XO Hennessy Cognac is Created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy, the XO was originally reserved for the private use of the Hennessy family and their closest friends. XO, or Extra Old, refers to particularly rare eaux -de-vie used to create this aged cognac. The final product has a velvety texture, dried fruit flavors, dense notes of chocolate, black pepper, light spice and a lingering finish.

Hennessy is the largest Cognac producer in the world, and was founded by Richard Hennessy in 1765. A highly regarded brand the world over, the range stretches from VS to XO and beyond, with the prestige cuvée Richard Hennessy being truly exceptional.

A Brief History Of Hennessy In 2021

Born in 1765 at the hands of an Irish military man named Richard Hennessy, the Hennessy brand name has managed to stay quite relevant for over 250 years. Purchased over time by other high-end brands like Moet et Chandon, Louis Vuitton, and even having connections with Christian Dior, Hennessy stays fixed in the lap of luxury.

Geography

Country	France
Area	Cognac

Classification

Department	Liquor
Type	Brandy
Varietal	Cognac

General

Size	750ML
Proof	80.00
ReviewerRating	85 – 89 pts

XO Hennessy Cognac, Since its founding in 1765, Hennessy has been guided by a passion to craft the world’s finest Cognacs – our drive to Never stop. Never settle. Composed of 7 members including the Master Blender, the Committee tastes, rates and selects the eaux-de-vie that will eventually be blended into Hennessy Cognacs.

The oak used to make our barrels comes exclusively from the Limousin forest in France, which provides the correct maturation for our Cognac. Hennessy’s eaux-de-vie differ from one year to the next due to weather patterns.

Nevertheless, the Master Blender, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde is charged with faithfully repeating the unique taste of Hennessy Cognacs year after year, uncompromising on quality.

XO Hennessy Cognac is crafted with a strict set of standards defined by the Master Blender and handed down from generation to generation. However, when it comes to enjoying Cognac, we haven’t followed any rules since 1765.

You may think, that with Hennessy’s ability to innovate and push boundaries, they are a thoroughly ‘modern’ Cognac brand. This is a large part of their immense success and influence.

The very French brand based in the Charente region, in fact, dates all the way back to 1765 – to Ireland – but have managed to shapeshift enough times to remain more relevant than ever before – with current Master Blender Renaud Fillioux.

Their range of uber-trendy products is ever expanding, and their marketing campaigns all the more captivating. There is no doubt that ‘Henny’ culture is alive and kicking: both Cognac and a fifth of Hennessy are mentioned in what seems like hundreds of songs.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: The first wave, rich in dried-fruit aromas such as prunes and dried figs overcomes you. The aromas evolve to more dense notes of chocolate and black pepper, mellowed by cinnamon, clove and cardamom.

TASTE: Very balanced on the palate, XO confirms the aromas discovered by scent: dried fruit and chocolate. Elegant and robust, it reveals balance, roundness and harmony among aromas underlined by the strength of peppery notes and vegetable fragrances from the oak.

FINISH: A lovely long after Taste is enrobed in velvet, conferring the last sweet notes of cinnamon and vanilla.

Blended with over 100 eaux-de-vie from a recipe dating back to 1870, Hennessy X.O. Cognac is the Cadillac of the cognac world. The X.O. namesake stands for extra old due to the extensive aging process, which lasts up to 30 years.

FAQ

1. What does XO mean in Hennessy?

Extra Old

Tesseron Trésor Cognac

So what does XO mean for Cognac? The terminology stands for ‘Extra Old‘ and describes a cognac consisting of eaux-de-vie that have been aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years.

2. Is Hennessy XO a whiskey?

Contrary to popular belief, Hennessy is categorically not a whiskey. The Hennessy XO was selected as the most popular brandy of the year by our editorial team. It’s a bold cognac that demands attention and boasts a rich, fruity palate full of prunes, raisins and sticky toffee pudding.

3. Why is Hennessy Cognac so expensive?

Why is Hennessy so expensive? Cognac is typically more expensive than other spirits. The main reason is that the distillation process itself is more expensive. The spirits base ingredient is grapes, rather than grains, and distilling wine from juice is also an expensive process.

A Brief History Of Hennessy In 2021

Geography

Classification

General

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XO Hennessy Cognac (W16)