What types of Hennessy bottles are there? How to distinguish real Hennessy from fake. Hennessy VSOP cognac: French sophistication, Irish strength

Popular and loved all over the world. This divine alcoholic drink has gone through a long life span of 250 years and has come to personify respectability, luxury and great taste. Its abbreviation XO stands for “Extra Old”.

The history of the famous cognac

The story goes that the creator of the popular and beloved cognac is Richard Hennessy, originally from Ireland. In the 18th century, a hard life after endless ups and downs brought him to France, where he found political asylum and entered the service of the regiment of the French king Ludwig. When Richard Hennessy was severely wounded, he was forced to leave his service and undergo treatment in the world's cognac region of Charente. After some time, with the rank of captain, he retired and moved to the famous city of Cognac.

There, Richard Hennessy began to study the cognac business and soon presented his debut strong alcoholic drink to the people. Over time, he improved it, and the new cognac conquered France and the royal court.

Having received love and recognition on French soil, the strong alcoholic drink produced by the enterprising Irishman ends up in England, and then in the United States of America, where it created a great sensation. Since then, the United States has been the main consumer of cognac in the world, since it is the country that drinks it the most. The fame of this prestigious alcoholic drink spread throughout the world, so every self-respecting bar or restaurant began to include it in its assortment.

In the 19th century, improved types of strong drinks appeared. alcoholic drink called "Hennessy VS", "VSOP" and "Hennessy XO". In the latest variety of the drink, the aging time is about 20 years.

The Hennessy company for the first time began to bottle cognac in branded glass bottles, whereas before that it was stored and sold in wooden barrels. Selling in bottles made it more difficult for counterfeits to appear, so confidence in the drink increased. And although Richard Hennessy had long since left the service, he paid tribute to his past by placing military attributes on the label, as well as the Irish family coat of arms and a knight's hand.

The Hennessy Cognac House is under the leadership of the descendants of the famous founder. They keep traditions with great trepidation, so their signature cognac has not yet lost its sophistication and authentic taste over the years.

Composition and how many degrees

Hennessy cognac contains cognac alcohols, and their amount depends on the type of drink. For example, “Hennessy VS” includes 40 cognac spirits, “Hennessy VSOP” - 60, “Hennessy XO” - more than 100 cognac spirits.

The strength of cognac is 40°.

Varieties of Hennessy

Throughout the world, Hennessy is presented in several forms, which differ from each other in aging time, taste and cost:

"Hennessy VS" (Very Special). This is the most popular type of cognac, which has an aging period of more than 2 years. It has a soft, velvety taste, bright amber color and leaves a pleasant aftertaste after tasting with notes of vanilla and hints of flowers and nuts.
"Hennessy VSOP" (Very Superior Old Pale). This is no less favorite and popular alcoholic drink among connoisseurs. It is distinguished by its amazing versatility of taste and multi-layered shades. Notes of cognac are saturated with cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and the aftertaste contains the aftertaste of various fruits and almonds. The age of Hennessy VSOP cognac is from 6 to 12 years.
"Hennessy XO" (Extra Old). This is a prestigious cognac that is highly valued in the alcoholic beverage industry. Its aging period is at least 20 years. The drink has an amber-reddish hue and a strict, balanced taste without excesses. The only notes that can be felt are oak and cinnamon, as well as dried fruits, cocoa and floral shades, which slightly soften the harshness of the drink. The aftertaste is pleasant, deep and long.

In addition, there are other, more expensive types of Hennessy - “Richard Hennessy” and “Hennessy Paradise”, and at the highest level there are rare collectible stamps.

How and with what to drink cognac

The road should be drunk slowly and with dignity, savoring every sip. It is served in a special glass with a short stem, in which its noble taste is gradually revealed. As you drink the drink, you need to warm it with the warmth of your hand, gently grasping the glass. It is not customary to drink elite alcohol, it is considered bad form, but during its existence cognac in different countries has adapted to national characteristics. Therefore, in many parts of the world they cheerfully snack on it with lemon, apples or dark chocolate.

If “Hennessy VSOP” or “Hennessy XO” cognac is present at a dinner party, then you need to choose dishes that do not have a bright richness, otherwise they will interrupt the taste of the drink. Prestigious cognac goes well with various cheeses, seafood, olives and duck meat pate.

As for main dishes, it is better to give preference to veal or other types lean meat without using strong herbs and spices.

How to distinguish the original Hennessy XO from a fake

Hennessy is a sought-after brand, so counterfeits are quite common. It is important to be able to distinguish a counterfeit from a prestigious alcoholic drink with a worldwide reputation.

When choosing cognac, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

Bottle volume. Hennessy XO cognac is sold in bottles of 0.35 and 0.7. The drink is not poured into a flask or other containers.
Engraving. Each bottle is engraved with the brand name of the cognac house in the form of a hand with a halberd. In addition, the glass has a special pattern in the form of grape leaves and bunches.
Lid. It should not look like vodka, since it is made in the form of a cork, on the surface of which the Hennessy logo is printed.
The bottom of the original has a septenary pattern and should not have any visible indentations.
Excise stamp. Genuine Hennessy cognac must have a state excise stamp, which indicates the name, strength of the drink and volume. The inscriptions should not be blurred.

