JAY-Z to auction off exclusive D’ussé bottle for charity

JAY-Z is a man of many titles. The Brooklyn native entered our lives as a rapper, but over the years, he developed into a husband and successful businessman. In a less-discussed role, he is also a philanthropist who often makes contributions to charity, something he intends to do with his recent collaboration.

On Thursday (Feb. 25), it was announced the 4:44 star would partner with Sotheby’s to auction off the first of a rare, 285-bottle collection of D’ussé for charity.

“When our Cellar Master, Michel Casavecchia, discovered the aged liquid at the Château de Cognac and explained how truly one of a kind it is, it was important to me to honor it by doing something that would celebrate its singularity,” the Roc Nation mogul said in a press release.

“Once that barrel is emptied, there’s no way the liquid can be recreated. The whole process behind the 1969 Anniversaire collection reminded me why I got involved in the spirits industry in the first place–to create something that will stand the test of time.”

Bottle No. 1 of the cognac’s 1969 Anniversaire limited edition specifically features a 24-karat gold foil around the neck, a 12-cut crystal diamond decanter design encased in a leather box and a signature from JAY-Z himself. It is reportedly worth $10,000 and expected to sell between $25,000 and $75,000.

Bidding for the one-of-a-kind bottle starts on March 1 at 9 a.m. ET; the winner will be notified on March 13. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Shawn Carter Foundation — which supports professional development and entrepreneurship workshops for college alumni — and leftover bottles of the collection will be sold in early May at a suggested retail price of $10,000.

The news of JAY’s charity effort comes on the heels of another alcoholic venture from the Watch the Throne star. The MONOGRAM CEO recently announced he sold 50 percent stake of his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, to LVMH.