Hennessy is one of the biggest names in Cognac, being the largest producer of the legendary French spirit. However, the story of Hennessy doesn’t begin in France - it begins in Ireland. Richard Hennessy set out from Killavullen, County Cork, to France in 1724 to serve as part of the French Army under Louis XV. After many years in the French Army, Richard Hennessy settled in the Cognac region, and eventually founded his own distillery in 1765. Y’know, as you do. The Hennessy name would grow as the popularity of Cognac did - before the 18th century was through, boxes of Hennessy Cognac were arriving in the United States, and by 1859 Hennessy had made its way to Russia and China.
The esteemed House of Hennessy has been the forerunner for many classifications of Cognac that would spread throughout the whole industry. This includes the introduction of the VSOP and XO classifications, as well as the star-based system (though this has since fallen out of fashion). In 1971, Hennessy merged with Moët et Chandon, creating the Moët-Hennessy group. A second merger in 1987 with Louis Vuitton bore today’s luxury super-brand – Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy. Hennessy cognac is now a symbol of luxury and is often cited in modern culture, particularly in hip-hop. However, as Hennessey is a brand that is many people’s first introduction to Cognac, there are some who confuse the grape-based spirit with whisky. Rest assured, Hennessy whisky is absolutely not a thing... Hennessy brandy is though because Cognac is a type of brandy.
Long has Maison Hennessy stood on the banks of the Charente river in France, with arm and hatchet standing as its coat of arms, referring to Richard Hennessy’s history with the French Army. To make their Cognac, they select eaux-de-vie from only four of the region’s crus - Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois. Their cellars for maturing the Cognac are rather extensive indeed, with over 300,000 casks slumbering in those hallowed halls. Not only are the cellars deep, they also hold some of the oldest Cognac around, stretching as far back as 1800!