Other types strong drink, including Hennessy V S, are also regularly counterfeited, so it is recommended to purchase alcohol only in trusted stores and avoid purchasing from dubious places.

Hennessy – everyone knows this word. This is the name of a truly legendary cognac with an extraordinary taste and rich bouquet of aroma.

The Hennessy cognac company was opened in 1765, its founder is Richard Hennessy. The production was located in the Cognac region of France. From year to year, the methods and proportions of mixing different types of cognac alcohol, as well as the distillation process, were increasingly improved. At the Hennessy wine house at that time, this was done by professional Jean Filou (his profession was rather called oenologist). Thanks to this man, and his dynasty of seven generations, cognac, known in our time, was born with a surprisingly mild taste and at the same time a rich bouquet.

Hennessy cognac was extremely popular in aristocratic circles in France and England. Soon, sales of the drink gradually spread throughout the world.

In 1865, Maurice Hennessy introduced the labeling that is now used by all cognac producers in the world. These are the legendary stars that indicate the aging period of cognac spirit. In the same year, Hennessy cognac began to be produced in glass bottles, since previously it was customary to bottle this drink in wooden barrels. Classical Hennessy bottle, which is still used today, resembled the shape of a bunch of grapes.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Hennessy XO brand of cognac (this means extra old) gained great popularity. This is how a drink with long aging and rich taste was designated. This cognac was associated with exclusivity and high society. To this day, Hennessy symbolizes wealth, high status and luxury.

In 1987, Hennessy became part of the Louis Vuitton Moet-Hennessy holding.

Nowadays, Hennessy cognac can be bought in several types. The most common, and therefore the most counterfeited, brands are:

1. VS (this is cognac aged for at least two years, has soft taste with woody and floral notes, the approximate cost of a bottle is about $15, the most inexpensive and best-selling type).

2. VSOP (a drink with a very rich taste, which is achieved by mixing during the production of 60 varieties of cognac alcohol aged from 6 to 12 years, the price of a half-liter bottle is not less than $40).

3. XO (this is the most exquisite variety, for its production they use one hundred varieties of cognac alcohol, aged for at least 20 years, has a deep amber color, as well as a taste with notes of cinnamon, oak, flowers and cocoa, I consider this cognac the perfection of cognac art, its the price is at least 200 dollars per bottle).

Differences between original and fake

In order not to fall into the hands of unscrupulous alcohol sellers, you need to know the main features original cognac Hennessy.

Only every fourth bottle of Hennessy cognac sold in the world is real drink. This is how you can imagine the impressive scale of the counterfeit alcohol market. But it’s up to you to decide whether to buy a fake or not, because if you are careful, you can easily recognize a low-quality fake.

First of all, pay attention to the shape of the bottle. In the original, it is wider in the XO grade and narrow in the VSOP. The bottle is of very high quality without chips, scratches or cracks. The color of the drink in the original is more rich and pure. The cork is made of very high quality, covered with a special aluminum film. On top of the cork there is always the Hennessy brand logo, as well as the name and degree of aging.

The presence of an excise stamp is mandatory. It must be glued well and evenly, without traces of glue.

The label must be glued evenly and have no traces of glue on it. The bottom of the bottle should be even in shape, without unnecessary markings. If there is a raised marking of 0.5 or 0.7 on the bottom, you can be sure that you are holding a fake in your hands.

The most commonly counterfeited brands are Hennessy XO and VSOP. Let's look at the main features of these types.

HennessyXO

First of all, Hennessy XO does not come in 0.5 liter bottles. This variety is always gift wrapped.

The bottle must have clear and neat symbols: branches of grapes and the symbol of the house of Hennessy in the form of a hammer in the hand. In fakes there is usually no house symbol, and the grape branches are blurred and uneven.

At the bottom of the bottle there is always a raised inscription HENNESSY & C COGNAC FRANCE.

HennessyVSOP

There must be clear and even raised VSOP symbols on the front of the bottle and the House of Hennessy mark on the back. The label should be very neat, it should feel embossed to the touch and with the obligatory image of the brand logo.

And, of course, you should refrain from purchasing Hennessy cognac in suspicious shops and kiosks. It is best to make purchases in specialized alcoholic beverage stores. Only there, upon request, will they be able to provide you with a certificate of quality and originality of the drink.

Read also:

1. Capacity. Original Hennessy cognac is bottled only in containers of 0.35 and 0.7 liters.
2. Shell and plug. To understand how to quickly distinguish a fake Hennessy, just look at the cork and shell of the bottle. For the original drink, the production of the shell and cork is carried out in accordance with a special technology, which involves applying a Holosleeve hologram and laser engraving.

A fairly large amount of counterfeit products come from the Hennessy V.S.O.P. series, which is bottled in 0.5-liter containers resembling a flask in shape. Therefore, it is better not to purchase it, but to give preference to a round bottle. In the event that there is no choice on the shelves, let's look at Hennessy xo cognac 0.5 original price and how to determine its manufacturer.

Hennessy X0 0.5 how to distinguish a fake photo

So let's get started:
1. Original cover. The Hennessy cognac house pays a lot of attention to protecting the drink from oxygen penetration into the container. Therefore, if the Hennessy x0 0.5 protection seems insufficient and looks more like a vodka cap, then it is best to refuse to purchase this bottle.

