How To Drink Cognac Hennessy

Hennessy Is French By Way Of Ireland

As a Cognac, Hennessy is thoroughly French even though the brand was founded by Irish military officer and businessman, Richard Hennessy. At the age of 19, Hennessy left Ireland and journeyed to France, where he fought under Louis XV in the War of the Austrian Succession. When his military career came to an end, Hennessy turned his attention to trade and, with the help of his uncle, founded Hennessy Cognac in 1765.

Between The Sheets With Hennessy

Heres a bright and tangy drink thats a little sassy: the Between the Sheets cocktail! A spin on the classic Sidecar, it features rum and Hennessy Cognac together: something that in Prohibition times was thought to be a little naughty. The rum adds nuance to this citrusy drink, and its a great sour cocktail that goes down easy. Of course, if youve never had a Sidecar: go make one of those first. Then youll appreciate this drink in all its glory.

How To Drink Hennessy: Complete Guide

Last Updated on October 13, 2022 by Lydia Martin

Hennessy produces variations of cognacs which are all exceptional, regardless of ingredients, age, or the French oak barrels where they stored it. However, do you know that you can enjoy your favorite Hennessy more if you drink it the right way?

Learn how to drink Hennessy cognac with our teams easy but comprehensive guide.

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A Brief Guide On How To Drink Hennessy

The Hennessy brand has been around for nearly three centuries now. Though their label reads modern, their recipes and production methods have been refined for ages.

The brand was first created by an Irishman named Richard Hennessy. He was born in 1724 to an aristocratic family in County Cork, a region located in the southwest of Ireland. After moving to continental Europe and fighting for Louis XV in the army, he founded Hennessy in 1765. He aimed to build an elegant spirits company targeted toward the upper class.

For about eight generations, Hennessy was primarily run by just two families. Despite their small team, Hennessy became the face of Cognac and distinguished itself as one of the top producers in the world.

Today, Hennessy is considered one of the big four of Cognac. The list includes Hennessy, Courvoisier, Remy Martin, and . When most people think of Cognac, they think of Hennessy. In fact, this company produces nearly half of the worlds supply of Cognac.

Just like wine, the price of Cognac from Hennessy can vary greatly. The cheapest bottle of Hennessy you can purchase will run you about $35. Meanwhile, the most expensive bottles can reach up to $5,000.

Sophies Meukow Cocktails From California

Our very own Sophie is a bit of a whizz when it comes to making Cognac cocktails. Nothing showcases this better than her mixology efforts in Sunny Californiaat a party in Palm Springs.

She chose to use some great Meukow Cognacs and liqueurs. And the results? Well, it was a wonderful success. The Cognac Caipirinha and the Bright and Stormy were the standout stars of the show.

Cognac Caipirinha

• 2 tsp cane sugar

Preparation: Pour 2 shots of Cognac in a tall cocktail glass. Add a couple of ice cubes. Then fill up the glass with ginger beer. Add a twig of fresh mint and enjoy.

Recreate at home by purchasing a couple of bottles from Meukows great selection.

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A Brief History Of Hennessy

In 1765, Irish military officer, Richard Hennessy, retired from the army, settling in the Cognac region of Franc. He began distilling and exporting various brandies across Ireland and the United Kingdom, then the United States.

His son, James Hennessy, gave the brand its trading name, Jas Hennessy & Co in 1813. James chose Jean Fillioux to be the houses, Master Blender. Since then, a member of Filliouxs family has held the role of forging a relationship between the families that has lasted more than 250 years and 8 generations.

Hennessy was the first cognac house to use star ratings and the grading system which are used today by most cognac producers.

The VSOP designation was first used in 1817 when King George IV asked Hennessy to produce a very special old pale cognac. The designation Xo was created in 1870 for cognacs that have had a prolonged cask maturation.

