Courvoisier packs a punch

Fancy messing about in boats? Well pop along to 33 Portland Place in London this month, where Courvoisier has teamed up with food architects Bompas & Parr to create the 4000 litre Architectural Punchbowl.

In a bid to highlight the mixability of Cognac, brand owners Maxxium UK challenged the public to come up with a winning punch recipe using Courvoisier Exclusif.

A 14-strong judging panel, which included Maxxium mixologist Wayne Collins and punch expert Elizabeth Gabay MW, awarded the top prize to Joe McCanta, mixologist and sommelier at Saf Restaurant in London’s Shoreditch.

The winning concoction, called The Emperor’s Shrub, is a blend of berries including cranberry and pomegranate, mixed with autumn spices and, of course, Courvoisier Exclusif.

Even better, in return for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of sculling about on this drinkable installation, you’ll be raising money for environment charity Article 25, which designs and constructs buildings for development agencies, NGOs and communities affected by disaster or poverty.

Gabriel Savage, 08.12.09