“Bollinger? If it’s ‘69, you were expecting me.”
James Bond to Holly Goodhead.
Moonraker (1979)
While perpetually associated with vodka martinis, James Bond has had an equally lengthy and no less enjoyable connection with Bollinger. Stretching back to 1956, when the champagne made its first appearance in ‘Diamonds are Forever’ - Ian Fleming's fourth novel about Her Majesty’s eponymous hero - Bollinger and Bond have enjoyed an iconic marriage that the champagne house continues to champion.
To coincide with the October release of Skyfall, the 23rd instalment of the Bond series on screen, starring Daniel Craig in his third outing and directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes, Bollinger have unveiled their latest James Bond special edition bottle entitled ‘002 for 007’.
The bottle of La Grande Année 2002 is encased in a gun-silencer-shaped gift box with a combination lock that opens via Bond’s iconic code name, 007.
The limited edition bottle also carries a unique ’50 years of Bond’ logo that marks Commander Bond’s golden anniversary on film. Dr No enjoyed its world premiere in London on October 5, 1962, and to mark the hero’s first appearance on celluloid, fans of the franchise can get a unique taste of the action exclusively in Harrods, from 23 September and nationwide from 1 October.
The lasting relationship between Bond and Bollinger has seen the murderous spy sup the champagne in no less than 12 of the 23 films to date and the connection has enabled the brand to thrive in places such as Asia.
Bollinger president Jérôme Philipon told The Drinks Business earlier in the year: “They go crazy for Bond in Asia, which is really helping with brand recognition and giving our sales a boost.”
'002 for 007' is not Bollinger’s first Bond themed outing, having released a limited edition bullet-shaped bottle for the last film, Quantum of Solace, in September 2008. Only 207 were produced and La Grande Année 1999 cost over £2,500.