BRAND HISTORY
1765
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1765
1765
THE HENNESSY COGNAC DISTILLERY
WAS FOUNDED BY RICHARD HENNESSY,
AN IRISH OFFICER SERVING IN
THE ARMY OF LOUIS XV
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1794
1794
FIRST DELIVERIES OF HENNESSY
COGNAC TO AMERICA
Hennessy cognac starts to become more and more popular in the United States, a country that had gained its independence just 18 years before.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1817
1817
CREATION OF V.S.O.P
The Prince of Wales, later King George IV of Great Britain, was a great connoisseur of cognac. He asked Hennessy to create a "very superior old pale cognac".
Since then the initials V.S.O.P – Very Superior Old Pale – have been used as a benchmark for the entire industry.
Since then the initials V.S.O.P – Very Superior Old Pale – have been used as a benchmark for the entire industry.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1818
1818
FIRST DELIVERIES OF HENNESSY
COGNAC TO RUSSIA
Empress Maria Federovna asked Maison Hennessy to produce the most exceptional cognac as a birthday present for her son Czar Alexander I. After that, the imperial family regularly ordered Hennessy cognac.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1856
1856
HENNESSY FAMILY COAT OF ARMS,
THE BRAS ARMÉE,
BECOMES THE BRAND SYMBOL
The iconic fist clutching a hatchet refers to founder Richard Hennessy's 12-year army career with the French, earning him French citizenship.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1865
1865
CREATION OF A STAR BASED CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM FOR COGNAC QUALITIES
Maurice Hennessy, great-grandson of founder Richard Hennessy, decided to create a cognac classification. He used varying numbers of stars to designate different quality, giving rise to Hennessy's Three Star Cognac, today known as V.S (Very Special). Soon this classification was adopted by the entire industry.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1870
1870
MAURICE HENNESSY CREATES X.O
THE ORIGINAL
Maurice Hennessy created the X.O (eXtra Old) classification of cognac. Originally for family and friends, it is today a worldwide reference for cognacs.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1947
1947
CREATION OF THE X.O CARAFE
Gerald de Geoffre de Chabrignac, Richard Hennessy's nephew,
created the now distinctive X.O flacon design.
created the now distinctive X.O flacon design.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1979
1979
CREATION OF HENNESSY PARADIS
Master Blender Maurice Fillioux created Hennessy Paradis – a completely unique cognac that blends more than a hundred exceptional eaux-de-vie.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
1996
1996
CREATION OF RICHARD HENNESSY
Master Blender Yann Fillioux created Richard Hennessy, a cognac that approaches perfection. Made especially for true connoisseurs, this masterpiece cognac embodies 250 years of savoir faire and history and is bottled in numbered, hand-blown crystal carafes.
THE STORY OF HENNESSY
2011
2011
CREATION OF PARADIS IMPERIAL
Inspired by the cognac Hennessy created for Czar Alexander I in 1818, Master Blender Yann Fillioux created Paradis Imperial. This cognac features a large proportion of eaux-de-vie from the Maison's 19th century reserve, creating a cognac of exceptional elegance, finesse and stature.
