Connoisseur's Empire Collection comes in the usual 470ml tub – but that's the only thing it shares with an average supermarket ice cream brand.
The packaging illustrations are the work of Steve Cross, an artist whose early art covers the walls of suburban Perth and recent art covers the skin of Melbourne hipsters.
Each of the intricate Connoisseur pack designs was hand painted on canvas and then photographed. The designs illustrate the stories of four historical figures each of whom is linked to one of the four flavours in the range – they feature icons and elements of each character's life and achievements in intricate detail. If you look closely you will see the coins which Emperor Nero used to bribe the judges at the Olympic games, for example, or the ceramic painted jars on which Emperor Jing Zong had his ice cream served. The richness of the designs also underscore the luxury positioning of the ice cream and its food fashion flavours.
“The flavours have been inspired by famous tastemakers from different empires: Emperor Nero, Emperor Jing Zong, King Cyrus of Persia and King Louis XIV. It’s a tale of four men, connected by ice cream and I really wanted to bring them to life through the packaging and design to create something truly unique,” Cross added.
“These flavour combinations are distinctive and I was inspired both by the ingredients used and the historic figures with their rich back stories. It’s a great acknowledgement to history, bringing these legends alive today – a beautiful demonstration of the blending of two eras.”
In an ode to Italy and Emperor Nero, the Connoisseur Empire coffee hazelnut flavoured ice cream has been enhanced with chocolate coated hazelnuts and hazelnut liqueur sauce. French vanilla is enriched with chocolate flakes and Armagnac sauce, echoing the flamboyant style of King Louis XIV.
Taking inspiration from the east and the extravagant Emperor Jing Zong, red bean flavoured ice cream is paired with coconut. And as a tribute to King Cyrus of Persia, pistachio flavoured ice cream is swirled with a sauce made from cinnamon, honey and dates.
Connoisseur head of marketing, Emma-Jane Collins, noted, “We are consistently striving to push the flavour boundaries and give our fans something new and exciting, something they may not have tasted before. The Empire Collection showcases four very decadent new flavours that will no doubt bring delight and surprise the palate.”
