X.X.O
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Bottled at its peak of maturity, this Cognac is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release and will remain in perfect condition for decades when stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Rich dark chocolate desserts, mature blue cheeses, or roasted duck.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hennessy X.X.O (Extra Extra Old) represents a historic pinnacle of the master blender's art, with origins dating back to 1869 when Maurice Hennessy and Master Blender Emile Fillioux first selected eaux-de-vie of exceptional aging potential. Though the designation was dormant for decades due to strict French labeling laws, it was officially resurrected in 2018 as a formal, ultra-premium Cognac classification requiring a minimum of 14 years of aging. Composed of Ugni Blanc grapes harvested from the finest crus of the Cognac region, including Grande Champagne and Borderies, the spirit undergoes traditional double-distillation in copper Charentais stills. It is then aged in seasoned French Limousin oak casks, allowing the eaux-de-vie to develop a remarkably complex profile characterized by notes of bitter orange, nutmeg, licorice, and a profound, lingering rancio.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1765 by Irish officer Richard Hennessy in the historic town of Cognac, France, Hennessy has grown to become the world's most celebrated Cognac house. Headquartered on the banks of the Charente River along Rue de la Richonne, the house is renowned for its centuries-old blending heritage, famously guided by eight generations of master blenders from the Fillioux family. Utilizing traditional double-distillation in copper Charentais alembic stills, Hennessy ages its precious eaux-de-vie in French oak casks sourced from the Limousin forest to develop unparalleled complexity and depth. The estate's legendary portfolio is defined by iconic expressions such as the VSOP Privilège, the pioneering XO Cognac—a category first created by Maurice Hennessy in 1870—and the exquisite, ultra-premium Hennessy Paradis.