Hennessy remains synonymous with cognac to this day. “It was in 1859, the Prince of Wales, later King George IV of Great Britain, requested that Hennessy create a “very superior old pale cognac,” a designation now used across the entire industry.”

Hennessy X.O was created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy for his circle of friends. The first cognac to be labeled extra old is made by blending some 100 different eaux-de-vie. At the 2019 Oscars, this iconic spirit was promoted with a short film directed by Ridley Scott.