Hennessy is a leading manufacturer of cognac.
Hennessy was born when Irishman Richard Hennessy moved to the town of Cognac in France in 1765 and started a trading business. His son, James Hennessy, expanded the business into the brandy production with which the town is now synonymous. The business was renamed James Hennessy and Co. - a name the company retains today. The company has been managed by successive generations of Hennessys (now it is eighth generation). Ownership has changed over the years though. In 1971 Hennessy merged with Moet et Chandon. In 1987 the drinks group then merged with fashion house Louis Vuitton to create what is now the world's largest luxury goods business - LVMH.
Hennessy currently sells about three million cases of cognac each year. Recent innovations include trying to broaden the appeal of the drink beyond its traditional base of older drinkers, by introducing new products such as "Pure White" and "Fine de Cognac" and marketing them accordingly.
The largest single consumer of Hennessy cognac in the world is North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. Combined with Red Bull energy drink, it forms Crunk juice, a cocktail popularized by Crunk artists Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins.
Hennessy products
- Hennessy Pure White
- Hennessy V.S. - Hennessy's enduring classic. V.S. stands for "very special".
- Hennessy V.S.O.P. Privilege
- Hennessy Fine de Cognac
- Hennessy X.O.
- Hennessy Private Reserve - Premium brand. Rarely accessible on the open market.
- Hennessy Paradis Extra
- Richard Hennessy
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