All Cognacs Are Compliant With Stringent Quality Assurance Regulation And Laws

To be labeled as Cognac, it must adhere to the specific and most rigorous legal requirements such as, it should be made in wine-growing area surrounding Cognac, should be double-distilled by means of copper pot stills, particular grape varietals should only be used, and it must be made to age in French oak barrels for at least two years. However, a vast majority of the Cognacs are made to mature longer than the minimum age required by the law.

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Hennessy Mixed Drinks With Mixly

Are you drawn in by the allure of making a Hennessy cocktail, wanting to go beyond the more straightforward two-ingredient Hennessy mixed drinks? Are you hesitant to make a cocktail because of all the steps and ingredients involved? Well, there’s a solution!

Mixly’s mixers provide the fresh, flavorful ingredients we all love in a cocktail, making it as simple as pouring a two-ingredient mixed drink.

Our top 5 Mixly flavors to pair with Hennessy are:

• Rosemary Lemon Honey

Don’t Add Water Or Ice

Water tends to make cognac too bland, unless you deal with a cask-strength bottling, which is rare, Desoblin says, and ice just kills it. In general, serve the spirit neat, at room temperature or slightly cooler. The traditional snifter, with its wide, balloon-shaped bottom and narrow top, is the ideal vessel, Desoblin says: It allows for swirling and therefore the liberation of aromatic compounds.

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Hennessy Price Size & Buying Guide

Hennessy, while many believe it is brandy, is technically considered a cognac. Cognacs have a specific grading system and must meet certain criteria to have the designation. There are six specific grades for cognac that have been developed over the years.

The Hennessy brand was founded by Richard Hennessy in 1765. The brand was established in the Cognac region of France and is among the top 4 cognac producers in the world, with a total contribution of 85% to the worlds supply.

Hennessy has pioneered several industry-standard practices in the production of cognac. Its association with a life of luxury has made it a well-known reference in popular culture. Hennessy holds the largest collection of cognac Eaux-de-vie worldwide, with more than 470 thousand casks in its collection.

Given the extensive and impressive history, a question often asked is, how much is Hennessy? the Hennessy price will be discussed further later in the article, as well as a look into the history of Hennessy and the variations of the beverage that you can buy.

Food & Aromas To Pair Cognac With

Cognac can enrich the flavor of red meat, poultry, fish, or seafood recipes when used as an ingredient. Its aroma is perfect for dessert and sweet dishes too.

Cognac as a drink pairs well with fruits and desserts. It can go well with French cheese, such as Camembert. Its aroma combines well with nuts, caramel, honey, mint, vanilla, or bitter chocolate. You can pair Cognac with peach, , pear, or berries.

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Take A Sip & Enjoy Its Taste

Creating a cognac is painstakingly long as you create a wine to produce a cognac. When you drink this, make sure that you take time to let the cognac linger through your mouth before letting it slide down your throat.

A cognac, such as Hennessy, is to be savored completely as this is a special cognac blend. Check out what to mix with Hennessy here.

Hennessy Invested In The African American Community

According to VinePair, African Americans are the major proponents of Hennessy Cognac. It all began when African American soldiers returned from France after the world wars having developed a taste for cognac . After the war, scotch began to be marketed to French consumers, causing cognac producers to look toward U.S. markets to make up for the decrease in revenues.

In the 1950s, Hennessy began advertising in magazines geared toward Black Americans such as Ebony and Jet these were the first advertisements of their kind in America at the time. Hennessy didn’t just advertise to the African American community, they invested in it. VinePair notes that the company also began hiring African Americans into leadership positions in the company. Herb Douglass, a bronze medal Olympian from Pittsburgh, PA, was the vice president of urban market development. He was the third African American man to acquire this kind of position in a leading business.

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What Is Hennessy Cognac

Before we get into the ties between Hennessy and how they came to make cognac their own, it is essential to know what cognac is first. The cognac is a premium spirit that is made out of grapes. It is entirely made from the cognac region.

