Cognac Hennessy XO Cognac 40%

Description

Hennessy XO Cognac is considered, by many, to be the finest XO Cognac. It is certainly the first XO Cognac, the first Cognac to be designated as “Extra Old”, and was originally created by Maurice Hennessy for the enjoyment of the Hennessy family

In 1765, Irish aristocrat Richard Hennessy, who had been serving in the French forces, founded an eaux-de-vie trading business in Cognac. Under his son James, the company expanded rapidly and the name Hennessy has been interlinked with the history of cognac ever since. Today, Hennessy is the uncontested leader in cognac, selling 50 million bottles a year around the world. Their VS, VSOP, Privilège, XO, Paradis and Richard Hennessy are the pillars in a range of products that are both benchmarks of excellence in the world of cognacs and icons of refinement and luxury. This success is far from simply fortuitous, reflecting an unyielding focus on quality. What is more, the talents of seven generations of cellarmasters from the Fillioux family have enabled Hennessy to constitute the most remarkable reserves of rare eaux-de-vie in the world.

Hennessy XO is crafted with meticulous care, starting with grapes from the Cognac region of France, particularly the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois crus. The Ugni Blanc grape, known for its high acidity and low alcohol content, is gently pressed to extract the juice. This juice undergoes a natural fermentation process over 2–3 weeks, transforming it into a light wine with an alcohol content of 7–9%.

The wine is then distilled twice in traditional copper pot stills, producing a clear and aromatic eau-de-vie with an alcohol content of 70%. Only the finest portion of the distillate, known as the heart, is retained for ageing. The ageing process takes place in French oak barrels, primarily sourced from the Limousin forests, where the eaux-de-vie mature for at least 10 years. Some even develop for decades, gaining rich flavours and a velvety character.

To create Hennessy XO, the Cellar Master skillfully blends over one hundred cognacs from Grande and Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois, these come from Hennessy’s cellars, the world’s largest reserve of aged Eaux-de-vie. They range in age from 10 to 70 years old, with an average age of 45 years old. The bottle is a flagship of the Grande Maison de Hennessy – and its decanter was designed in 1947.