It's no secret that organizing any celebration, first of all, begins with the selection and purchase of alcoholic beverages. In order for guests and guests to be satisfied in the future, you should know how to choose the right “original” alcoholic drinks.

For example, according to the results of a sociological survey, one of the most popular cognacs today is Hennessy. Sales of this drink around the world exceed 3 times its production. Therefore, in order to buy a “good” drink, you should know how to distinguish a fake Hennessy from the original.

How to spot a fake Hennessy

So let's start exploring distinctive features original Hennessy cognac!

1. Capacity. Original Hennessy cognac is bottled only in containers of 0.35 and 0.7 liters.

2. Shell and plug. To understand how to quickly distinguish a fake Hennessy, just look at the cork and shell of the bottle. For the original drink, the production of the shell and cork is carried out in accordance with a special technology, which involves applying a Holosleeve hologram and laser engraving.

So let's get started:

1. Original cover. The Hennessy cognac house pays a lot of attention to protecting the drink from oxygen penetration into the container. Therefore, if the Hennessy x0 0.5 protection seems insufficient and looks more like a vodka cap, then it is best to refuse to purchase this bottle.

2. Laser protection. On the container of the original Hennessy cognac, a special relief image of a hand with a halberd is applied to the upper part of the front side.

By following these simple rules, you can always purchase an original drink and enjoy the true taste of cognac.

Fake Cognac Hennessy

Please note that we sell only original alcohol!

Choose real cognac Hennessy is possible

They say that sales of Hennessy cognac throughout the world exceed its production by 3-4 times. This means that only every 3-4 bottles of Hennessy is original cognac, and the volume of counterfeit reaches 80%.

However, this information has not been confirmed. But, most likely, it is not very far from the truth.

One of the leaders in the number of counterfeits, of course, is Hennessy X.O cognac. To distinguish a fake, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

1. Volume 0.5 l. Hennessy XO cognac in 0.5 l containers. is not produced. The original cognac is bottled only in 0.35 and 0.7 liter bottles;
2. Cork shell. The original cork and shell are made using a special technology (including laser engraving and Holosleeve holograms) and fit very tightly to the glass of the bottle. The shell should not evoke memories of inexpensive domestically produced wines.

A very large number of counterfeits are Hennessy V.S.O.P. The lion's share of counterfeit products comes from cognac bottled in flask-shaped bottles with a volume of 0.5 liters. Therefore, we recommend completely avoiding purchasing Hennessy VSOP in a bottle of this shape and volume. It's better to buy a regular round bottle.

If there are no acceptable alternatives, and purchasing cognac in a flask bottle is inevitable, then you should pay attention to the following features (they are similar to the features for Hennessy X.O.):

1. Cover. It should not resemble ordinary vodka. The Hennessy cognac house pays a lot of attention to the production of corks and their protection, as discussed above.
2. Relief image of a hand with a halberd. It should be present at the top of the front of the bottle.

How to spot a fake Hennessy

So, let's begin to study the distinctive features of the original Hennessy cognac!

Read also:

Hennessy X0 0.5 how to distinguish a fake photo

Fake Cognac Hennessy

Please note that we sell only original alcohol!

You can choose real Hennessy cognac

However, this information has not been confirmed. But, most likely, it is not very far from the truth.

One of the leaders in the number of counterfeits, of course, is Hennessy X.O cognac. To distinguish a fake, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

How to distinguish counterfeit Hennessy cognac from the original 4.67 /5 (93.33%) 6

Cognacs from the Hennessy cognac house are among the most famous and elite, but along with its popularity, Hennessy cognac has developed one problem that is common to all well-known brands - counterfeit.

Today we will tell you how, when purchasing, you can protect yourself as much as possible from buying a counterfeit.

The most common fakes are Hennessy XO. and V.S.O.P.

You can distinguish a fake Hennessy by the following signs of counterfeit:

1. First of all, the label and all packaging of the bottle must be neat, glued evenly, without bevels.

2. Hennessy H.O. cognac is available in 0.35 and 0.7 liter bottles; this cognac does not come in 0.5 liter bottles. Therefore, if you see Hennessy X.O. in a 0.5 liter bottle, then it is definitely counterfeit.

3 . In addition to the label, special attention should be paid to the cork and its shell; the shell should have laser engraving and a Holosleeve hologram. In this case, the shell should not move, but should sit tightly on the neck of the bottle.

4. Since 1856, Hennessy cognac has been marked with the sign of the Hennessy cognac house, which represents a hand holding a halberd. This sign must be embossed on the bottle; if the sign is missing, then this is a fake.

5. The bottom of the original bottle should have a clear septenary pattern.

6. The cork packaging of Hennessy must have the Hennessy logo and the inscription “Hennessy” printed on it; if these two conditions are not present, then you should seriously think about the authenticity of this drink.

7. Another distinguishing feature of real Hennessy from a fake is located at the bottom of the bottle. In Russia, on most production lines, the bottle has an orientator, which is a special recess at the bottom of the glass bottle and is intended for even labeling. On foreign lines, bottles are centered along special chamfers or recesses on the cylindrical part.

