Hennessy VS Cognac: Everything You Need To Know

Hennessy is a leading brand among various cognacs available today (via Rolling Stone). It is very popular in bars and homes across the U.S. (via Statista). Hennessy has even spawned its own slang term; the popular term "drinkin' Henny," is specifically used to refer to drinking Hennessy brand cognac (via Dictionary.com).

Cognac is a type of French brandy. Brandy has been used for centuries as medicine: French monks were so taken with its medicinal properties that they labeled it "eau-de-vie" which translates to "water of life" (via Greatist). Cognac was also typically enjoyed as a digestif (via Eater). 

Hennessy cognac arrived in U.S. markets in 1794 and has since grown to acquire a stronghold on the Cognac market (via The Spruce Eats). According to Slate, the drink was consumed and popularized by African American soldiers and jazz musicians who spent time in France during and between both world wars. 

Like other cognacs, Hennessy is made from white grapes that are fermented into wine and then aged in barrels for at least two years, leading to this drink's fruity, oaky taste, and deep amber color. In order to be labeled as Cognac, the harvesting of the grapes and the production must take place in the Cognac region of France.

Hennessy V.S Cognac is the company's flagship cognac. It has a bit more bite than other cognacs and boasts a whopping 80 proof, or 40% alcohol (via Difford's Guide). There's so much to know about this cognac and this company. 

The American policy of prohibition was enforced from 1920 to 1933 and made it became illegal to sell or consume alcohol (via History Extra). Breweries and alcohol producers during this time had to find new ways to make money just to stay afloat (via The Mob Museum). Some breweries started selling malt syrup and yeast.

Wineries began selling grapes and raisins to customers (via MassLive.com). Several wineries made wine specifically for religious practices since this was one of the few exceptions to the prohibition. Producers of hard liquors had to get more creative, though. Doctors during the prohibition frequently wrote prescriptions for alcohol (via Smithsonian Magazine). During the time, alcohol was thought to aid health issues such as indigestion and cancer. 

Hennessy, of course, was intent on surviving and wanted in on the action. Thankfully William Schiefflin offered Hennessy as a prescription option at his drugstore, which enabled the brand's continued success. Eventually, Schiefflin gave up the pretense, and Schiefflin & Co. became a key liquor distributor (via Maxim). 

Want to impress your friends and family with your cognac knowledge? There is a simple way: There is an entire grading system that is used to indicate the age of brandies on bottle labels (via VinePair). Generally, the older the brandy, the pricier it becomes.

VS literally stands for "Very Special." Yes, that is the real term for this category of Cognac. Hennessy Very Special Cognac is generally aged for two to five years (via Difford's Guide). It is the youngest in Hennessy's line of cognacs and is also the most well-known (via Cognac.com). The brand offers several easy-to-prepare cocktail recipes for the Hennessy V.S. cognac.  

VS is followed by VSOP or "Very Superior Old Pale" on the grading scale and refers to brandy that has been aged for at least four years. Finally, brandy aged for six years or more is labeled XO for "Extra Old." The Hors d' Age category refers to extremely old cognacs.

It's hard not to wonder who exactly came up with these terms. But now that you're aware of them, you can impress people with your very special cognac knowledge.

Even hundreds of years after its founding, the Hennessy V.S, along with all other cognacs, is made in Cognac, France (via Hennessy). The V.S Cognac is made from ugni blanc grapes, which are harvested and turned into a low alcohol white wine (via YouTube). The wine production process for cognacs begins in October, when grapes are typically harvested, pressed, and fermented for five to seven days (via Difford's Guide).

The wine is then taken to one of three Hennessy distilleries, all of which have 10 traditional copper stills each. Unlike wine that is intended for bottling and consumption, Cognac wine goes into the distillation process still cloudy, with the lees, or the juice and the pulp, still present, which adds body to the liquid. Cognac is generally distilled twice. The distillation process spans from November to March. Following distillation, the cognac is transferred into oak barrels to age for at least two years.

We are not going to sugarcoat it: Cognac is an expensive drink (via Liquor Laboratory). The high cost can be attributed to the high quality of materials that are used to make it as well as the extended periods of time the liquid spends resting in barrels. 

A 750-milliliter bottle of Hennessy V.S typically runs between $33.99 to 38.99 per bottle. While this isn't exactly cheap, the fact that a bottle of Hennessy V.S.O.P starts at $83.99 puts things into perspective and makes Hennessy V.S easier to swallow. That being said, Hennessy V.S is more expensive than other VS options; it is considered a mid-range Cognac option (via The Spruce Eats). 

According to Congac.com, the V.S cognac is priced between 5% to 20% higher than competitors. How does Hennessy get away with charging so much for bottom-shelf Cognac? The answer is simple: Hennessy is a known and trusted brand, meaning that they can charge a higher price due to the recognition associated with the brand name. Between the Hennessy brand's status and the supply shortages caused by the climate, Hennessy can often justify charging a hefty sum for the V.S Cognac. 

Hennessy V.S is the top-selling Cognac in the world, and not by a small margin (via Decanter). This iconic brand effortlessly outpaces all other options. In 2019, Hennessy outperformed the second highest-selling brand by more than double (via The Spirits Business). According to Statista, Hennessy accounts for 69% of the global sales volume and 26% of the market share in the U.S. in 2020. Not bad for a French company started more than 250 years ago by an Irishman.

As has been previously mentioned, Hennessy V.S remains wildly popular in spite of the fact that it is relatively more expensive than other similar varieties (via Cognac.com).  This can be partially attributed to customer perceptions, which hold this brand in high regard and associate it with high standards, quality, and goodwill. Hennessy's adaptability and investments in the community have also helped this brand stay the top-selling Cognac in America. 

Cognac has long been associated with music culture: It was popular among jazz musicians in France and receives continued recognition in hip hop music (via Cool Accidents). According to VinePair, Hennessy has been mentioned in more than 1,000 songs. The brand is referenced in songs such as "Hennessy” by Tupac, "One Dance" by Drake, and Cardi B's hit "WAP," to name just a few. 

Cardi B's sister's stage name, Hennessy Carolina, is inspired by the drink. In 2015, the brand commemorated its 250th anniversary by naming famed hip-hop artist Nas as its brand ambassador. This connection between Hennessy and hip hop transcends domestic and national boundaries: As Congo-born artist Youssoupha said in an interview with Hennessy "the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Hennessy Cognac is rap, American rap. It's rap from the U.S. that I grew up with and enjoyed." 

Hennessy's ability to stay present in pop culture has helped it stay relevant across generations. Even though it's a drink that many people remember their grandparents drinking, it doesn't get categorized as an old drink. Hennessy has stayed present in the zeitgeist, giving the brand a wonderfully timeless quality.