The Hennessy museum is a must if you are in the region. It has been entirely refurbished to give visitors one of the most cutting edge insights into the world of Cognac - particularly if you're wondering where Hennessy is made. A visit begins with a scenic boat trip across the River Charente, before going on to discover the various stages in Cognac production - you will see the genesis of the process from the grape, to distillation, to maturing for decades in oak casks.

Under his leadership, the company expanded rapidly with a range of products and was passed on to the next generation within the family, until in 1971 Kilian Hennessy created the group Moet Hennessy in a merger with the Champagne producer Moet et Chandon.Hennessy invented the XO Cognac category in 1870 - characterized by its sinuous decanter that has been reimagined on countless occasions. They have since gone on to invent the XXO Cognac - challenging industry standards and yet remaining staunchly in touch with savoir-faire carefully assembled throughout the ages. To celebrate the 2019 Chinese New Year, the number one Cognac brand joined forces with Guangyu Zhang, a Chinese artist, to reinterpret the Hennessy XO decanter and design. Upon her first visit to the Château de Bagnolet, the Maison's historic seat in Cognac, France, one of the first things Faith XLVII sensed was the luxury of time that goes into crafting Hennessy Blends. In her eyes, the complex process of selecting eaux-de-vie - a process that relies on centuries of savoir-faire - offered a soothing antidote to the high-speed digital age. Celebrities like Kanye West may drink it straight from the bottle, but we recommend trying Hennessy VS on its own in a tulip glass, or over ice. House of Hennessy ambassador Marc Boissonet recommends keeping it simple by adding bubbles: “A nice burgundy glass with a solid ice cube and a dash of sparkling water… that’s a way to enjoy it.”

The French brand was founded in 1765 by Richard Hennessy. After his death, his son James continued the family business and turned it into a well-functioning Cognac house. It was actually him who created the brand Hennessy in the first place and called the company Jas Hennessy & Co.; the name it carries to date. Today, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde is the head cellar master at Hennessy; he continues to represent this family tradition. He took over from Yann Fillioux in 2018. While they do not own their own vines like other producers, Hennessy’s centuries of savoir-faire means that their eighth-generation Master Blender, Renaud Fillioux, is an industry expert. He knows exactly which of the thousands of eaux-de-vie to select from the vast Hennessy ‘Paradise’ cellar.

Hennessy’s fanciness dates back further than you think.

Later on, in 1987, this group further merged with the luxury clothing brand Louis Vuitton, creating the largest luxury product conglomerate in the world: LVMH. Kilian Hennessy was part of the advisory board of the company until his recent death in 2010 (at the age of 103 years!).

IN 2020, THE CELEBRATED ARTIST FAITH XLVII EXPLORES THE ALCHEMY OF THE ARTISTIC PROCESS IN A UNIQUE GLOBAL ART COLLABORATION FOR THE HENNESSY VERY SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION My roots run deep," the artist explains. "What I learn when I create is the cumulative result of an entire life experience." For her, this 10th anniversary collaboration with Hennessy is part of a fresh new cycle of creation that begins with Hennessy Very Special. It also opens a fresh chapter. Collaborating with Hennessy "dovetails perfectly with things I am always thinking about: the cycles of nature, the phases of the moon, the seasons and circle-like cyclical time- and just how all of these things make us alive." In 2014, Hennessy unveiled a limited edition bottle collection designed by street artist and social activist Shepard Fairey. Having previously worked with many renowned artists, including KAWS, Futura, and Os Gemeos, the collaboration with Fairey — best known for his iconic Obama ‘Hope’ poster — seemed more than fitting. For his bottle design, the contemporary American artist incorporated elements of the brand’s legacy with his signature iconography style and striking color palette.Hennessy V.S: The flagship of the brand, this is the modern rendition of the famous Hennessy 3-Star Cognac. It is a blend of approximately 40 aged eau-de-vie. The nose includes brown sugar, roasted almonds, and a subtle hint of fruit. It has a rich, almost creamy vanilla taste and a fresh, floral-like finish. V.S can be a little harsh and has a bit of spice, though it's a nice, affordable introduction to French brandy. The rarest products are Cognac Ellipse, the Cognac Richard and of course the “Beauté du Siecle”, a particular blend of reserves designed by the artist Jean-Marie Othoniel in an edition of 100, which is worth 180.000 Euros on the market today. A History of Jas Hennessy & Co Every tiny detail of Hennessy’s Cognac production is deliberate; the location of their cellars (or chais in French) on the banks of the River Charente has been chosen to provide a humid environment, with a relative moisture level of at least 90% to accelerate the angel’s share of alcohol vapors and create a more mellow spirit.