Therefore, if you see a bottle with an orientator (indentation), then it is 99% locally produced.

8. Real Hennessy cognac must have a tax stamp, which must indicate the volume of the container, name and aging period.

Naturally, it is absolutely forbidden to buy Hennessy on the market or from hand; such elite alcohol as Hennessy should be sold only in specialized stores.

Today, cognac is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world and, as a result, one of the most counterfeited. Of course, it is unlikely that anyone would think of producing counterfeit drinks from little-known brands, since they are not very popular, and it is not so easy to make a profit from their sale. Expensive cognacs produced by well-known companies are much more often counterfeited. One of the most popular brands producing noble cognac with excellent taste, is famous brand Hennessy. In this article I would like to talk about how to distinguish the original cognac produced by this company from a fake.

As you know, the Hennessy brand produces more than 50 million bottles of spirits every year, and sales of the same name skate amount to 150-200 million bottles per year. It turns out that only every fourth container of Hennessy cognac is genuine. Unfortunately, neither the constant fight against counterfeit manufacturers nor strict laws can solve the problem of counterfeits. That is why the buyer himself must be able to distinguish fake Hennessy cognac from the real thing. How can you do this and thereby protect yourself from purchasing a dubious product?

Of course, the first thing a buyer’s eye falls on when first “acquainting” with a drink is the bottle. One detail should be noted right away: in Russia it is impossible to buy, for example, original Hennessy XO cognac in a 0.5 liter bottle. So it’s better to immediately avoid such containers. In addition, the bottle should not have cracks or chips on its surface, which are direct evidence of the “not noble” origin of the drink. The original container, among other things, is somewhat wider than its replica and has a “pot-bellied” base. It is also worth paying attention to the color of the drink. A person who has ever held or drank real Hennessy cognac will notice that the color of fake Hennessy is pale, and the liquid is very similar to tea with lemon.

So, we figured out the shape and dimensions of the bottle, but that’s not all. You should also pay attention to the excise stamp of the drink, because it is its “passport”, which can tell a lot about cognac. A counterfeit drink may not have a tax stamp at all (such cases do not even need to be discussed). If it is, then most likely it is covered with blurry letters or there is information on it English language. Original product must have a tax stamp containing information in a language identical to the language of the back label (i.e. the label located on the back of the container). On excise stamp There should be information about the brand name, age of the drink, bottle volume.

A bottle of Hennessy from the manufacturer must be engraved with a special pattern, which represents connected bunches and leaves of grapes. Also under the sticker indicating the exposure (it is located on the front side of the container), there is a Hennessy brand logo. A counterfeit product will be sold without it, and the top label will also be missing.

Next, you should carefully examine the bottom of the bottle. The counterfeit product may have an engraving indicating the volume of the container. So, if you see that at the bottom of the bottle there is the inscription “0.5 l”, then it is better not to buy it. As has already been said, bottles with this volume are sold in our country, much less the bottles themselves are produced. It is worth noting that at the bottom glassware There should be no unnecessary marks or designations. All this indicates that in front of you is a fake, which they are trying to pass off as real Hennessy cognac. The pattern on the bottom of a bottle of original cognac should not be blurred or asymmetrical.

Few people know that when choosing Hennessy cognac it is worth considering the bottom of the bottle. For what? The fact is that a genuine drink can only be in the container on which the name is applied trademark(it can be seen just below the back label).

The cork can also say a lot about the contents of the bottle. Its surface should contain the brand name, its logo, as well as the degree of aging of the strong alcoholic drink. If at least one of these elements is missing, you should not take cognac.

In the presented photo you can see a bottle of real Hennessy cognac and a container with a fake drink. Try to find the differences between them yourself. I hope that now you will not fall for the bait of scammers and will purchase only an elite alcoholic drink made by the famous Hennessy brand!

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Hennessy cognac, whose manufacturer, Jas Hennessy & Co, is one of the four so-called Great Cognac Houses, is today the undisputed world leader in its field. Every year, about 50 million bottles of this drink are sold around the world, which accounts for more than 40% of the total sales of cognacs. At the same time, a significant part of sales falls on “junior” brands (Comandon, Davidoff, Denis-Mounie, Hine, Monnet and Pellisson), using alcohols from Jas Hennessy & Co.

The history of the famous cognac

Having heard the frankly Irish name of the drink for the first time, many ask a very reasonable question: is Hennessy cognac or whiskey? Before ridiculing such “linguists,” we should remember that this cognac actually has Irish roots.

The founder of the company, registered in 1765, was a political emigrant originally from Ireland, Richard Hennessy, who served in the special Irish battalion of the army of the French king, Louis XV. After being seriously wounded in 1745, the gallant officer was treated for some time in the “cognac” province of Charente. Having retired ten years later with the rank of captain and probably already having clear plans for his future business, the 33-year-old immigrant settled in the city of Cognac. By the way, the military background of the founder of the family business was reflected in the later logo of the company, which contains an element of the noble coat of arms of the brave Irishman: a knight’s hand with a halberd clutched in it.

No matter what the Irishman produces alcohol from, he will do it with high quality. Back in the 18th century, the new drink gained some recognition in France and England, and also gained unprecedented popularity in the newly created North American United States.

