Gold Bottles of that Ace of Spades

Gold Bottles of That Ace of Spades

That's what fresh out-of-retirement rapper Jay-Z calls the luxurious Armand de Brignac Champagne featured in Jay-Z's new "Show Me What You Got" video, the first single from the rapper's highly-anticipated Kingdom Come title, slated for release next month.

In the high-action "Show Me What You Got" video, Jay-Z races luxury cars in Monaco with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Danica Patrick before zooming around in speedboats to a private island. At the dock, Jay-Z gives a silver suitcase to a woman then enters a party, where he drops a mysterious line about Armand de Brignac, calling it "Gold Bottles of that Ace of Spades."

Later the silver briefcase reappears, and within it is the striking gold Champagne bottle.

A PR Newswire reports, however, that this is "not a case of product placement as Armand de Brignac and Jay-Z have not entered into any agreement, sponsorship or otherwise. "

The hard-to-come-by imported Armand de Brignac Champagne, described as 'an ultra-luxury product', has become Jay-Z's new signature brand after a very public split with the Cristal winery's managing director Frédéric Rouzaud, who expressed hesitation toward rappers identifying so closely with his brand of Champagne.

In the climax of the "Show Me What You Got" video Jay-Z makes a show of rejecting a bottle of Cristal and instead chooses Armand de Brignac.

Vinted from the grounds of a family estate in the tiny Chigny-les-Roses village in the French countryside, Armand de Brignac Champagne was not well known before, but Jay-Z's use of it has caused frantic searches for the bubbly in recent days.

With its gold-plated bottle, ace of spades shaped pewter label and black neck, Armand de Brignac Champagne is also known as 'Ace of Spades', 'Gold Bottle' or simply 'Ace'.

Though the Armand de Brignac Champagne is making its debut in North America this year, distributed by a Manhattan-based firm of the same name, demand for the bubbly is hot now as a result of the "Show Me What You Got" video.

But with only a limited supply of Armand de Brignac available, the exclusive Champagne is only available "in limited quantities through direct arrangements with the importer."

"We're delighted to have someone of Jay-Z's stature include Armand de Brignac in the first video for his new album," said Armand de Brignac President/CEO Brett Berish, choosing a markedly different stance from Frédéric Rouzaud.

"Jay-Z has always demonstrated the highest standards and finest taste, and we're honored to see Armand make an appearance in 'Show Me What You Got,'" Armand continued. "Armand's unmatched taste and package are a perfect fit for the video."