This means that it is effectively a brandy that is specially made in the cognac region. Hennessey is a spirit distillery company founded by an officer who served in the military called Richard Hennessy in 1765. The company kicked off because of its incredible success with the cognac spirit recognized worldwide for its taste and incredibly swagger kick that it packs.

Ironically, the Hennessy cognac is native to France, but Richard Hennessy was an Irishman. Richard Hennessy found a great market to get wealthy classes of the society hooked onto this luxury drink that spread like wildfire throughout France. The rest is history.

We Love: Drinking Cognac In Cocktails

One of the best things about Cognac cocktails is that recipes continually evolve. From the classics to recipes created by houses such as Hineor Hennessys legendary cellar master Yann Fillioux, theres a taste profile to suit every palate.

You can even splash out any Vegas winnings on one of the worlds most expensive cocktails at the Wynn XS Nightclub. Their Louis XIII Black Pearl retails for a cool $10,000, should you win big on the tables.

Discover more about the delights of drinking Cognac in cocktails.

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How To Serve & Present Cognac

Serve Cognac at room temperature. The ideal temperature is about 18°C . Colder temperatures prevent the product from releasing its aroma.

Present Cognac in its bottle. On informal occasions, it is acceptable to present a bottle that has already been opened. On formal occasions, it is best to serve a new bottle and to open it at the table.

Serve Cognac in a tulip or brandy glasses.

Do not chill the glasses in the fridge before presenting them. The condensation risks watering down the Cognac. Similarly, you should not serve Cognac with ice.

You can mix Cognac in cocktails. Never serve shots of Cognac.

Differences In Prices In The Versions Of Hennessy

Dont be straight-up disappointed if you see a highly expensive cognac. Typically the standard version of the Hennessy is not as expensive as you would expect. It ranges from around fifty to sixty dollars. This is the definitive version with fewer and simpler ingredients to add to taste than its higher-priced counterparts.

The premium Hennessy, though, is very, very expensive. One bottle of Hennessy premium would easily cost you over three thousand dollars at the minimum. The price, although, is easily justified as worldwide consumers of this luxury version state that it feels like a drink made in heaven. It is made of over 100 ingredients of spices and additives that are carefully curated and blended into perfection.

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Henny Is Deeply Rooted In Black Culture For Good Reason

Hennessys relationship with Black culture is much deeper than music. Sure, rapper Nas was its brand ambassador and there are countless lyrics and rap songs dedicated to the beloved Cognac, but Hennessy is rooted in Black culture because of its commitment to growing it. During a crucial time, the brand actively pursued marketing and advertising in Black magazines. It also made an effort to employ Black people in leadership roles throughout the company. In 1968, the brand made former Olympian Herb Douglas its vice president of urban market development, making him one of the first African-American VPs in corporate America.

Hennessy Vs Cognac: Everything You Need To Know

Hennessy is a leading brand among various cognacs available today . It is very popular in bars and homes across the U.S. . Hennessy has even spawned its own slang term the popular term “drinkin’ Henny,” is specifically used to refer to drinking Hennessy brand cognac .

Cognac is a type of French brandy. Brandy has been used for centuries as medicine: French monks were so taken with its medicinal properties that they labeled it “eau-de-vie” which translates to “water of life” . Cognac was also typically enjoyed as a digestif .

Hennessy cognac arrived in U.S. markets in 1794 and has since grown to acquire a stronghold on the Cognac market . According to Slate, the drink was consumed and popularized by African American soldiers and jazz musicians who spent time in France during and between both world wars.

Like other cognacs, Hennessy is made from white grapes that are fermented into wine and then aged in barrels for at least two years, leading to this drink’s fruity, oaky taste, and deep amber color. In order to be labeled as Cognac, the harvesting of the grapes and the production must take place in the Cognac region of France.

Hennessy V.S Cognac is the company’s flagship cognac. It has a bit more bite than other cognacs and boasts a whopping 80 proof, or 40% alcohol . There’s so much to know about this cognac and this company.

