Hennessy creates ultimate 250-year expression

Hennessy 250 Collectors Blend is a tribute to over seven generations of Cognac in the Hennessy and Fillioux families.

Hennessy Cognac is celebrating its 250th Anniversary throughout 2015. To pay tribute to two and a half centuries of excellence and over seven generations of the Maison, Hennessy has created the ultimate testament to its quarter-millennial year: a signature blend of exceptional eaux-de-vies selected from Hennessy’s Founders Cellar, built in 1774 and acquired by Hennessy in 1850 for the purposes of maturation. 

The Hennessy family has worked with the Fillioux family since Jaques Hennessy appointed Jean Fillioux as his master blender in 1800. Yann Fillioux – Hennessy’s current master blender and seventh generation of the Fillioux family – has spent four years preparing this 250 year celebration cognac with the Hennessy Tasting Committee. There are just 250 barrels of the Collector’s Blend, each one containing 250 litres of the Hennessy 250 Collectors Blend comprising eaux-de-vies of 15 years and older

“Our Collector’s Blend has been created with the utmost precision and expertise – it is an expression of absolute perfectionism and a tribute from the present members of Hennessy’s unique Tasting Committee to their predecessors,” says Fillioux.

 “This is truly a product that has been shaped and carefully constructed: it is at home with itself,” said Olivier Paultes, one of the Hennessy Tasting Committee members and head of distillation. Hennessy’s tasting committee is a unique embodiment of collective individualism; the seven members meet each morning to taste over 50 eaux-de-vies, contributing their independent thoughts and considerations to the processes of selection, maturation and blending.  

Matured in wide-grained Limousin oak casks which add a subtle touch of vanilla and oak, the 250 barrels that hold the 250 Collector Blend have been specially sized by Hennessy’s coopers at La Tonnellerie de la Sarrazine. The most common standard barrel sizes are 350 or 270 litres, generations of master blenders have noted that the smaller barrels produce more elegant spirits. For this anniversary, bespoke 250 litre barrels were created, adding extra wood influence to the final cognac.

Each bottle is presented as an elegant crystal decanter created by glassware designer Stéphanie Balini (who also designed of the Hennessy Paradis Imperial bottle). The decanter is a sleek and contemporary take on the classic Hennessy shape bottle renowned the world over.

The Hennessy 250 Collectors Blend follows a long line of prestige anniversary cognacs released by the House, the first one being created in 1865 to mark the 100th year.

It will be available in the UK from 1 April, RRP £360 (per 1 litre bottle).

31 March 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor