Cognac Hennessy, types of Hennessy. A little trip to the Hennessy factory in Cognac City

Only a few know the taste and strength of elite cognac. If many people recognize it, then it will no longer be cognac.

We all know how popular elite Hennessy cognac is, but what is hidden under its creation? What are its features and who managed to create such a coveted drink of the nobles, which is not inferior to any other cognac?

Future since 1765

The ideal taste of Hennessy cognac was brought out by the Irish officer Richard Hennessy, who served in the brigade under the French King Louis XV. Richard has always been distinguished by special courage and perseverance in military affairs. But who would have thought that it was he who would become the creator of the reference cognac, forcing the French to give up wine and give their preference to an amber drink.

Richard Hennessy managed to win the favor of the king. He distinguished himself in several important battles, but, fighting bravely in the last battle at Fortenoy, he was seriously wounded. For special services to France, Louis XV gave Richard Hennessy land in the city of Cognac. Here, in a temperate climate on the humid banks of the Charente River, the production of the future Hennessy elite cognac was started. It happened in 1765. Richard Hennessy worked on improving the taste of an aristocratic drink for 44 years. During this time, Hennessy cognac managed to visit the tables of many aristocrats in England and France.

The 19th century was Hennessy's runway to success. Cognac was supplied to the Russian Empire, Japan, India, China. More and more people learned about the unique taste of Hennessy, and in 1890 Jas Hennessy & Co became the full leader in the world market of cognac spirits.

Some interesting facts from the history of Hennessy

1. In 1818, at the request of the Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna, the Hennessy house prepared a special cognac for Tsar Alexander I. The tsar liked the gift very much, and from that time on, French cognac began to be regularly supplied to the Russian Empire.
2. The emblem on the bottle - a hand holding an ax - symbolizes 12 years of Richard Hennessy's service in the army and, as a result, getting the land on which the history of the best cognac in the whole world began.
3. In 1832, during the cholera epidemic, Hennessy cognac sold out very quickly, as English doctors strongly recommended drinking it for disinfection.
4. The international quality classification of cognac was developed by Richard's great-grandson, Maurice Hennessy: the so-called stars, which are now used all over the world.
5. Great-grandson Maurice also created a special cognac with the designation XO (extra old). This designation also became international over time.
6. In 1947, the representative of the Hennessy dynasty, Gerald de Joffre de Chambrignac, created an elegant branded bottle for Hennessy XO - a decanter with a vine.
7. Hennessy cellar master Jean Filho assisted Richard in creating the perfect cognac. They passed on their secrets of production to their descendants. The families of the two dynasties of Hennessy and Filho still keep the traditions of their ancestors, thanks to which Hennessy remains a popular elite drink.

Hennessy today

At the moment, the Hennessy brand is considered a leader in the cognac business. The company sells about 50 million bottles of fine drink per year, which is approximately 40% of the world's total cognac production.

In 2009, the company released a limited edition bottle of Hennessy VS cognac in honor of Barack Obama. The bottle had gold embossing on black glass with the inscription "In honor of the 44th President."

In 2010, at the World Competition in San Francisco, the Hennessy Cognac House received a silver medal for Hennessy Black Cognac. This drink, according to President Hennessy, will appeal to young people in a diluted form more than strong gentlemen.

Despite the fact that Hennessy cognac is, after all, a classic drink of aristocrats, he managed to acquire a younger and more fashionable image. The popular African-American rap stars Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, P. Diddy and Kanye West helped him in this.

In 2015, the company celebrated its 250th anniversary. At the celebration of the anniversary, the representative of the cognac house Hennessy & Co, Jean-Michel Cochet, said wonderful words: “The important thing is not that we are already 250 years old, but that the unique legacy of Hennessy is constantly maintained and developed.”

Today, Jas Hennessy & Co decided not only to supply amber drink to all countries of the world, but also to give an opportunity to inquisitive connoisseurs to see with their own eyes how the best French cognac is made. For this, the Hennessy Museum was created. It is located in the city of Cognac. The cognac art tour begins with a quiet ride on the riverboat along the Charente River, and then continues to the "holy of holies" - the Hennessy factory. Here you can learn more not only about the production of an elite drink, but also see a large collection of exclusive bottles and labels.

