Thursday, September 15, 2011


MI, eLDee, Cyrille Gautier-Auriol (Hennessy Ambassador), Jesse Jagz and Banky W
Just a week after the release of the Hennessy Artistry 2011 theme song, Nigerian music acts eLDee da Don and Banky W, Jesse Jagz along with  rapper M.I travelled to Cognac, France on September 5, 2011.
The artistes were treated to ‘The Hennessy Heritage Experience’ where they made their way down to ‘Chateau de Bagnolet, a private chateau in Cognac belonging to the Hennessy Family. The acts joined the likes of Common, The Roots and Alexander Burke on the list of prestigious guests at the exclusive Hennessy chateau.
This is really our way of giving these artistes a unique one on one experience with Hennessy Cognac’, Tokini Peterside, communications manager told journalists.
Apart from visiting Hennessy’s vineyards, the artistes also paid a visit to the Founder’s Cellar. Hennessy has over 42 kilometres of Cellars in Cognac.
They then returned to Nigeria on Thursday, September 8, 2011. More pix after the cut...

We were welcomed at the Chateau de Bagnolet by the Hennessy Ambassador, Cyrille Gautier Auriol. It was a big one for me knowing that noteworthy guests like Joe Cocker, Ray Charles and others have also been hosted there before’, Banky W says.
My favourite part of the trip was when we returned to Paris on September 7. We went to Galleries Lafayette, the Eiffel Tower and L’arc de triomphe, and then we finished the evening at the top of the stunning Centre Pompidou. We were blown away by the city’s beauty’, Jesse Jagz relives his experience.
On Thursday September 1, the 2011 Hennessy Artistry theme song was released on the Beat 99.9 FM and progressively became viral online within minutes of release. Titled ‘Toast to the Good Life’, after hundreds of audience suggestions, the track blends together the talents of Banky W, eLDee the Don and Tiwa Savage and was produced by Jesse Jagz with support from Banky W and Master Kraft.

              Expert Mixologist, Tony with Banky W
Jesse Jagz, Eldee, Cyrille Gaultier-Auriol, Banky W and M.I
Hennessy Ambassador, Cyrille Gautier-Auriol showing the headliners around the distillery
Banky W
M.I Rolling the Barrel over a Hot Fire
Jesse Jagz closing the barrel panels
Special Blends of Cognac Individually Made by MI, Banky, Eldee and Jesse Jagz
MI, Banky W, Jesse Jagz and eLDee. The view from the top of the vineyard
Banky W and eLDee - On the train from Paris to Cognac at 7am
Hennessy Headliner, eLDee tha Don, Cyrille Gautier-Auriol (Hennessy Ambassador
Banky W with Renaud de Gironde (Hennessy Master Blender)
Eldee receives his personalised Hennessy Label from Renaud de Gironde (Hennessy Master Blender)
MI, eLDee, Banky W and Jesse Jagz with a Barrel dating back to 1934
eLDee, MI, Jesse Jagz and Banky W shutting the Barrel
MI gets behind the bar to make a signature cocktail
eLDee and Banky with Tony the Mixologist
The headliners blending their own Cognac
Jesse Jagz
Hennessy Artistry 2011 headliners and MI with the Hennessy Ambassador, Cyrille Gautier-Auriol in the Distillery
eLDee, Banky W, Jesse Jagz, Sam Onyemelukwe and MI at a live demonstration in the Barrel Making Factory
MI, Hennessy Artistry 2011 headliners and Tokini Peterside (Communications manager, Hennessy Nigeria)
Special Blends of Cognac Individually Made by MI, Banky W, eLDee and Jesse Jagz