To provide for his young family, he apprenticed to a merchant and immediately grasped the potential of the nascent eau-de-vie trade. He resolved to become not only a merchant himself, but a maker of outstanding, uncompromising cognacs, and settled on the quais of the Charente River in Cognac.
Richard Hennessy had a flair for business, and an even greater ability to sense talent in others. He surrounded himself with gifted collaborators who would understand and support his vision.
Foremost among these was his son, James, who established the Hennessy family's partnership with the Fillioux family of Master Blenders. That move would prove prescient: Hennessy's reputation flourished, its reserves of remarkable eaux-de-vie grew, and the House's cognacs soon made their way to the royal courts of Europe and beyond.
Yet despite his success, little could Richard have known then that his two founding principles — selecting only eaux-de-vie with outstanding aging potential and sharing the secrets of craftsmanship with younger generations — would become an enduring legacy.
History would remember Richard Hennessy as the architect of eternity.
Today, more than 250 years and eight generations later, the bond between the Hennessy and Fillioux families remains as strong as ever, a unique story in the world of luxury spirits. And the House that bears Richard's name, the celebrated maker of some of the world's finest cognacs, still resides at its original address, a testament to a founder's vision.
RICHARD HENNESSY: A LIVING TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND
The Maison Hennessy is proud to unveil a new design for Richard Hennessy, the rarest cognac in its collection and an exceptional tribute to its founder and history.
Confident and assertive, this exceptional blend is made from some of the scarcest eaux-de-vie in Hennessy's reserves, carefully selected and preserved in The Founder's Cellar on the family estate. For this reason, Richard Hennessy cognac has been crafted in an extremely limited quantity: 12 tierçons, a historic barrel handcrafted in French oak by generations of cooper masters at Hennessy's own tonnellerie, or barrel-making workshop.
In a meeting of visionary minds, Richard Hennessy's monumental legacy finds a contemporary incarnation in a bold, architectural, and graceful decanter in Baccarat crystal, as well as ritual accessories (glasses, a fusil, and a tray) designed by the world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.
A masterpiece for a masterpiece, this aesthetically striking decanter is an art object in its own right that brilliantly expresses the character of Richard Hennessy and the cognac he inspired: it is visionary, complex, and unapologetically intense.
"There is a complexity, process and structure to cognac, just as there is in architecture," says Daniel Libeskind. "I am inspired by the interplay of history and the future — a particular magic happens when the two come together. And I relish bringing a myriad of ideas from different areas to the design process, because I believe it elevates and brings new meaning to design."
For Richard Hennessy, Daniel Libeskind immersed himself in the richness of history and dedication to craft to design a bottle that is as visionary as the man who inspired it. To capture the founder's spirit, he started with a classic cognac bottle shape, imbuing the geometric, crystalline forms of Baccarat crystal with soft, organic curves that bring new energy and complexity to the cognac it contains.
The result is at once intuitive and unexpected: a monumental tribute to a pioneer.
A BLEND OF PERFECT COMPLEXITY
A tribute to 250 years of history, the Richard Hennessy blend represents the quintessence of a Master Blender's savoir-faire. A rich, controlled, timeless experience, it has a unique complexity and incomparable aromas that make a true connoisseur's cognac.
Selected for their capacity to withstand the effects of time, eaux-de-vie with the rarest, most aromatic qualities have been blended with some remarkable younger eaux-de-vie to create this outstanding and intense cognac.
On the palate, it takes the senses by surprise, revealing a powerful, spicy taste and aromatic notes of leather and candied fruits. These, together with its persistent finish, evoke the adventurous soldier who grew into a visionary entrepreneur.
The Richard Hennessy blend, now presented in its tribute coffret and decanter with accessories designed by Daniel Libeskind, will be unveiled in March.
Prices upon request.
ABOUT DANIEL LIBESKIND
An international figure in architecture and urban design, Daniel Libeskind is acclaimed for his ability to evoke cultural memory through exquisite geometries. Drawing inspiration from other artistic fields — music, philosophy, literature, and poetry — Libeskind creates architecture that is resonant, unique, and sustainable. This exclusive decanter marks is his first collaboration with Maison Hennessy.
Born in Lódz, Poland, in 1946, Libeskind immigrated to the United States as a teenager, where his family settled in the Bronx, New York. He received the American-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship and performed as a musical virtuoso before deciding to study architecture instead. Libeskind's works span internationally recognized cultural institutions and commercial centers alike. In 2003, Studio Libeskind won a historic competition — to create a master plan for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. Other projects for which he is internationally renowned include the Jewish Museum Berlin (Germany), the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, Canada), Crystals at City Center (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA), and the Museum of Zhang Zhidong (Wuhan, China).
As Principal Design Architect for Studio Libeskind, he speaks widely on the art of architecture in universities and professional summits. His architecture and ideas have been the subject of many articles and exhibitions, influencing the field of architecture and the development of cities and culture.