In this article, we will comprehensively examine the products of Hennessy cognac house. What are the properties of elite drinks of this brand? How to distinguish them from a fake? What do domestic consumers say about cognac? Particular attention will be given to the Hennessy VSOP brand. This cognac has a very interesting story. And what else are Hennessy? We will decipher their abbreviation for you. But the fact that the Hennessy brandy house is part of the Louis Vuitton holding, a well-known manufacturer of luxury accessories and elite drinks, indicates the high quality of its products. The main thing is that it be authentic. How to protect yourself from counterfeiting, read in this article.
History of Cognac House
In the world of manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, brands traditionally bear the name of their inventors and first owners. This rule was not spared by Hennessy cognac house either. It all started with a wound, which in 1745 was received by Jacobite Richard Hennessey, who served as captain in the Irish regiment of Louis XV, king of France. Since the veteran was ordered to return to his homeland, he decided to settle in the vicinity of the city of Cognac and start a new life. The retired captain decided not to reinvent the wheel, but to do what almost all residents of the Charente department worked on — that is, to produce the distillate of the same name. And Richard Hennessy’s case went. In 1765, he founded a cognac house, to which he gave his name, and in 1794 even began to work for export - he delivered his products to North America. But the Hennessy VSOP brand was born a little later - in 1817. And the history of this drink should be told specifically.
What is the abbreviation VSOP?
So, in this fateful 1817, the Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne of Great Britain (later he ascended the throne under the name of George the Fourth), ordered cognac from Hennessy. In his letter of wishes, he indicated that he would like to receive a “very superior old pale cognac”. The first four words are in English and were taken for the abbreviation of French cognacs. Little of. The VSOP abbreviation was later applied to the classification of not only cognacs in general, but also for Armagnacs and brandy. News about the acquisition of elite goods is spreading among royalty with the speed of a steppe fire, and already in the next 1818, the Dowager Empress of Russia Maria Fedorovna orders the first batch of a drink from Hennessy. The popularity of Hennessy cognac VSOP grew. In 1859, the first batch of the drink left for China. Three years before this cognac house acquired a coat of arms. A hand holding a halberd now flaunts on the face labels of this drink. In 1971, the cognac house merged with the producer of champagne Moët & Chandon - the largest in France. And in 1987 they became part of a giant holding company - LVMH. This abbreviation stands for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy.
Abbreviation for "stars"
Does VSOP reduction have anything to do with cognac aging? Of course! In 1865, Richard’s great-grandson, Morris Richard Hennessy even proposed a new classification of his products - the usual stars for us. These symbols on the bottle label indicate the minimum aging of cognac spirits that were used in the manufacture of the drink. Such a classification has taken root, but not in the vicinity of the city of Cognac and not in the department of Charente. Letters continue to be used in the products of local wine houses, although the general principle of exposure to aging remains. Thus, three years of aging of the drink correspond to the classification of VS. Four stars are the VSOP Hennessey. Aging for more than five years transfers cognac to the category of XO. Of course, measuring the quality of this elite drink exclusively with asterisks would be a significant simplification. Indeed, the main thing in cognacs is assembly. Although the age of alcohols is also very important.
Classic Hennessy Range
Let's take a closer look at the products of this reputable wine house. The most common, you can say ordinary, is Hennessy VS cognac. This abbreviation stands for Very Special. The brand was issued in 1865 by the great-grandson of the founder of the company, Morris Hennessy. The name "very special" in one fell swoop crosses out a hint of ordinary. Still: forty spirits at the age of 2-7 years make up its assembly. Hennessy Privilege VSOP has an even richer range of flavors. Grapes for this brandy are grown in four districts of Charente. Assembly form sixty alcohols from six to twelve years. For aging use only old oak barrels, the wood of which has already lost some of the tannin, which makes the drink acquire lightness, subtlety and complex character. And finally, the top three classic Hennessey cognacs closes the brand X.O. (Extra Old). It was created in 1870 with the participation of more than a hundred alcohols with aging from 20 to 30 years.
