Othoniel XO
⏳ Drinking Window
As a fully matured, bottled Cognac, it does not age further in glass and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release, though it will remain in peak condition for decades when stored upright away from direct light.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Dark chocolate desserts, aged cheeses such as Gouda or Roquefort, and slow-roasted duck breast.
✨ Technical Specifications
A breathtaking marriage of fine art and spirits, the Hennessy Othoniel XO is a limited-edition masterpiece created in collaboration with the renowned French contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel. Famous for his poetic glass bead sculptures, Othoniel designed a striking, jewel-like decanter that reflects the multi-faceted complexity of Hennessy's legendary XO blend. First created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy, this iconic 'Extra Old' Cognac is an assemblage of over 100 eaux-de-vie, primarily distilled from Ugni Blanc grapes sourced from Cognac's premier crus, including Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. These components are aged for up to several decades in Limousin oak casks under the watchful eye of the Fillioux family of master blenders. The result is a rich, robust Cognac boasting deep amber hues, notes of candied fruit, wild cocoa, warm spices, and a powerful, structured finish that mirrors the artistic brilliance of its presentation.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1765 by Irish officer Richard Hennessy along the banks of the Charente River, Maison Hennessy has defined the architecture and prestige of modern Cognac. Sourcing primarily Ugni Blanc across the region's elite crus—notably Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois—the house relies on chalk-dense, limestone-rich soils and a temperate maritime microclimate to achieve base wines of searing natural acidity. Double-distilled on the lees in traditional Charentais copper pot stills, the unaged eaux-de-vie mature inside fine-grained French Tronçais and Limousin oak casks, orchestrated through humid and dry aging cellars. The blending process has been shepherded across eight generations of the Fillioux dynasty, overseen today by Renaud Fillioux de Gironde and the venerated Tasting Committee. From benchmark bottlings such as V.S.O.P Privilège and X.O to crowning legacy assemblages like Hennessy Paradis and Richard Hennessy, the house embodies exceptional purity, structure, and centuries of architectural blending finesse.