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Hennessy Pure White Cognac 700ml

Status:Out of stock

All the art of the Master Blender is expressed in this atypical creation which garbs Hennessy Pure White with a luminous robe and with fragrances drawn from the vine. Hennessy Pure White bestows a subtle flower bouquet characteristics, thanks to a blend with a dominance from the Fins Bois.

All the art of the Master Blender is expressed in this atypical creation which garbs Hennessy Pure White with a luminous robe and with fragrances drawn from the vine. Hennessy Pure White bestows a subtle flower bouquet characteristics, thanks to a blend with a dominance from the Fins Bois.

• All the art of the Master Blender is expressed in this atypical creation which garbs
• Hennessy Pure White with a luminous robe and with fragrances drawn from the vine.
• Hennessy Pure White bestows a subtle flower bouquet characteristics, thanks to a blend with a dominance from the Fins Bois.
• The Perfect Serve: Served over ice with fresh fruit juice/nectar, to highlight the lightness and fruity character unique to Hennessy Pure White.

This Product is offered and supplied by Drinks Network Australia Pty Ltd. Liquor Licence # LIQP770017527. Please note, this product cannot be delivered to Dry Zones. Drinks Network Australia Pty Ltd, supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol. Under the Liquor Act 2007, it is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years.

Hennessy Vs Cognac Flavor Profile

As noted, the V.S Cognac is Hennessy’s youngest and least expensive offering. Due to its young age, it hasn’t had sufficient time to mellow or build the kind of flavor complexity possessed by other higher-ranking cognacs . This is not to say that this popular cognac doesn’t have an enjoyable flavor profile.

According to The Spruce Eats, Hennessy’s cognacs tend to have the traditional burnt wine flavor of brandy, which is slightly dampened by the oakiness. The V.S cognac is noted as having hints of almond, fruit, and vanilla as well as a peppery finish. The harshness of the V.S is likely caused by its relatively young age.

This cognac certainly has a bit of a bite, though it is not wholly unpleasant. Flaiver describes it as having a medium finish with a residual taste of grape, which is probably more pleasant than it sounds. The drink offers a warm, fruity-nutty flavor with a bit of a kick.

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The Us Enters The Race

The early 1800s saw the popularity of the cocktail begin to take off. The word cocktail first appeared on May 13, 1806, in Balance and Columbian Repository, a weekly magazine published in Hudson, New York.

The first famous Cognac cocktail was born courtesy of an apothecary from New OrleansAntoine Amadie Peychaud. Christened The Sazerac, it remains a firm favorite to this day.

Different cocktails begin appearing and by the 1900s the cocktail party was in full swing across America. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New Orleans became cocktail hotspots. By this point, the drinks had evolved, becoming more complex, with the likes of the Cognac-based Stinger and Coffee Cocktail being examples of drinks being sipped by societys elite.

Other popular Cognac cocktail inventions included the Brandy Crusta and the Sidecar.

The Different Styles Of Hennessy

The most popular style of Hennessy is the Hennessy VS, which, according to the brand, is the worlds most popular Cognac. It consists of fresh fruit notes like grape and citrus, vanilla, toasted almonds, and creme brulée. It is the most affordable style of Cognac that the brand offers, which might explain its popularity.

Theres the Black Cognac from Hennessy, a distinctively smooth, elegant spirit moving up the list. It is known for its classy presentation, sporting a shiny, black bottle covered in silver lettering.

Then, you have the brands VSOP Cognac. This revered drink scored 87 points out of 100 in a rating from Wine Enthusiasts. Its palate is smooth but still strong. Its a perfect drink to sip on after a high-quality meal.

Heading into the $100 and up category, we have Hennessys XO Cognac. This finely crafted spirit contains a blend of over 100 Eaux-de-vie, giving it a beautiful, amber hue. Just looking at this bottle gives off a feeling of luxury. In terms of taste, the XO Cognac is rich and robust, delivering a myriad of toasty, cinnamony notes.

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