roberts (@BrookeRobertsUK) November 29, 2016
And finally, Bompas & Parr comes with a bang, literally. In 2007 Sam Bompas and Harry Parr started a multi-disciplinary studio – described by The Independent as ‘Willy Wonka during his freewheeling student days’ – that specializes in “flavour-based experience design, culinary research, architectural installations and contemporary food design”. They took on updating the banging New Year’s Eve party popper.
#NewTradition selection of festive gin cocktails modelled on popular winter serves. If you fancy something to keep you warm, you should try the Hot Gin Mocha — a blend of Bombay Sapphire, Crème de Cacao and three shots of strong espresso; or the Spiced Apple Warmer — with gin, hot apple juice and cinnamon.
Bombay Sapphire brand ambassador, Renaud de Bosredon, brings the final words: “We have taken inspiration from popular cocktails, such as the espresso martini, to make something new for bartenders and consumers this winter. With the gin craze showing no signs of slowing down we want to keep inspiring the trade with our creations to show, that even though there is always the moment for the perfect gin and tonic, the quality of Bombay Sapphire and its balanced use of botanicals means it can be used to make some beautiful serves.” And he adds: “There is no better time of year than Christmas with its multitude of flavour associations to have some fun and show the artistry and versatility of our gin.” We have to admit, this was fun!
Credits:
Photography: Luke Kirwan & Flavourmag