Hennessy cognac production technology

For the manufacture of an elite drink, special grapes of the Ugni Blanc variety are used, which are grown in 4 regions of Cognac: Grande Champagne, Petit Champagn, Borderie, Fins Bois. All cognac spirits are regularly tasted with attention and love by oenologists and cellar masters. Thus, ripening is controlled. Alcohol can also be "brought" to the desired taste by assembling (mixing).

Unfortunately, Jas Hennessy & Co keeps the detailed technology and specifics of its cognac preparation a secret, but its owners made it clear what exactly Hennessy's production is based on: rigor, attention and love.

The process of creating Hennessy cognac is divided into several stages:

• distillation. It all starts with her. This process is carried out in special copper distillers;
• excerpt. Alcohol is aged in oak barrels: first new, and then in old ones. Aging in new barrels makes the cognac taste spicy, while in old barrels it acquires a light shade and a refreshing taste. The Hennessy family uses only wood from the Tronsay forest to make barrels. The duration of exposure is from 60 years. And the oldest cognac is considered to be a drink, the shelf life of which is 250 years;
• mixing. Do this to create the desired quality.

For over 200 years main features of Hennessy cognac remain:

• the use of exclusive cognac spirits;
• long exposure over 60 years;
• multifaceted taste with a rich voluminous texture and various shades;
• the preservation of the special traditional technology of Hennessy, which makes the taste of cognac so special.

That is why, just like 250 years ago, all connoisseurs of refined luxurious taste and a long pleasant aftertaste wish to enjoy exquisite cognac of incomparable quality and high reputation.

Hennessy is one of the largest producers of elite alcohol. Its product line includes cognac spirits and cognacs of various aging periods, including elite and collection ones. Many connoisseurs of strong alcohol, saying "Hennessy", mean good cognac, and vice versa - anticipating a tasting of high-quality alcohol, they think of a drink from the above-named company. It would be reckless to misuse this legendary drink. After all, this would deprive yourself of the opportunity to appreciate the versatility of the bouquet and the wonderful aftertaste. If you happen to be the proud owner of a bottle of Hennessy, it won't hurt you to learn how to drink it better.

Basic rules for use

The basic rules for tasting cognac are also valid for Hennessy.

• Cognac is considered a digestif, it is customary to serve it after a meal with coffee and a cigar. The rules of etiquette do not provide for other additions, although even cognac connoisseurs will not strongly object if you offer light snacks to it, harmoniously emphasizing and shading its bouquet.
• The aroma of Hennessy will not be able to open if you taste it chilled. Cognac is served at room temperature, but after it is warmed with the palm of your hand for some time, inhaling the gradually opening bouquet.
• For cognac tasting, wide glasses are suitable, slightly tapering upwards, like a flower bud. They can be on a low leg or without it. The latter are slightly tipped to one side, as they have a rounded bottom, they are popularly called "roly-poly".
• Before you take a sip, evaluate the appearance and aroma of the drink. Slightly rotating the glass, see how long the drops linger on the walls. The longer the drips remain, the more mature the cognac. The bouquet does not hurt to inhale first from a distance of about 20 cm, then at the edge of the glass - it will reveal its different facets.
• After taking a sip, hold the drink for a while in your mouth, allowing it to slowly flow over your tongue, affecting different taste buds. Only in this way you can fully experience the extraordinary taste of the drink and its long aftertaste.

According to the rules of etiquette, it is not necessary to provide appetizers for cognac, but if you definitely want to offer something more substantial than coffee for this drink, you should focus on the taste of cognac so that the appetizer does not interfere with appreciating its noble bouquet.

What to eat "Hennessy"

Despite the fact that the traditions of drinking alcohol assign the place of a digestif for cognac, it is gradually gaining more space for itself. Increasingly, it is offered as an aperitif, and some even put it on the dining table. This trend was noticed by the Hennessy producers, and the chef of the Hennessy-owned Bagnotel castle was entrusted with creating appetizers for the best varieties of cognac produced by the company. As a result, recommendations appeared on how to snack on Hennessy so that the snack does not interfere, and sometimes even helps to appreciate the noble taste of the drink.

• Hennessy V.S.O.P. it is recommended to have a snack with fish and seafood, but with a sauce, the recipe of which includes this cognac itself. It was also noted that light notes of smoke, distinctly sounding in the aroma of the named drink, are successfully emphasized by grilled meat, dry-cured meat products and smoked meats.
• Hennessy H.O. gets along well with game, poultry meat in wine sauce. It would be a good idea to offer dried fruits, candied fruits, fresh figs to it.
• Hennessy Paradis Extra calls for tender snacks. Foie gras goes best with it. A good pair for him will be goat cheese and slightly salted salmon.
• Richard Hennessy can be served with desserts such as nuts, candied fruit, ice cream, chocolate, berry mousse.

