As you could’ve guessed there’s no way I was about to leave the Hennessy distillery without bringing something special home. We eventually made it to the tasting counter where we were about to sample four different cognacs and I was excited like they were about to give out money!

We had some stuff which they normally serve as a cocktail mix because it’s just not complex enough for the connoisseur. I had it pat and with ginger ale and agreed with them that I probably wouldn’t drink it pat. I mean, it was great, but nothing really special.

We went on to sample two more, both marketed as cognac for the cognac lover. I had the XO, which I’ve had many times in the past, and of which I remain a big fan to this day, but they also had something new, which they called Fine de Champagne.

This stuff is obviously not like a Hennessy XO, but it was certainly delightful: made with over sixty eau de vie’s, it boasts a wonderful amber hue, an awesome nose full of orange blossoms, honey, and maybe even some pepper, good viscosity, and a fresh palate with plenty of zest, wood, and spice. Come to think of it, as I sip it now, it has a nice touch of French Brioche as well, which explains how well it went with my H. Upmann from earlier.

I really enjoyed this one for its finesse, but even more I appreciated the price. I was able to get his for 30 euros at the Hennessey shop. If you enjoy your cognac pat or with ice only, you’ll appreciate this one, and if someone wants to mix it, you won’t feel guilty because of the great price. A++