Hennessy
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| Type | Co-leader of LVMH |
|---|---|
| Industry | Winery |
| Genre | French winery |
| Founded | 1765 |
| Founder(s) | Richard Hennessy |
| Headquarters | 1, rue de la Richonne BP 20, 16101 Cognac France |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Bernard Peillon, Chairman & CEO |
| Products | Wine (cognac) |
| Revenue | €673 million (2009) |
| Net income | €218 million (2009) |
| Employees | 714 |
| Parent | LVMH |
| Website | www.hennessy.com |
Jas Hennessy & Co., or more simply Hennessy, is a world-leading cognac house with headquarters in Cognac, France. Today, the company of Jas Hennessy & Co. sells about 50 million bottles a year worldwide, or more than 40 percent of the world’s Cognac, making it the world's largest Cognac producer.
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[edit] History
The Hennessy cognac distillery was founded by Irishman Richard Hennessy in 1765.[1] During the 1970s, Kilian Hennessy, a fifth generation direct descendent of Hennessy, became the CEO of Hennessy.[1] Kilian Hennessy spearheaded the company's 1971 merger with Moët et Chandon, which created Moët Hennessy.[1]
Moët Hennessy became part of Louis Vuitton in 1987, creating one of the world's largest luxury brand conglomerates, Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton or LVMH.[1] Kilian Hennessy remained on the company's advisory board until his death in 2010 at the age of 103.[1]
[edit] Marketing
Recent innovations include trying to broaden the appeal of the drink beyond its traditional base of older drinkers, by introducing new products such as "Pure White," "Hennessy Black"[2] and "Fine de Cognac" and marketing them accordingly.[3]
In 2009, a limited edition bottle of Hennessy VS was released in honor of the inauguration of Barack Obama as 44th president of the United States of America. The bottle featured a black label with gold lettering. Also, the circle seal towards the base of the neck featured a large 44, the phrase "In Honor of the 44th President" and the date of President Obama's inauguration. A percentage of the proceeds made from the sales of the limited edition bottles will go towards the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
[edit] Popularity
Hennessy's popularity in the younger generation has increased in recent years, due mainly to it being referenced in quite a few rap and hip-hop songs.[4] Rappers such as Mac Dre, Xzibit, J. Cole, 2Pac, Nas, Dr. Dre, Krayzie Bone, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, DONNY DA DON, Nate Dogg, Bizzy Bone, Mike Posner, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Drake, The D.O.C., Busta Rhymes, Kendrick Lamar, Plies, Mobb Deep, Kid Cudi, P. Diddy, The Unibroz Young Buck, French Montana, Jon Ajamian, Max B, Al Kapone, D-Nice, Mac Miller, Tech N9ne, and BoM Squad have mentioned the liquor in their songs. A song titled "Hennessy" was written by Tupac discussing the liquor and referring to it as "that dark shit." [5] Hennessy is also mentioned in 50 Cent's song "high all the time" referring to it as "Henny". KC Tea, a mixed drink created by rapper Tech N9ne, is made with a double-shot of Hennessy, Sprite and lemon or lime juice. Mac Dre was also a huge fan of the company and product. Kanye West mentions Hennessy as one piece of a holy trinity in his Good Friday song, "The Joy."
Kim Jong-Il was a reputed connoisseur of it and had purchased $650,000 worth of it a year.[6]
Hennessy was also mentioned in the 1993 movie Schindler's List as a highly valued black market item used by Oskar Schindler (portrayed by Liam Neeson) as a way to gain favor with Nazi officials and officers.
[edit] Connection with the Doolittle Raid
As part of an annual reunion of the Doolittle Raid surviving members, a vintage 1896 bottle of Hennessy cognac is kept for a final toast by the last two living Raiders. The bottle, along with silver goblets representing the members of the raid are maintained at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.[7]
[edit] Products
- Hennessy Black (currently in limited release)[8]
- Hennessy White
- Hennessy V.S
- Privilége V.S.O.P
- Fine de Cognac
- Hennessy X.O
- Deutschland Moet Hennessy
- Pure White
- Private Reserve
- Hennessy Paradis
- Hennessy Diptyque
- Richard Hennessy
- Timeless: (only 2000 bottles produced)
- Ellipse: (only 2000 bottles produced)
- Beauté du Siècle (only 100 bottles produced, comes in chest)
- Hennessy VVVV (1860)
- Hennessy No.1
- Hennessy Silver Jubilee (1977)
- Hennessy First Landing 1868
- Hennessy Prive (bottled for Japan)
- Hennessy Library decanter
[edit] Collectors Bottles
- Hennessy VS "No 1" 2009 Artists Kesh and David Burrows
- Hennessy VS "44" 2009 Honor of 44th president
- Hennessy VS "NUL" 2010 Natioal Urban League
- Hennessy VS "BOA" 2010 Blending of Art (5 different bottles with 2 designers per)
- Hennessy VS "KAWS" 2011 New York graffiti artist KAWS design
- Hennessy Fine De Cognac and Tea 2011 Tea House Maison de Thé Théodor
- Hennessy VSOP Helios 2011 Gold Bottle (Named after Greek god of sun)
- Hennessy VSOP "NyX" 2011 Platinum bottle (label glows under black light)
- Hennessy XO Odyssey 2007-2011 Released every year since 07 (2011 bottle sits on rock formation)
- Hennessy Kenzo year Fashion designer Kenzo (subsidiary of LVMH)
- Hennessy Red Book 2011 Levandovka filling
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Cognac magnate Kilian Hennessy dies at 103". Agence France Presse. 2010-10-03. http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/cognac-magnate-kilian-hennessy-dies-at-103-official_100604.html. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ "Introducing Hennessy Black", Cocktail Enthusiast, June 2, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
- ^ Hein, Kenneth. "Cognac is in the house." Brandweek. September 22, 2003 [1]
- ^ MacLean, Natalie (2004-12-16). "Hurley tying the knot?; R. Kelly's battle with Jay-Z heats up; Gyllenhaal and Dunst caught smooching". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-12-16/wine/17456700_1_jay-z-rappers-austin-powers.
- ^ "Hennessy Cognac Marketing". Cognac Expert. 2011-01-27. http://www.cognac-expert.com/cognac-brands/hennessy-cognac. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.ghspaulding.com/doolittle_raid.htm
- ^ "Hennessy Black Review". Cognac Expert. 2010-07-24. http://blog.cognac-expert.com/hennessy-black-review-tasting-notes-henny/. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
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