XO Cognac
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy immediately; spirits do not age or improve in the bottle. Best served at room temperature (around 18-21°C) or slightly chilled with a single large ice sphere. Store the bottle upright in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to preserve its complex aromatic profile.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Superb when served neat to appreciate its full complexity, or on the rocks ('Hennessy XO on Three Rocks') which slowly coaxes out sweeter, fruitier nuances. For food pairings, it pairs magnificently with rich dark chocolate desserts, artisanal blue cheeses like Roquefort, or slow-roasted duck breast.
✨ Technical Specifications
First created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy for his inner circle of friends, Hennessy XO established a brand-new category of Cognac. This pioneering 'Extra Old' blend is a masterclass in complexity, marrying over one hundred distinct eaux-de-vie aged for up to several decades in French oak casks. The selection process is incredibly rigorous, drawing from the finest crus of the region—primarily Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois. Visually distinguished by its iconic, voluptuous decanter designed in 1947 by Gérald de Geoffre, the liquid inside is robust and deeply structured. It unfolds on the palate with a symphony of candied fruits, warming baking spices, dark chocolate, and a distinctive, peppery oak character that lingers long after the sip.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1765 by Irish officer Richard Hennessy, Maison Hennessy is the world's leading Cognac house, nestled along the banks of the Charente River in Cognac, France. The house's enduring excellence is rooted in centuries of savoir-faire and a historic multi-generational collaboration with the Fillioux family of Master Blenders. Utilizing meticulously selected Ugni Blanc grapes from Cognac's finest crus—including Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois—Hennessy double-distills in traditional copper pot stills before patient maturation in fine-grained French oak casks. Renowned for setting international benchmarks, its iconic range spans the elegant VSOP Privilège and the original X.O—pioneered in 1870—to exceptional prestige assemblages like Hennessy Paradis and Richard Hennessy.
🍇 Base Ingredient
Ugni Blanc
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
40