If you did not find the variety of "Hennessy" that you are going to taste in the list above, then you can apply to it:

• olives;
• liver paste;
• seafood;
• canape with slightly salted salmon;
• lean veal;
• fruit salad with whipped cream;
• ice cream;
• nuts and dried fruits.

It is not customary to dilute and mix elite varieties of cognac with other drinks, but ordinary varieties of Hennessy may well become part of alcoholic cocktails. The most successful recipes are offered by the manufacturers themselves.

Hennessy Honey Cocktail

• "Hennessy" - 8 ml;
• water - 8 ml;
• honey - 1 ml;
• lemon - 1 slice.

Cooking method:

• Boil water, cool to about 60 degrees, pour into a cognac glass.
• Add Hennessy, stir.
• Add honey, stir the cocktail again with a bar spoon.

It remains to decorate the glass with a slice of lemon, and the warming cognac cocktail is ready to drink.

Cocktail Hennessy Winter's Spirit

• "Hennessy" - 8 ml;
• hot water - 8 ml;
• lemon - 4 slices;
• ginger - 2 slices;
• sugar syrup - 1 ml;
• orange peel spiral - 1 pc.

Cooking method:

• Place slices of lemon and ginger at the bottom of a cognac glass.
• In a separate container, mix cognac, hot water and syrup.
• Pour into glass with lemon and ginger.
• Decorate the glass with an orange twist.

Despite the fact that traditionally lemon is not considered the best pair for cognac, this version of the winter cocktail was proposed by the Hennessy producers themselves.

What only options for the name of this drink are not found in the media! This is Henessy (Henessy), and Hennessy (Nennesy), and even “ cognac Henosy" (yes, there are such pearls!). In fact, this divine cognac has the only true name - Hennessy ( Hennessy), so the version of " Henosi" should be forgotten once and for all.

Cognac Hennessy is produced in the south-west of France, in the area of ​​the famous city of Cognac. Henessy is an old cognac house founded in 1765 by officer Richard Hennessy. Cognac, produced for the first time in this farm, instantly won international recognition and continues its victorious march around the world to this day. Henessy is cognac, which will remain the reference male drink for a long time to come.

From spirits under the Hennessy brand, you can collect a whole collection, since there are several varieties of this cognac.
Hennessy VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is a brandy that was first created back in 1917 for the future King of England, George IV. By his order, a light amber drink was created with the aroma of wood, cinnamon and spices. More than 60 types of cognac spirits are involved in the Hennessy V S O P assemblage, which are aged in an oak barrel for 6-12 years, lose some of the tannins, but acquire a special velvety taste. It seems that Hennessy VSOP just melts in your mouth, leaving an incredibly pleasant aftertaste with a hint of nuts and fruits.
Hennessy V S ("Very Special") is an exact copy of the very first cognac, released back in the 18th century. The composition of Hennessy VS includes about 40 types of live cognac spirits, which are aged 3-7 years in oak barrels. Aging gives this cognac a subtle aroma of dry wood and a slight vanilla flavor that lingers on the tongue.
Henessy XO ("Extra Old") is a rare drink created at the end of the 19th century. Extra Old, "very old", X O Hennessy is made from hundreds of varieties of grape spirit, aged 20-30 years. Hennessy XO is a harmonious combination of taste and aroma, an elite cognac in an elite package - a unique bottle with a grapevine. Hennessy XO is no longer just an alcoholic drink, it is a brand that gave its name to a whole class of elite alcoholic beverages.

Many, of course, are interested in Henessy price, and in particular Henessy XO price. Elite alcohol from raw materials of the highest quality, produced under the strictest control using a unique technology, cannot be cheap by definition. Having tried the real Hennessy, its price will not seem high to you, because this money can be given for moments of real pleasure. Hennessy, the price of which is far from the average value on the alcohol market, is likely to be a fake. Unfortunately, such cases occur - many try to fake Cognac Hennessy to nestle in his worldwide glory. Hennessy - cognac, price which only increases every year, so it can be considered a profitable instrument for investing assets.