In the 19th century, French distillers of Irish bottling began to supply their products to the tables of august persons. It was then that Hennessy Vsop and Hennessy Ho, created by personal order of the future English king George IV, first saw the light of day, the endurance of which exceeds the twenty-year mark. The significant authority gained in this way among his colleagues allowed the descendants of the former officer to carry out important reforms that affected the entire cognac industry. In particular, it was at their instigation that the basic gradation of cognac was introduced based on the aging period of the youngest of the spirits in the blend; the drinks themselves, as part of the fight against counterfeits, began to be sold not in barrels, but in transparent bottles.

Today, unlike the other three Great Cognac houses (Martell, Rémy Martin and Courvoisier), Hennessy, even if somewhat formally, is headed by direct descendants of the company's founder. True, the company's legal status is quite confusing and is likely a source of headaches for many tax officials. Judge for yourself: this cognac giant is an equal co-founder of the Louis Vuitton Moët-Hennessy conglomerate, uniting producers of elite alcohol and luxury goods; the aforementioned conglomerate itself, in turn, is a branch of the Christian Dior empire; In addition, 34% of Hennessy shares are owned by the ubiquitous Diagio.

Hennessy: how many degrees

All types of Hennessy contain 40% alcohol. The exception to the rule was the collectible Hennessy Ellipse, whose strength was 43.5 degrees.

Varieties of Hennessy

Hennessy V.S. (Very Special)- a basic two-year-old cognac, which accounts for 70% of all company sales. The aroma contains hints of almond pastries; The taste has vanilla and nut notes.

V.S. Limited Edition– a drink that is relevant today, released in a limited edition. In terms of quality, it can be equated to the Superior class (aged for at least three years). Distinctive feature This cognac has a persistent vanilla aftertaste.

Hennessy Fine and Hennessy Black– four-year and five-year innovative drinks designed for a youth audience. According to the developers, they do not fit into the classical gradation at all, due to the departure from the generally accepted rules of blending. The taste and aroma of drinks is different unusual combinations floral and honey notes with subtle citrus undertones.

VSOP Privilege– according to the manufacturer, it is manufactured according to authentic recipe, designed for George IV. Technically, it should correspond to the level of modern X.O, since it contains alcohols with an aging period of 6-12 years. It is considered softer than other varieties of Hennessy. The whole aroma brings back memories of caramel and sandalwood. The taste contains almond, pear and honey shades.

Hennessy X.O.– something much more than the classic Extra old. This drink is created on the basis of alcohols aged 20-30 years. It has a non-trivial flavor bouquet containing shades of chocolate, dried fruits and spices, accompanied by woody counterpoint. The exquisite aftertaste, which combines notes of walnut and salted caramel, deserves special attention.

Hennessy 250 Blend– a collectible drink available today, produced on the occasion of the company’s 250th anniversary in the amount of 250 barrels. It has a bright aroma combining shades of flowers and spices. The taste of cognac contains spicy notes nutmeg, bitter orange, saffron, dried rose petals and slight hints of ginger.

Hennessy Paradis, Paradis Imperial and Richard Hennessy– elite, expensive drinks produced on an ongoing basis that are, so to speak, beyond good and evil. Anyone who has a few thousand dollars to spare can try to understand their taste and aroma. True, this is far from the limit. The most expensive Hennessy ever produced by the cognac house of the same name is the collectible Hennessy Beaute du Siecle, which cost $187,500.

Hennessy No. 1– a legendary executive drink that cannot be bought for any money. I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of people worthy of trying it doesn’t number even a hundred.

How to drink Hennessy

Similar to the situation with other proper cognacs, here you should adhere to the classical principle: everything that is aged for up to five years is served or (if you don’t mind) added to mixes and cocktails, the rest is used as a digestif.

What do you drink Hennessy with?

It is important to know that there are no individual rules for drinking Hennessy. But, there are a number of tips on what you can combine this cognac with:

It is customary to snack only on ordinary (table) variations of the drink. At the same time, among light snacks the following should prevail: delicate pates, hard cheeses, olives, seafood, canapés with caviar or salmon slices.
Main dishes should be prepared from low-fat white meat(veal or poultry), without using too aromatic spices.
The optimal desserts would be: dark chocolate, ice cream, whipped cream and temperate fruits, plus a cup or two of strong black coffee.

How to spot a fake Hennessy

According to statistics, genuine Hennessy is found in only every fourth bottle sold. Everything else is counterfeit. At the same time, there are several generally accepted rules that, with a high degree of probability, make it possible to distinguish the original from a fake when choosing Hennessy.

