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SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL
by NICK NUNES IN 1765, Richard Hennessy founded not just a company, but a lasting tradition that exemplified the lifestyle of luxury, dedication, craftsmanship, and an experience that has evolved and incorporated 250 years of class. For his stellar military service to France, Hennessy was awarded French citizenship and lands in Cognac, France, where he founded the House of Hennessy with his partners and established a thriving business exporting brandies, mostly to his native Ireland and England. The Bras Armé, the Hennessy family’s coat of arms, became the symbol of the Hennessy brand. The brand of the arm wielding an axe harkens back to the military service that won Hennessy the right to land and paved the way to founding a tradition that has lasted quarter of a millennium. The House of Hennessy Hennessy hired Jean Fillioux as the first Hennessy master winemaker in 1786 and began another lasting tradition within the Hennessy House. Extraordinarily, the relationship between the two families, eight generations of direct Fillioux descendants, has continued within the Hennessy House to this day. Throughout the years, the creation of Hennessy cognacs has been overseen by the Fillioux family, including Yann Fillioux, master winemaker of today. By 1792, the first shipments of Hennessy had arrived in the United
States and this time-tested cognac swiftly gained popularity throughout the new nation in the West. Today, the company of Jas Hennessy & Co. sells about 50 million bottles a year worldwide, or more than 40 per cent of the world’s cognac, making it the world's largest cognac producer. Since then, the United States has been the No.1 market in the world for Hennessy cognac. Built in 1810, Chateau Bagnolet was acquired by Auguste Hennessy in 184, where he settled with his family and became known for hosting lavish gatherings. The house now serves as the international cultural headquarters for Hennessy, hosting dignitaries, artists and musicians, for a variety of special events. The middle of the 19th century saw the first deliveries of Hennessy cognac to China in 1859. The brand quickly became an ambassador for French culture in the Far East. Today, Hennessy is an icon in Chinese culture, a traditional part of family celebrations and fine cuisine. With arms stretched out from France both West and East, the image of Hennessy was already pervasive before the 20th century began. It wasn’t untill 1938 that Stokes & Bynoe Ltd was appointed distributor of Hennessy and joined a masterful tradition spanning the ages. The dawn of the automobile age ushered in a new era of mobile marketing. As one of the few truly global brands at the time, Hennessy was at the forefront, with tastefully adorned vehicles in lands as far flung as China, Portugal, the United States, England and beyond. Today, modern fermenting, ageing, and bottling techniques keep up with global
demand while maintaining the consistent excellence of Hennessy cognacs. Hennessy was also an early environmental pioneer and remains an industry leader in sustainable agricultural, production, and distribution methods.
APRIL 19, 2015
THE HENNESSY BRAND has been known around the world for centuries. (GP)
Meticulous methods make masterpieces The unique soil surrounding the River Charente in the Cognac region of France is the birthplace for all the grapes used to create Hennessy cognacs as has been the tradition for 250 years. Ugni Blanc grapes are harvested, crushed, fermented and then distilled according to strict practices perfected over time. Each fall, since the Roman Empire ruled the region, the grapes of Cognac are harvested. What was once done by hand is now achieved through carefully honed modern tools. The grapes are quickly pressed for fermentation, and for a few weeks, usually in October, the hillsides fill with the scent of fresh crushed grapes. Through centuries of experimentation, the Ugni Blanc variety of grapes prevailed as the dominant choice in the Cognac region. Perfect for distillation, the fruit boasts acidity, a high proportion of yeast, and is well suited to the chalky soils that characterise the hillside vineyards that surround the Charente region. Masters of an ancient craft, Hennessy coopers make watertight barrels without a single drop of glue or a single nail, using only wood, heat, water, and metal bands. Only French oaks from the nearby Limousin or Tronçais forests are used. These French oaks are known for their low resin
content and are perfect for ageing the world’s most iconic cognac. Predating revolutions in industry and production Starting a tradition of cognac making before the great boons of the industrial revolution, Hennessy once utilised teams of skilled bottlers to create and distribute its product to the markets. In the age of changing methods of production, the advent of steam and other innovations, Hennessy became one of the first spirit brands to distribute a product in bottles. Prior to this advance in packaging, spirits were distributed straight in their oaken casks. Continuing its proud traditions, the Hennessy tasting committee has met every morning at 11 for over a century. At its headquarters in Cognac, members gather to taste eaux de vie, catalogue maturation, and mastermind the blends that create Hennessy cognacs. A group and a ritual unique to Maison Hennessy, their generations of expertise creates the world’s finest
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