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Bottle of Hennessy X.O

Maison fondée en 1765 · Cognac, France

Hennessy. Time, bottled.

Since 1765, each generation has aged its cognac for the next.

Cognac being poured over ice into a crystal rocks glass as you scroll.

The pour

  1. 01 · The glass

    Ice first

    Four clear cubes in a heavy rocks glass, cold before the cognac touches it.

  2. 02 · The pour

    Slow, and down the centre

    A steady stream lands between the cubes and lifts them as the level rises.

  3. 03 · The measure

    Stop at fifty

    Enough to open up over the ice without drowning it.

  4. 04 · Rest

    Let it settle

    A minute on the rocks, and the oak gives way to fruit and spice.

Never stop.Never settle.

The Collection

Heritage

Maison since 1765

  1. Cellar workers rolling casks through a vaulted stone chai

    1765

    An Irish officer in Cognac

    Richard Hennessy settles on the banks of the Charente and begins shipping eaux-de-vie to Ireland and England.

  2. An old, gnarled vine heavy with grapes

    1806

    A line of blenders

    James Hennessy chooses Jean Fillioux as Master Blender, the start of a family line now in its eighth generation.

  3. A bottle of V.S.O.P on a bar, toned like an old print

    1817

    A royal request

    The Prince Regent, the future King George IV, asks for a 'Very Superior Old Pale': the first V.S.O.P.

  4. Three bottles of Hennessy in raking light, toned like an old print

    1865

    Written in stars

    Maurice Hennessy grades the Maison's cognacs with stars, a system the whole region used until the 1960s.

  5. Hennessy X.O in its case, toned like an old print

    1870

    The first Extra Old

    Maurice Hennessy creates X.O for his family and friends, blended by Master Blender Émile Fillioux.

  6. Copper still hoods against a dark ceiling

    2026

    Still blending

    The tasting committee still meets every weekday at eleven, sampling dozens of eaux-de-vie before noon.

The craft

From vine to glass

  1. 01 · Four crus

    The vineyard

    Ugni Blanc grapes from four crus: Grande and Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois. Chalky soils, Atlantic light.

    Ripe dark grapes on the vine, backlit by low sun

  2. 02 · Double distilled

    Distillation

    Twice through copper Charentais stills, from October to March, keeping only the heart of the second run.

    An old copper alembic still beside clay vessels

  3. 03 · Limousin oak

    Oak-cask ageing

    Years in casks of French oak from the Limousin forests. The wood gives colour, tannin, patience.

    Close-up of an oak cask with iron hoops

  4. 04 · Weekdays at 11

    Blending

    The tasting committee assembles dozens of eaux-de-vie into one consistent voice.

    A blender raises a tulip glass of cognac to the light in a cask cellar

The serve

Three ways to pour

On the rocks: cognac served in a rocks glass

Rocks glass

On the rocks

The simplest serve, and the most honest.

  • 50 ml Hennessy V.S.O.P
  • Three large ice cubes
  • Orange twist (optional)

Pour over ice. Wait thirty seconds. Let the cold open the oak.

Highball: cognac served in a highball

Highball

Highball

Long, bright and cold. A late-afternoon serve.

  • 50 ml Hennessy V.S
  • 150 ml ginger ale
  • Lime wedge
  • Ice

Build over ice in a tall glass. Top with ginger ale, squeeze the lime, stir once.

Sidecar: cognac served in a coupe

Coupe

Sidecar

First printed in 1922 and made for cognac.

  • 50 ml Hennessy V.S.O.P
  • 20 ml triple sec
  • 20 ml fresh lemon juice
  • Sugared rim

Shake hard with ice. Double-strain into a chilled, sugar-rimmed coupe.

Measures are a guide. Enjoy responsibly.

After dark

Moments around the bottle — gathered, not staged.

Hennessy Paradis carried on a silver tray by a waiter in a white jacket
Hennessy V.S, V.S.O.P and X.O bottles in hard afternoon sunlight
A bottle of Hennessy V.S.O.P on a bar, a glass of cognac in a hand behind it
Hennessy X.O resting in its open gift box
Hennessy Paradis decanter in its presentation case
Hennessy V.S beside a snifter of cognac against a deep red backdrop
Hennessy X.X.O on a marble bar beside a crystal tumbler, bottles glowing behind
Bottles of Hennessy Pure White glowing amber in close-up
Hennessy V.S × LeBron James bottle and gift box against a graffiti wall
Richard Hennessy decanter in its open black presentation box
Hennessy X.O lying in its gold-lined gift box
Hennessy Paradis decanter seen from above in its case
00Maison Hennessy · 1765