HENNESSY LEGACY
Could Richard Hennessy and his eldest son James possibly have imagined at the end of the eighteenth century that, one day, their cognac would have travelled the world over, ignoring borders and challenging traditions?
1765
At the beginning, Richard Hennessy, an Irish officer
1794
First shipments of Hennessy cognac to America
1804
Once barrelled now bottled
1806
When two become one
1817
Creation of Hennessy Very Superior Old Pale
1818
First shipments of Hennessy to Russia
1819
First shipments to Calcutta, India
1852
The first shipment to Australia
1856
The 'Bras Armé,' becomes the brand symbol
1859
The first Hennessy shipments to China
1865
Contribution to the creation of a star based classification system for cognac qualities.
1866
First shipments of Hennessy to Japan
1869
First shipments of Hennessy to Brazil
1870
Maurice Hennessy creates a new quality named X.O
1891
First shipments of Hennessy to Zanzibar
1912
Hennessy advertising in Asia
1947
Creation of the Hennessy X.O carafe
1949
Hennessy accompanies Paul-Emile Victor
1979
Creation of Hennessy Paradis
1996
Creation of Richard Hennessy
1765
At the beginning, Richard Hennessy, an Irish officer
The Hennessy cognac trading house is founded by Richard Hennessy, an Irish man who had previously served as an officer in the army of Louis XV.
1794
First shipments of Hennessy cognac to America
According to the Maison archives, Hennessy cognac arrives to New York. From then on, it becomes more and more popular in the United States, a country that had gained its independence just 18 years before. Hennessy has never left America since, establishing itself increasingly firmly in African American music.
1804
Once barrelled now bottled
In order to reach the far corners of the globe, Hennessy is one of the first to export cognac in labelled glass bottles. The Hennessy label was seen as a guarantee of quality, sought-after all over the world.
1806
When two become one
Richard Hennessy names Jean Fillioux as the first Hennessy Master Blender. Jean Fillioux who had joined Hennessy as a cooper to construct barrels, was put in charge of overseeing the reserve of eaux-de-vie. An extraordinary relationship developes between the two families: eight generations of Fillioux have overseen the aging and blending of cognacs produced by the Hennessy family.
1817
Creation of Hennessy Very Superior Old Pale
The Prince of Wales, later King George IV of Great Britain, a great cognac connoisseur asks Hennessy to create a "very superior old pale" cognac.
1818
First shipments of Hennessy to Russia
Empress Maria Federovna asks Maison Hennessy to produce the most exceptional cognac as a birthday present for her son Czar Alexander I. From then on, the imperial family regularly orders Hennessy cognac.
1819
First shipments to Calcutta, India
The first official record of a Hennessy shipment to India dates from 1819. Special precautions are taken due to the long trip and the very special weather conditions. John Exshaw, based in Bordeaux, was a trading house specialized in ultramarine trade and recommended that Hennessy House use high-quality, well-ironed barrels.
1852
The first shipment to Australia
From 1850 to 1914, Australia is one of Hennessy best customers. Cognac is shipped on boats and transboarded in Tonnay Charente for London where it is taken care of by English merchants in charge of its transport to Australia.
1856
The 'Bras Armé,' becomes the brand symbol
The iconic fist clutching a hatchet refers to founder Richard Hennessy's family coat of arms.
1859
The first Hennessy shipments to China
Since the opening of the Suez Canal in the mid-nineteenth century, China had been no more than a month away from the great southern French port of Marseille. The first Hennessy order arrives from China on December 28th, 1859. Nicquet Faroux & Schuwirth fulfills the order for 25 cases, each containing 12 bottles of Hennessy pale eaux-de-vie vintage 1857.
1865
Contribution to the creation of a star based classification system for cognac qualities.
Maurice Hennessy, great-grandson of founder Richard Hennessy, contributes to the creation of a cognac classification. This classification offers varying numbers of stars to designate different quality, giving rise to Hennessy's Three Star Cognac.
1866
First shipments of Hennessy to Japan
The first trace of an expedition of Hennessy to Japan found in the Maison archives dates back to October 18, 1866. Shipping to Morgan Brother in Yokohama, 35 cases of twelve bottles of Fine Pale.
1869
First shipments of Hennessy to Brazil
First shipments to Brazil, 30 cases of one star eau-de-vie, for Munzer & Spann.
1870
Maurice Hennessy creates a new quality named X.O
Maurice Hennessy creates the Cognac Hennessy X.O (Extra Old). Originally for family and friends, it becomes emblematic of the Maison Hennessy and contributes to the category's creation. Hennessy X.O is today a worldwide reference for cognacs.
1891
First shipments of Hennessy to Zanzibar
February 28, 1891 sees the first expedition to Africa, outside of South Africa and Maghreb. The order is shipped to Zanzibar, which is under British protectorate since July 1, 1890. It is Henry Greffulhe, a banker, who placed the order for 25 cases of three stars eau-de-vie.
1912
Hennessy advertising in Asia
Hennessy ads increase the brand visibility in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
1947
Creation of the Hennessy X.O carafe
Gérald de Geoffre de Chabrignac, a descendant of Richard Hennessy, creates the now distinctive X.O flacon design.
1949
Hennessy accompanies Paul-Emile Victor
True to the brand's adventurous personality, bottles of Hennessy 3-Star cognacs accompany the Paul-Emile Victor expedition to the Arctic.
1979
Creation of Hennessy Paradis
Master Blender Maurice Fillioux, 6th generation of Master Blender creates Hennessy Paradis as an ode to symphonic music – a voluptuous cognac made from eaux-de-vie selected for their distinctiveness to make the perfect blend.
1996
Creation of Richard Hennessy
Master Blender Yann Fillioux, 7th generation, creates for true connoisseurs of great cognac, Richard Hennessy. This superb blend is a testament to 250 years of history, talent, knowledge and expertise, encapsulating the Hennessy savoir-faire.
HENNESSY HAS ALWAYS TRAVELED TO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE GLOBE
Newsletter
Please register to stay in touch with Hennessy and receive our latest news.