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
The 'Bras Armé', becomes the brand symbol
The iconic fist clutching a hatchet refers to founder Richard Hennessy's family coat of arms
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.
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 accompanies Paul-Emile Victor
True to the brand's adventurous personality, bottles of Hennessy three-star cognacs accompany the Paul-Emile Victor expedition to the Arctic.
Hennessy advertising in Asia
Hennessy ads increase the brand's visibility in SHanghai and Hong Kong
First shipment of Hennessy to Zanzibar
February 28, 1891 sees the first expedition to Africa, outside of South Africa and the 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-star eau-de-vie.
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 Marseilles. 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.
First shipments to Calcutta, India
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.
First shipment 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.
Creation of Hennessy very superior old paule
The Prince of Wales, later King George IV of Great Britain and a great cognac connoisseur, asks Hennessy to create a "very superior old pale" cognac.
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, is put in charge of overseeing the reserve of eaux-de-vie. An extraordinary relationship develops between the two families: eight generations of Fillioux have overseen the aging and blending of cognacs produced by the Hennessy family.
Once barrelled, now bottled
In order to reach the far corners of the globe, Hennessy is one of the first to export cognac in labeled glass bottles. The Hennessy label was seen as a guarantee of quality, sought-after all over the world.
First shipment of Hennesst cognac to Amercia
According to the Maison archives, Hennessy cognac arrives in New York. From then on, it becomes more and more popular i the United States, a country that had gained its independence just 18 years before. Hennessy has never left America since, establishing itself incrasingly firmly in Afrincan American music.
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.
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. 35 cases of twelve bottles of Fine Pale are shipped to Morgan Brother in Yokohama.
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.
First shipments of Hennessy to Brazil
First shipments to Brazil, 30 cases of one-star eau-de-vie, for Munzer & Spann
Contribution to the creation of a star-based classification system for cognac quality
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 levels, giving rise to Hennessy's Three Star Cognac.
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.