Real Hennessy should be found in trustworthy specialty boutiques and serious supermarkets. At the same time, you need to avoid bottles that are offered at a low cost. If we are talking about an amount that falls short of the twenty dollar equivalent requested for 0.35 ml of Hennessy V.S., walk by with confidence.
It is necessary to pay attention to the shape of the container. For example, Hennessy V.S. It is bottled in unpretentious round bottles, distinguished by some “potbelliness” in the base area. VSOP Privilege cognac is contained in flask-shaped containers (by the way, counterfeiters especially like to deal with this vessel). A drink labeled as X.O. It is bottled only in bottles with a capacity of 0.35 and 0.7 ml, i.e., authentic half-liter packaging of this variety of Hennessy does not exist in nature.
Manufacturers of the drink we are interested in, when designing the bottle and cork shell, in order to protect their products, widely use laser holograms and engraving. At the same time, the shell should fit tightly to the bottle neck and not evoke associations with domestically produced wines.
The company logo must be engraved on the top of the bottle: that same hand with a halberd.
The back label and the top sticker must be pasted symmetrically and not contain any external defects. Moreover, real cognac stickers are distinguished by a high level of printing and are made on high-quality, somewhat embossed paper, reminiscent of samples used for printing banknotes. Also, it is necessary to study the contents of all paper media regarding the name, manufacturer, origin, strength, composition and aging period of the drink.
Finally, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the bottle's contents. The drink should have an amber color, but at the same time be transparent; have no sediment, but at the same time have a viscous, oily consistency.

Hennessy recipe at home

On many Russian-language websites you can find very accessible and easy-to-follow instructions for making homemade Hennessy cognac. According to these, an alternative composition of Hennessy cognac includes diluted alcohol, vodka, or moonshine infused with a mixture of loose leaf tea, sugar, lemon zest, cloves, black and allspice (or tea, sugar, soda, cloves and ground oak bark). Hence the question: how much do you have to despise your readers in order to give them such advice?

We sincerely hope that the readers of Shaked Up will not become victims of such monstrous profanity, but will have the opportunity from time to time to treat themselves to their favorite drink, which combines Irish unrestraint and the sun of beautiful France.

Hennessy is the most famous and popular brand of French cognac (brandy). It is part of the Louis Vuitton - Moët Hennessy holding, a French multinational company, the largest manufacturer of luxury goods. Exactly trading house Hennessy gave the world the classification of cognacs with the letters VS, VSOP, XO, etc., and it was the representatives of the Hennessy house who proposed to designate the aging of cognac with asterisks.

The main line of cognacs includes:

Hennessy VS (Very Special) is a blend of the highest quality spirits created in 1865 by Maurice Hennessy (great-grandson of the founder of the house, Richard Hennessy). The first to receive the designation with three stars. The composition includes more than four dozen cognac spirits aged from 2 to 7 years.
Hennessy VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is a drink created in 1817 by order of King George IV of England, who asked to create “a very superior old pale eau-de-vie.” Hennessy VSOP cognac contains more than 60 dozen different alcohols aged from 6 to 12 years. Received a four-star rating.
Hennessy XO – created by Maurice Hennessy for his friends, “eXtra Old” class, which includes more than one hundred cognac spirits aged for at least 20 years. A bottle with a grapevine ornament was created especially for this cognac in 1947.
Hennessy Paradis is a cognac created in 1979 by Maris Filloux (master blender) from spirits that were selected by his grandfather. The drink contains more than 100 cognac spirits aged from 15 to 100 years.
Hennessy Richard is an assemblage created in 1996, named after Richard Hennessy.

Collector's editions and Hennessy cognacs:

Price and cost of Hennessy cognacs

The stated price is valid for 0.7 liter bottles.

Hennessy VS (Very Special) - about 2-2.5 thousand rubles;
Hennessy VSOP – about 4-5 thousand rubles;
Hennessy XO - about 14-15 thousand rubles;
Hennessy Paradis - about 50-55 thousand rubles;
Hennessy Richard - about 250 thousand rubles.
Hennessy Library - about 15 thousand rubles;
Hennessy Ellipse - the cost is about half a million rubles.
Hennessy Mathusalem - about 32 thousand dollars. Couldn't find a price in Russia
Hennessy 888 - about 8 thousand rubles;
Hennessy 44 Limited Edition - about 10-12 thousand rubles

How to spot a fake Hennessy?

If you have ever held real Hennessy cognac in your hands, then it will not be difficult to distinguish a fake Hennessy. So, how to distinguish a fake from real Hennessy cognac?

There should be an image of a halberd in the center of the bottle;
The wedge-shaped, recognizable Hennessy bottle with a volume of 0.5 is not for sale;
Hennessy cognac always has a mahogany red-cinnamon color. If the drink is similar to tea, it is fake Hennessy, not real cognac.
The original Hennessy bottle has a paper ring around the neck above the main label.
There should be no Cyrillic alphabet on the bottom of the bottle (for example, “0.5 l”);
There should be three-dimensional glass letters under the main label on the bottle;
The label covering the stopper must be very high quality execution;

History of Hennessy cognac

Richard Hennessy founded the company in 1765 after moving from Ireland to France. He used his knowledge of whiskey making and decided to make cognac using a similar technology. In the 1790s, 40% of all cognac in France that was exported was Hennessy cognac.

Hennessy cognac gained quite a popularity during the cholera epidemic in England in the 30s of the 19th century. Doctors recommended Hennessy cognac as a disinfectant, so the demand for the drink was very high. Since 1818, Hennessy cognac began to be supplied to Russia, to the imperial table.

In 1971, Hennessy's cognac house Hennessy merged with the champagne and wine manufacturer Moet&Chandon, and another 17 years later it merged with the house of Louis Vuitton.