If you have firmly decided: “I will buy Hennessy!”, Then we congratulate you on the right decision. Having tried it once, you will understand why Hennessy (Hennessy) is chosen over and over again by millions of wealthy people in the world. You can also buy Hennessy in a boutique of elite alcohol, of which there are plenty in the capital now. However, our organization presents you the opportunity to buy Hennessy in a simple and convenient way - by making a purchase in our store. This quick way will give you even more pleasure from the process of buying and tasting Henessy cognac!

Hennessy - price in WineStyle

The cost of 0.7 liters of Hennessy Very Special cognac in a gift box in WineStyle stores starts from 2240 rubles. Cognac of the VSOP category is more expensive due to longer exposure: the price of a bottle of the same volume starts from 4560 rubles.

Hennessy - cognac that conquered the whole world. Don't miss the opportunity to discover the world's finest Hennessy cognac.

Hennessy is the most famous and popular brand of French cognac (brandy). It is part of the Louis Vuitton - Moët Hennessy holding, a French multinational company, the largest manufacturer of luxury goods. It was the Hennessy trading house that gave the world the classification of cognacs with the letters VS, VSOP, XO, etc., and it was the representatives of the Hennessy house that suggested designating cognac aging with asterisks.

The main line of cognacs includes:

• Hennessy VS (Very Special) - created in 1865 by Maurice Hennessy (great-grandson of the founder of the house, Richard Hennessy), a blend of the highest quality spirits. The first to be designated with three stars. The composition includes more than four dozen cognac spirits aged from 2 to 7 years.
• Hennessy VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is a drink created in 1817 by order of King George IV of England, who asked to create "a very superior old pale eau-de-vie". The composition of Hennessy VSOP cognac includes more than 60 dozen different spirits aged from 6 to 12 years. Received a four star rating.
• Hennessy XO - created by Maurice Hennessy for his friends, "eXtra Old" class, which includes more than one hundred cognac spirits aged for at least 20 years. Especially for this cognac in 1947 a bottle with a grapevine ornament was created.
• Hennessy Paradis is a cognac created in 1979 by Maris Fiyu (blend master) from spirits that were selected by his grandfather. The composition of the drink includes more than 100 cognac spirits aged from 15 to 100 years.
• Hennessy Richard is an ensemble created in 1996 and named after Richard Hennessy.

Collector's editions and Hennessy cognacs:

Price and cost of Hennessy cognacs

The indicated price is valid for 0.7 liter bottles.

• Hennessy VS (Very Special) - about 2-2.5 thousand rubles;
• Hennessy VSOP - about 4-5 thousand rubles;
• Hennessy XO - about 14-15 thousand rubles;
• Hennessy Paradis - about 50-55 thousand rubles;
• Hennessy Richard - about 250 thousand rubles.
• Hennessy Library - about 15 thousand rubles;
• Hennessy Ellipse - the cost is about half a million rubles.
• Hennessy Mathusalem - about 32 thousand dollars. Price in Russia could not be found
• Hennessy 888 - about 8 thousand rubles;
• Hennessy 44 Limited Edition - about 10-12 thousand rubles

How to distinguish a fake Hennessy?

If you have ever held real Hennessy cognac in your hands, then it is not difficult to distinguish a fake Hennessy. So, how to distinguish a fake from a real Hennessy cognac?

• In the center of the bottle there should be an image of a halberd;
• The wedge-shaped recognizable bottle of Hennessy with a volume of 0.5 is not for sale;
• Hennessy cognac always has a mahogany cinnamon color. If the drink looks like tea, it is a fake Hennessy, not real cognac.
• The original Hennessy bottle has a paper ring around the neck above the main label.
• There should be no Cyrillic alphabet on the bottom of the bottle (for example, "0.5 l");
• Under the main label on the bottle there should be three-dimensional glass letters;
• The label that closes the cork must be of very high quality;

History of Hennessy cognac

Richard Hennessy founded the company in 1765 after moving from Ireland to France. He used his knowledge in the field of whiskey making, and decided to make cognac using a similar technology. In the 1790s, 40% of all cognac in France, which was exported, was Hennessy cognac.

Hennessy cognac gained quite high popularity during the cholera epidemic in England, in the 30s of the 19th century. Doctors recommended Hennessy cognac as a disinfectant, so the demand for the drink was very high. Since 1818, Hennessy cognac began to be supplied in Russia, to the imperial table.

In 1971, the cognac house of Hennessy Hennessy merged with the manufacturer of champagnes and wines "Moet & Chandon", and after another 17 years there was a merger with the house of Louis Vuitton.