Hennessy

Hennessy was founded in 1765 in Cognac, France, by Richard Hennessy, an Irishman who had served as an officer in the army of Louis XV. Eight generations of the Fillioux family have overseen the ageing and blending, beginning with Jean Fillioux, named the first Hennessy Master Blender in 1806; Renaud Fillioux de Gironde is the eighth-generation Master Blender, following his uncle Yann Fillioux. The house is owned by LVMH.

Hennessy is made from Ugni Blanc grapes grown in the Cognac appellation, a late-maturing varietal whose high acidity and low alcohol content suit distillation. Double distillation in traditional Charentais copper stills yields a raw distillate called brouillis, and the second run, the bonne chauffe, keeps only the heart. It takes roughly 12kg of grapes to obtain 1 litre of eau-de-vie. The reserve holds over 350,000 barrels stored in 65 cellars, and the Tasting Committee has met every day at 11am for two centuries to select or reject each eau-de-vie.

Hennessy V.S.O.P can be savoured neat, on ice, on the rocks or in long drinks and cocktails. Hennessy X.O is served with ice three ways: on three rocks, on a rock, or over ice. Hennessy V.S suits cocktails, from classic recipes to easy mixed drinks.