Given its name, one could assume that this blend features many old, prized Eaux-de-vie amongst its ingredients. It would appear that the more finesse and consideration a cognac requires, the higher its price may be. With that, let’s look at the older, wiser, more expensive (about two grand more expensive, that is) brother to Paradis: Paradis Imperial. Hennessy Paradis Imperial

While other spirits can be made with inexpensive products like wheat, barley, or other cheap grains and products, cognac requires the premium ingredient of grapes grown in a very specific place. In addition, cognac features blends of multiple types of fermented product varying in age. Simply put, cognac is expensive because it is made from expensive things.Read our blog post about the rare versions of the Hennessy Paradis Cognacs around the globe, such as this bottle that was found in Nice, France and is now located in Norway. The Paradis Cognac has been reinvented on a number of occasions. In 1979, Cognac master Maurice Fillioux assembled a symphony of flavors from his grandfather’s collection in the 19th century to create the Hennessy Paradis Extra. It arrives in a full bodied 70cl decanter which has become synonymous with the Hennessy Paradis line of Cognacs. There is the Hennessy Paradis Impérial, which is best known for its stunning crystal decanter designed by Stephanie Balini. The selection of eaux-de-vie was curated by the seventh Cognac Master, Yann Fillioux for the 2011 release. There is also the Hennessy Paradis Horus, released in 2012. This decanter oozes decadence; designed by Italian Ferruccio Laviani, it is in the shape of a golden flame and is gilded with a gold plate of 18 carats. How to serve Hennessy Paradis Its superb display of coppery gold colours is an indication of the many years it has spent ageing in old casks. On the palate, a graceful, silky texture runs all the way through to a flavourful and deep, persistent finish. Cognac ingredients like honey, dried flowers, truffles and soft spices come to the fore in a melting pot of flavours. Delicate notes of cinnamon, cardamom and preserved fruits give way to perfumes of dried rose petals and sweet briar jam. Cognac will spend time aging in Limousin or Tronçais oak casks and the finished product must be 40% ABV. Brandy, like many spirits are clear after distillation. Color leaches out of the oak barrels during the resting or aging period giving the beverage a beautiful amber brown hue. Cognacs are Expensive…For a Reason

In addition to expensive base ingredients, cognac is finding another reason to have a higher average price point than other spirits. It is the old rule of supply and demand. If demand outweighs supply, then the supplier can charge more for its product. Hennessy prices tend to be higher because of this. Created by Maurice Fillioux in 1979, the cognac Hennessy Paradis is known for its voluptuous and harmonious aroma.

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Many will call Hennessy a brandy; however, it is technically a cognac. Brandies, generally speaking, are any distilled spirit made from fermented fruit. Cognac is a type of brandy made from grapes or wine. Made in a region called Cognac, France, Hennessy is officially a cognac. By rule, cognac must be double distilled utilizing a copper pot still. Cognac is often a blend of multiple Eaux-de-vie (literally meaning water of life but referring to the distilled wine product with very fruity flavors). Paradis Impérial is an incredibly nuanced and complex cognac, inspired by the cognac blended for the Imperial Court of Russia in 1818. “The Dowager Empress of Russia commissioned the Maison's first master blender, Jean Fillioux, to create an exceptional cognac for her son, Tsar Alexander I. In 2011, Yann Fillioux, the current and seventh-generation master blender, painstakingly re-created this unique and incomparable blend using tasting notes from the original, crafting a cognac of elegance and extreme subtlety." The ice goes in a shaker. Cognac, lemon juice and triple sec also go in the same shaker. Shake very well. Strain it into the glass and do not forget to express the orange peel after pouring. The Mint Julep

First use your muscle to muddle one sprig of mint, with the simple syrup and bitters into the bottom of your glass. Take the muddled mint out. Now, pour ice into the same glass. In goes the cognac, whilst stirring. Add the mint sprigs as a garnish. The Old Fashioned – Cognac Style Hennessy Paradis Imperial is the epitome of the art of selection. Only 10 out of the 10,000 eaux-de-vie have the potential to join this blend are a rare few, some of the rarest and oldest from a given vintage chosen meticulously by Master Blender Yann Fillioux. The legacy of Hennessy began in 1765, when Irishman Richard Hennessy decided to take it upon himself to creating one of the world’s finest Cognacs after serving in the French army under the command of Louis XV. Throughout its history, it has established itself as one of the leading cognac houses in its ability to innovate time and time again. During the nineteenth century, Hennessy pioneered the original VSOP cognac benchmark, after having been asked by King George IV to create a “very superior old Cognac”. It was also loved world-over in Russia and China, as French culture was transported to other worlds. Since Maurice Hennessy followed suit with the creation of the Extra Old (XO), Hennessy has since set the global standard for the classification of Cognacs. Now, the maison are in possession of the largest reserve of eaux-de-vie in the world, with approximately 350,000 casks. The master blenders have refined their techniques of blending through generations of heritage through the Fillioux family. Their goal now, is to continue innovating into the future by creating high quality blends popular with both young and older generations. Paradis Limited Editions Hennessy XO: E xtra Old; Be sure not to call anyone XO out there! As of April 2016, this means that the youngest in the blend is at least ten years old. Speaking of bottles of Hennessy that cost thousands of dollars, let’s take a look closer at a couple of those offerings. Do not fear, there is no charge for just talking about them…I hope. Here’s a look at some high price Hennessy bottles out there: Hennessy ParadisHennessy is a type of brandy that is produced in Cognac, France. It is therefore categorized as a Cognac as this is the term given to brandies from that region. (All Cognacs are brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac.)