Hennessy

Hennessy is a symbol of quality cognac that sets an example for all current and future cognac producers.

The story of Hennessy begins in Ireland in 1724 when Richard Hennessy was born to a prominent family and later decided to go serve in the French Army. After his career in the army, he decided to settle on the banks of the River Charente, a region famous for its cognac production, and founded his own cognac house in 1765. Richard Hennessy also sent a few bottles of cognac to his friends in Ireland.

His friends and family back in Ireland were impressed by the quality of the cognac. That was one of the reasons why Hennessy decided to take his cognac business seriously. This was not unusual in the 18th century Cognac region as many people were starting their own cognac business, including Jean Martell. They families of Hennessy and Martell both established high-quality premium cognacs, sometimes working as allies, sometimes as rivals, and some marriages were even entered into between the members of the two families.

James Hennessy named Jean Fillioux as his Master Blender in 1802. The ties between the two families are still strong, as all the master blenders still come from the Fillioux family. Hennessy is the only cognac producer whose cognacs have maintained their high quality thanks to more than 200 years of cooperation with the master blenders from one family. This is unique in the cognac world, and that is the key to the quality of Hennessy.

By 1830, their products had become so popular that instead of selling it in anonymous barrels, Maurice Hennessy, great-grandson of founder Richard Hennessy, decided to start bottling them under his own name. In 1865, Maurice Hennessy created the star-based cognac classification system, using stars to denote the age and quality of the product. Currently, the youngest blends are marked with V.S. and somewhat older blends with V.S.O.P. The X.O classification was created by Maurice Hennessy in 1870.

Hennessy X.O has become the symbol of cognac. The first X.O was blended using very old eaux-de-vie from the company’s cellars and bottled exclusively for friends and family. In 1947, a direct descendant of Richard Hennessy created the iconic carafe inspired bottle engraved with vine leaves. Hennessy X.O is a blend of more than 100 eaux-de-vie, some of which originate from the turn of the 19th century.

Hennessy uses a unique double distillation method to produce their delectable and elegant eaux-de-vie for cognac. Hennessy exclusively selects the best grapes from the Grand Cru regions of the AOC: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois. As the winegrower, distiller, owner of oak forests, and manufacturer of barrels, Hennessy is able to control the entire production process and develop it in the desired direction.

Hennessy possesses the largest reserves of cognac eaux-de-vie in the world, which have matured for at least two years in oak barrels made of wood from the Limousin forests in Central France. The oak used for barrels must be at least 100 years old. They have ample cellar space where they can store more than 300,000 barrels. One barrel holds 350 litres.

In 1971, Hennessy merged with Moët et Chandon, which created Moët Hennessy. Sixteen years later they merged with Louis Vuitton, creating the luxury brand conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët-Hennessy or LVMH.
Since 2018, visitors have been allowed to take a look behind the scenes at the historic Maison Hennessy. Cognac tours are organised according to seasons and the production process of eaux-de-vie.

In addition to the fabulous commercial success of the brand, Hennessy cognac is an ambassador for French art de vivre the world over.

WHY HENNESSY?

Guaranteed quality
For over two centuries, the master blenders from the Fillioux family have blended the cognacs of Hennessy. The passion of the two families for cognac ensures the highest quality.

100% in charge
As the winegrower, distiller, owner of oak forests, and manufacturer of barrels, Hennessy is able to control the entire production process.

Ingenious
During the US Prohibition era (1920–1933), Hennessy cognac could be bought with a doctor’s prescription from a pharmacy.

Popular in popular culture
The word ‘Hennessy’ or ‘cognac’ can be heard in more than a thousand songs, including ones by rappers Kanye West, Rick Ross, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent. In Estonia, Hennessy supported 1996-2020 the New Year’s concert of Eesti Kontsert.

Art
Over the years, Hennessy has collaborated with a number of talented artists all over the world to design a striking limited-edition, ‘Very Special’ series bottle label and box. Every year they release a new limited-edition artist collaborated bottle.