Very soon I am flying to France (Alsace province) for a week.

But this will not be my first time in France. In 2008, in the summer, I was already there, renting a cottage near Bordeaux in the town of Arcochon, by the ocean, and on that trip I had the opportunity to travel a lot.

I'll tell you about visiting the Hennessy factory in the glorious city of Cognac!

Let me tell you right away that half of the photos (mine) were taken on a point-and-shoot camera, and half were kindly provided to me by Sergei, who flew with us with his family.

So, let's begin.
1.

The city is medium in size and located in the Charente department.

Valois Castle. Francis of Angouleme, founder of the Angouleme branch of the Valois dynasty, was born here.
The Otard cognac house is also located here.
2.

Nearby is Camus's house. The museum was closed, but there was a lot of delicious food in the shop at the factory...
3.

Jardin Public
5.

Tickets for a tour of the Hennessy Cognac House are purchased in the main building, on the embankment of the Cognac River.
We were not the only tourists from Russia and we were assigned a Russian-speaking guide.

The Hennessy factory is located on the other side and they transport you there on these branded river buses.
7.

Plant entrance
8.

View of the main Hennessy building, where the conference room, shop and tickets are sold.
9.

A little theory.

Cognac is a strong alcoholic drink made from grape varieties.

The cognac drink got its name from the city of Cognac, Poitou-Charente region, Charente department, France. The appearance of this alcoholic drink is connected with the surrounding area and the city of Cognac itself. The geographical boundaries of the area in which cognac production is allowed, the production technology and the very name “Cognac” are strictly defined, regulated and enshrined in numerous legislative acts. Cognac is a native French product.

Spirits from other countries, as well as drinks produced in France outside the Charente region, even if obtained by distillation grape wines produced in the Poitou-Charente region do not have the right to be called cognac on the international market; such drinks are usually called (brandy)

We found a very interesting tour guide who talked about the Hennessy production and house with enthusiasm and pleasure.

Main variety white grapes, from which Cognac is produced, is Ugni Blanc - a slow-ripening variety with high acidity, high yields and resistance to diseases (in particular gray mold and phylloxera). In addition to Yuny Blanc, farms, to a lesser extent, grow and use Folle Blanche, Colombard and Montille varieties in the production of cognac. They produce more aromatic and richer-tasting spirits than Yugny Blanc, but are very difficult to grow. Harvesting on farms usually occurs in October.

Immediately after harvesting, the extraction of grape juice begins. When squeezing juice, horizontal pneumatic presses are traditionally used, which do not crush berry seeds. The use of presses with Archimedean screws is prohibited by law. Squeezed grape juice then sent for fermentation. By the way, adding sugar (or chaptalization) during fermentation is prohibited by law. Like the entire production process, extraction and fermentation are carefully controlled, as they play a decisive role in the final quality of cognac spirit. Fermentation lasts about three weeks, after which wines with high acidity and containing 9% alcohol are sent for distillation.

Although I took this from Wikipedia, the guide told us the same thing.
10.

The process of distillation of fermented grape wine takes place in a traditional “Charente still”, consisting of an extraction boiler heated over an open fire (fire sources are coal or gas), a boiler cap in the shape of an “onion”, and a tube curved in the shape of a “swan neck”, which is further transformed into a coil passing through the cooler.

Alembic
11.

The distillation process itself consists of two stages:

Stage 1 is the production of the primary base distillate, the so-called raw alcohol (fr. premier chauffe), with a strength of about 27-32%. Small producers distill wine “on the lees,” that is, without filtering, thereby obtaining raw alcohol with the maximum amount of aromatic and flavor components, which is subsequently transmitted to the character of the future cognac;

The 2nd stage is sending raw alcohol for secondary distillation to obtain basic high-quality cognac alcohol (fr. bonne chauffe). In the second stage of distillation, the experience and skill of the “master of distillation” is fully revealed, who is responsible for the correct selection of the first, second and third fractions of the distillate. It is the second fraction, with a strength of 68-72% alcohol, that goes for further aging in oak barrels and becomes cognac.

12.

Very interesting! Even my fidgety son)))
14.

Everyone could feel like a master of the blend)))
15.

According to the law, cognac alcohol, in order to be called cognac, must be aged in oak barrels for at least two years. The maximum age of cognac aging is not limited by law. But, as practice shows, aging cognac in a barrel for more than 70 years no longer affects its character and the changes that occur to it are insignificant. Oak, as a material for the manufacture of barrels, was chosen due to its strength, fine-grained structure and high extractive qualities. Cognac barrels, ranging in volume from 270 to 450 liters, are still handcrafted from oak trunks that grow in the forests of Tronço and Limousin, at least 80 years old.

During production, barrels are fired from the inside to soften the structure of the wood, thereby increasing its extractive qualities. There are several levels of firing of barrels, depending on the needs of the manufacturer. Interestingly, after firing, the inner surface of the barrel is covered with a layer of burnt sugar - glucose found in the structure of the wood, modified under the influence of temperature. After filling, the barrels with future cognac are placed in the cellar for subsequent aging or “maturation”.

Oak barrels made using a special technique.
16.

This is how barrels were made before.
18.

The guide claimed that they are still making them using the same technology....
19.

