Hennessy Celebrates 150 year Milstone

Hennessy X.O hosted an event to celebrate its 150th anniversary which brought together some of the Top Tier CEO’s in Kenya. The event is yet another instance of the energy, persistence and hope demonstrated by Maison Hennessy this year in an effort to support its communities in Cognac and internationally.

 “World Odyssey” carries a dual message from the illustrious cognac maker and the artist, one of consolation to those affected by the pandemic, and of confidence in the future that will be live-streamed across digital platforms.

“Hennessy X.O is the cognac for every occasion. Its timelessness – the fact that its inspiration never changes and never bends to the whims of trends means that it exists in a realm beyond fashion. As time goes by, we have noticed that people are appreciating a wider array of moments for tasting than they ever have before. Its versatility is what I think makes Hennessy X.O so contemporary and relevant today,” notes Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, the 8th generation Master Blender for the Maison Hennessy.

 As the Maison’s emblematic blend, Hennessy X.O quickly contributed to defining an entire family of cognacs, setting a standard for excellence that lives on to this day, across cognacs. Hennessy X.O was embraced all over the world – starting with the US in 1871, followed by Asia (Shanghai and Hong Kong) in 1872.

Most of all, it became synonymous with elegance and quality, thanks to a graceful yet complex blend of Eaux-de-vie. This alchemy gives the cognac its intense amber hue, rich layering of flavours with extraordinary persistence on the palate. Each drop of Hennessy X.O is an invitation to awaken the senses. Thanks to a meticulous blending process, Hennessy X.O is a cognac of time-honoured consistency.

The Master Blenders’ commitment to preserving quality, from the very first carafe to this day, has made this cognac an enduring symbol: its noble character stirs taste sensations while it’s powerful, carefully balanced structure guarantees an extremely long finish. To fully describe the cognac’s many facets, the Hennessy Tasting Committee has singled out flavours, sensations and emotions and charted the sensorial odyssey that defines the Hennessy X.O experience.

Every sip of Hennessy X.O offers a rare “taste-scape”: a distinct sensation and an extraordinary story. Seven chapters are divided into sweet notes, rising heat, spicy edge, flowing flames, chocolate lull and wood crunches, leaving a lasting impression – a sensation the Tasting Committee calls “an infinite echo”.

HENNESSY X.O: INSPIRING THE ARTS

Hennessy X.O has long been celebrated by artists and icons in their own right. The Hennessy X.O odyssey is one that the internationally acclaimed filmmakers Ridley Scott and Nicholas Winding Refn each have explored. Commissioned in 2019 and 2016, respectively, their films harnessed the emotions this blend arouses and rendered them in unforgettable cinematic sequences.

 The Hennessy X.O odyssey has been celebrated through exclusive artistic events. In 2017, Hennessy mounted an exhibition at selected points along the Silk Road, retracing its adventure through the artwork of seven artists in seven cities and countries the famed route traverses, from Istanbul, Turkey, to Shanghai, China.

In keeping with the legacy of the distinctive carafe Gérald de Geoffre designed for Hennessy X.O in 1947, the Maison Hennessy has become synonymous with bold and daring contemporary design. Leading designers on the international scene — Marc Newson and Tom Dixon among them – have reinterpreted Hennessy X.O’s multifaceted story in highly sought-after collector’s editions.

Exceptional sizes, notably the six-litre Mathusalem, have inspired artisans and artists to create limited editions. “Not only is Hennessy X.O an icon among cognacs, it’s a beautiful symbol of Hennessy’s ability to last. Then, as now, we always looked toward the horizon,” notes Master Blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde