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Hennessy's Memoirs

Letters, travel journals, bottle labels and vintage advertising posters from the House’s archives continue to fuel inspiration.

Archive box

Like the age-old eaux-de-vie in the Founder’s Cellar, Hennessy’s exceptional archives –letters, travelogues, labels, posters and objects — reflect the people, places and practices behind Hennessy cognacs. In 1843, James Hennessy, son of founder Richard Hennessy, expressed in his will “a desire, above all, is that my [descendants] know the origin of our establishments in Cognac.” In keeping with his wishes, registers and books were conserved like treasures. More than 250 years later, upheld by eight generations of Hennessys and Fillioux, the spirit of transmission burns bright.

Hennessy's memoirs

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Hennessy's Memoirs
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Hennessy Archives Collection - 1950 1960

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Hennessy memoirs
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Hennessy Archives Collection - 1953

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Hennessy memoirs
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Hennessy Archives Collection - 1990's

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Hennessy Archives Collection
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Hennessy Archives Collection - 1958

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Hennessy memoirs
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Hennessy Archives Collection - 1968

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Hennessy Archives Collection
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Hennessy Archives Collection - 1990's

Hennessy X.O 

In 1870, Maurice Hennessy created Hennessy X.O for his circle of friends and introduced a new style of cognac.  Hennessy X.O is the Original, the emblematic icon of the Hennessy Maison. 
Deep and powerful, the eaux-de-vie of this Hennessy X.O cognac are aged in young barrels and marked out by their power and energy, but also by their capacity to achieve a great roundness through time.
Our Tasting Committee has explored every facet of the blend and identified several emotions that were assimilated to an Odyssey through 7 chapters: 

  • Sweet Notes: The palate is warmly embraced by flavors of candied fruit.
  • Rising Heat: The intriguing sensation of an intense, rising heat slowly reveals the complex taste of eaux-de-vie patiently aged in oak barrels.
  • Spicy Edge: Perception of a strong spicy cognac note, tantalising the lips and palate with its distinct peppery flavor intertwined with a hint of chocolate. 
  • Flowing Flame: A wave of warmth grows, crests and then breaks. A robust presence, full and voluptuous, is felt. 
  • Chocolate Lull: There is the gradual discovery of something very familiar. It is the well-rounded flavor of a rich, dark chocolate.
  • Wood Crunches: A striking sensation is suddenly felt – the vigorous ebb and flow of oak notes interlaced with vanilla.
  • Infinite Echo: The evanescent oak notes leave a long, omnipresent finish in their wake. Seemingly endless, it echoes all of the subtleties of each taste and sensation that has preceded it.