XO Excellence Cognac
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy immediately; spirits do not mature further in the bottle. Best served at room temperature (18–21°C) to fully appreciate its complex bouquet, or with a single large, slow-melting ice sphere. Store the bottle upright in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Superb when served neat, with a few drops of pure spring water to open up the aromas, or over a single large ice cube. For culinary pairings, it beautifully complements rich dark chocolate desserts, roasted duck breast with a cherry reduction, or a selection of mature, earthy cheeses like Roquefort.
✨ Technical Specifications
First created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy for his inner circle of friends, the XO designation—standing for 'Extra Old'—was born with this very expression, forever redefining the standards of Cognac. Hennessy XO Excellence represents a masterful assembly of over 100 eaux-de-vie, some aged for up to thirty years, sourced from the region's finest crus, including Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois. The spirit undergoes maturation in relatively young French oak casks, allowing the wood to impart robust structure and deep amber hues. This intensive wood contact is balanced by the rich, complex fruit characters of the aged distillates. On the nose, it reveals a rich tapestry of candied fruit, wild cocoa, and sharp black pepper, which transitions on the palate into a velvety, full-bodied symphony of warm cinnamon, dried prunes, and toasted oak, culminating in an incredibly long, resonant finish.
🍾 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%