Mr Fogg’s announced that Londoner, Jessica Last has been chosen by explorer Levison Wood to take up the job of a lifetime to travel Around the World in 80 Days, following a route inspired by Jules Verne’s fictional explorer, Phileas Fogg in his sensational Victorian novel, in celebration of the launch of their new bar, Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration.
The successful applicant set to take on the epic adventure has been chosen by famed explorer Levison Wood due to her ‘genuine passion for travel’. Jessica Last and her travel companion Charlie Wild, who together run the blog, The Travel Project, fulfilled and exceeded all of the job’s criteria and were chosen out of 10,000 applicants. CV’s were submitted from a wide range of individuals between the ages of 21 and 69 from across the globe, and from countries including New Zealand, USA, Argentina, Croatia and Bermuda. Standout applications, received via post, email and even a telegram, included videos set in the Victorian era, images of tattoos showing their love for gin (with one person even having inked the Bombay Sapphire logo onto them), and a few very heartfelt stories. The initiative even saw Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds offering himself up for the job via Twitter.
The chosen explorers have been charged with documenting their modern take on Mr Fogg’s original journey by writing in their bespoke Aspinal of London journal, posting across their social media channels and writing a blog about their travels. Both explorers will be collecting botanicals and inspiration along the way, in order to create their very own Bombay Sapphire ‘Around the World Cocktail’ upon their return to London, which will be made with ingredients from every corner of the globe. Their path will lead them to the newly opened Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration, a stone’s throw from Charing Cross Station, where the returning pair will be the first to try their own cocktail creation, which they will also be able to enjoy on the house on every visit they make to the eclectic cocktail bar.
Announced 146 years after Mr Fogg’s departure from Charing Cross Station on his epic journey with his trusty valet Passepartout, the Mr Fogg’s team has joined forces with Bombay Sapphire to send the two on this journey most people only dream of. From Mumbai to Hong Kong, Tokyo to San Francisco, New York to London, Jessica and Charlie have been hired as Global Ambassadors as they race against the clock and around the world, ensuring they make it back in 80 days, using as many methods of transport as possible.
Levison Wood, who chose Jessica out of 10,000 applicants noted, ‘From the moment I read Jessica’s application I was really struck by how genuinely passionate she was about travel, and her. Her Instagram was also beautifully shot. I wish her lots of luck on her around the world adventure!’
The successful applicant, Jessica Last: ‘Needless to say, getting the chance to follow in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It has been almost 150 years since the book was first published, so we are incredibly excited to embark on our journey and see how we can add a modern twist to this famous adventure.’