As we move through September, our minds are already turning to the upcoming holiday hosting season. Whether you’re planning to serve non-alcoholic aperitifs or classic spirits, Chopin, a leader in premium vodka, and Fferrone, a renowned name in modern luxury glassware, are ready to elevate your home bartending game. Their collaboration brings us the new Ernestine Mini Martini Collection – a beautifully giftable set of four mini martini glasses, with the option to include a bottle of Chopin Family Reserve Vodka. The downsized glasses make a bold statement by emphasizing quality over quantity, a perfect sentiment for the holidays and beyond.
The design process behind the Ernestine collection was two fold: inspiration and challenge. Designer Felicia Ferrone traced the history of the martini glass back to 1925 during the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Industrial Arts in Paris, France. She was inspired by French designer Charlotte Perriand’s ultra-modern Bar Sous Le Toit, which featured a cocktail bar made of anodized aluminum and nickle-plated copper bar stools. This led Ferrone to envision martini glasses that would perfectly complement this avant-garde scene.
The challenge lay in creating a new interpretation of the classic martini glass – how to craft a set of four glasses that were equal yet distinct. At first glance, the glassware might appear standard, but a closer inspection reveals Ferrone’s delightful details: each glass features a unique stem design, with bases made of one, two, three, or four stems. This not only makes each glass easily identifiable, but also adds an element of playful elegance, ensuring every guest at your dinner party has their own distinct piece in hand.
Each mini martini glass is handcrafted without molds by master artisans of a second-generation, family-owned atelier in the Czech Republic. The process begins with the bowl of the glass, followed by the careful addition of each stem, which is then stretched to form the “foot” that grounds the glass. As Fferrone’s most intricate and delicate work to date, these martini glasses capture a unique beauty of craftsmanship that can’t be easily replicated.
The Chopin vodka bottle is also not to be missed. With a ribbed body that is quintessentially Fferrone (reminiscent of the Dearborn collection), the bottle is a stylish addition to any bar cart and is sure to remain a centerpiece long after the vodka has been enjoyed.
The Ernestine Collection is available as a set of four 3oz glasses for $540, with the option to include the bottle of Chopin Family Reserve Vodka for $670. To shop the collection, visit chopinvodka.com.