During the first years of aging, the properties of cognac alcohol change; tannins, lignin, reducing sugars, and, to a lesser extent, amino acids, lipids, volatile acids and oils, resins, and enzymes are extracted from wood. Cognac alcohol acquires a golden color and is filled with woody vanilla aromas.

Over time, cognac becomes darker in color, softer and rounder; many shades appear in the aroma and taste, including notes of flowers, fruits and spices. The natural humidity of the cellar also has a great influence on the future cognac. The lower the humidity in the cellar, the more structured the cognac becomes; the higher the humidity in the cellar, the softer and rounder the cognac becomes over the years.

During the aging process, a significant part of the cognac evaporates through the pores of the wood (in France this is called part des anges- the share of angels). The Angels' Share represents the equivalent of over twenty million bottles per year. Interestingly, these "losses" serve nutrient medium for microscopic fungi, Torula compniacensis, which cover the walls of the cellar, giving them a characteristic black color.

The basement where the barrels are stored.
20.

If the cognac, in the opinion of the “cellar master,” reaches the peak of its development, it is poured from barrels into glass bottles, the so-called “dame-johns” (French. Dames-Jeanne), sealed and placed in the most remote place of the cellar, where they can be stored for decades without changes - this is a “heavenly” place (fr. Paradis).
22.

In most cases, cognac is obtained by assembling (or mixing) cognac spirits of different years of aging. In this case, the aging of the final product is determined by the minimum aging period of the components.

During mass production of cognac, assembly allows you to maintain the same organoleptic properties regardless of the quality of the grape harvest. There are also cognacs indicating the specific age of aging and the year of harvest.
23.

More than a hundred years...
24.

Classification of cognacs:
V.S. (Very Special), Selection, de Luxe, Trois Etoiles— at least 2 years;

Superior - at least 3 years;

V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale), V.O. (Very Old), Vieux, Reserve- at least 4 years;

V.V.S.O.P. (Very Very Superior Old Pale), Grand Reserve— at least 5 years;

X.O. (Extra Old), Extra, Napoleon, Royal, Tres Vieux, Vieille Reserve- at least 6 years.

Hennessy cognac range (taken from Wikipedia)

Classic range

Hennessy V.S. (Very Special)- created in the year Maurice Hennessy, grandson of the founder of the House, as the first cognac with an indication of age, in the form of three stars on the front label of the bottle. The assemblage includes more than 40 cognac spirits, aged from 2 to 7 years;
Hennessy V.S.O.P. Privilege (Very Superior Old Pale)- created in 2007 by order of the future king of England George IV as "a very superior old pale eau-de-vie". The assemblage includes more than 60 cognac spirits, aged from 6 to 12 years;
Hennessy X.O. (Extra Old)- created in the year Maurice Hennessy for your friends, like the first cognac, indicating the age eXtra Old cognac on the front label of the bottle. The assemblage includes more than 100 cognac spirits, aged from 20 to 30 years. In 1947, a special bottle was created for cognac, decorated with a grapevine design;
Hennessy Paradis Maurice Filloux from unique cognac spirits selected by his grandfather. The assemblage includes more than 100 cognac spirits aged from 15 to 100 years;
Hennessy Richard— created in 2010 by the “master of assemblage” of the House Jan Filliou in honor of the founder of the House - Richard Hennessy. The assemblage includes more than 100 unique cognac spirits, including those produced from Folle Blanche grapes, vintages and years;

Special cognacs

Hennessy Library- created as a reminder of the Hennessy family’s attitude towards their cognacs, like antique books. Belongs to an intermediate category between V.S.O.P. And X.O.;
Hennessy Private Reserve— created in 2010 by the “master of assemblage” of the House Emile Filloux, upon request Maurice Hennessy, from 14 cognac spirits with a “floral” character;
Hennessy Private Reserve 1865- created this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the House Hennessy. The assemblage includes 11 cognac spirits with a “floral” character. Reissued in the year;
Hennessy Timeless- created in the year to commemorate the coming of the year. The assemblage includes 11 unique cognac spirits of the 20th century, vintages , , ,
Hennessy Mathusalem— exclusive collectible cognac (300 copies in total) in a 6-liter bottle, placed in a travel suitcase made of genuine leather.
Hennessy 888- a special gift set in honor of the opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing, which took place on August 8, 2008 (08/08/08). The set includes a bottle of Hennessy XO and 2 Baccarat crystal glasses.
Hennessy 44 Limited Edition— cognac dedicated to the inauguration of the 44th US President Barack Obama. On the label of the bottle there is a stamp with the date of inauguration - January 20, 2009.

26.

After the tour of the storage facility, we took the water bus back and went to the Hennessy store.

I won’t name all the varieties, but here on the second shelf from left to right:
Hennessy Ellipse, Hennessy Richard, Hennessy Paradis
29.

Well, this is Hennessy Timeless. Costs about 750,000 rubles.
30.

A very interesting museum.
But I like Camus more, for example))))

Since we stopped in Cognac after visiting La Rochelle, we simply didn’t have the strength...

Besides my son))) He was still traveling somewhere)))
32.

There are also many shops in the town where they sell cognac from barrels at ridiculous prices on tap)))