Olivia de Longueil, Moët & Chandon’s international event and PR manager, worked with BrandLink’s Miami event director Jillian Jacobson and strategic development director Selmin Arat on the launch, aiming for “an overall element of surprise.”
Jacobson said Miami was an obvious choice for Moët to showcase the summertime qualities of the Ice Imperial blend, designed to be served over ice. “They were looking for a warm, glamorous, and internationally appealing destination,” she said. “And we wanted to select locations that were off the beaten path and exclusive.”
The itinerary began at noon on March 17, when guests boarded three brand-new Ferretti yachts at the Miami Beach Marina and sailed to Stiltsville, a group of wood houses on stilts in Biscayne Bay.
Nuage Designs transformed the private Stiltsville home into a plush beach house environment, with pillows, wicker lamps and seashell linens, while Shiraz Events staff welcomed guests with white Moët goblets, and provided a smorgasbord of sushi rolls, imported cheeses, and antipasti. “The idea was to find a natural, organic spot where we could have what the French call the pieds dans l’eau (feet in the water) experience,” Jacobson said. “A place that felt remote and exotic.”
Later that evening, by a number of Miami tastemakers joined the international group for a sunset cocktail reception at a private estate on Miami’s Hibiscus Island. Decor by Nuage included white lanterns floating in the pool, and Shiraz again provided passed hors d’oeuvres to accompany the Moët Ice Imperial. Several bar stations throughout the backyard were stocked with bowls of fruit so guests could create their own Moët Ice Imperial cocktails.
The following night, guests attended a bonfire party at Soho Beach House, where waiters served Moët Ice Imperial on the beach. Guests then returned to the property’s tiki bar, which Nuage Design decorated with tiki torches, twinkle lights, white couches, and woven pillows. The evening’s raw bar and clambake menu was provided by Soho Beach House. Swedish pianist and singer Joanna Holstein performed, and the night concluded with guests roasting marshmallows to make s'mores.
Jacobson said the clambake was a "quintessential American experience," and that BrandLink and Moët wanted to host a bonfire on the beach "not only because it is a rare experience, but to ensure that the celebration ended on a high note."