Hennessy Elite Series and New
In addition to the classic line (X.O, VSOP and VS), there are a number of elite class drinks. This is Hennesy Paradies, which first appeared on the market in 1979. The masters of assemblage, the Fiiyu family, have been working with the Hennessy house for over two hundred years, and each generation surprises the world with something new. One hundred brandy spirits over 15 years old participate in Paradis. In Pure White - a light brandy of the English type - alcohol from Fen Bois predominates, which gives the drink a light floral-fruity taste. In 1996, Ian Fiyu composed a new assembly, which he dedicated to the founder of the wine house. Hennessy Richard is involved in the Folle Blanche grapes harvested in the distant 1800s and 1830-1860s. And, finally, the same Jan Fiyu in 2011 created Hennesy Imperial on the basis of the Hennessy VSOP (the one created for the king). It is impossible to ignore the collection of cognacs released in limited quantities. For example, only 2,000 Baccarat carafes with the elite Hennessy Timeless drink were produced by the Millennium. Eleven spirits of the most successful crops of the twentieth century took part in its manufacture. Of particular note are Hennessy Ellips and Hennessy Private Reserve.
VSOP Hennessy Qualities
The customer - the Crown Prince and future King of Great Britain George the Fourth - was not a simple client. Therefore, Richard Hennessey was very sensitive to his wishes. The letter stated "very superior old pale", that is, very old and soft aged. The task is not an easy one. After all, the longer cognac is infused in oak barrels, the more it gains tannin, which makes its taste more “full-bodied”. The winemaker approached the task creatively. He insisted on spirits in old, already reusable Limousin oak barrels. Thanks to this technique, the drink turned out to have a special velvety taste, just melting in the mouth. Hennessy VSOP - the photo shows this - has a light amber color. The taste of this cognac is soft, well balanced, with hints of fresh grapes and honey. The rich bouquet smells of cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and a slight smell of smoke soars above these spices. The aftertaste of cognac is long. It clearly felt notes of sweet fruit and almonds.
Price
Good brandy, by definition, cannot be cheap. After all, they need to be expertly blended and carefully grown. "Hennessy VSOP" 1 liter costs about forty Euros. And this is in duty free shops. In domestic alcohol shops, one will also have to shell out money for customs duties and surplus value tax. However, the quality of the drink is worth it. The prices for the collection brands of Hennessy cognac in the Russian market will start from several hundred thousand rubles (for example, for Timeless). A "VSOP" can be purchased for five thousand rubles per liter bottle. If you are offered a product at a lower price, this is a fake.
Hennessy VSOP: How to Drink
This is a typical digestif. Reviews recommend enjoying cognac in a relaxed atmosphere and not on an empty stomach. Pour the drink into digestive or cognac glasses. Lightly warm in the palms. They drink in small sips, without biting. Only in this way, users say, you will feel a train of spices and honey. Reviews and experts recommend using Hennessy in its purest form. It is not suitable for cocktails.
"Hennessy VSOP": how to distinguish a fake
Hennessy is already a symbol. Luxury, sophistication, impeccability. It is clear that many dishonest businessmen are trying to cash in on his fame. How to distinguish an authentic drink from a fake? First, buy brandy (and other alcohol) only in trusted stores. Secondly, take a closer look at the container. The bottle should be free of chips, scratches, signs of soldering. Gift boxes should not get their hands dirty with paint; they are sold without scuffs and tears. The label on the authentic Hennessey is glued evenly, all the inscriptions and drawings are clear, the gilding is not erased with your fingers. The cork sits tight, does not scroll and does not swing. Now jerk upside down the bottle. The original “Hennessy” has large air bubbles, and droplets flowing down the glass are viscous, leaving an oil mark. Reviews recommend paying attention to the transparency of the drink. Take a look at the bottle. If you see the clear lines of your finger on the opposite side, you have the real Hennessy VSOP in your hands.