This luxurious cognac pays tribute to Richard Hennessy, the founder of the house. It’s crafted with more than 100 eaux-de-vie that range from 40 to 200 years of age and represent some of the finest and rarest from Hennessy’s reserves. The striking, hand-blown decanter was designed by Daniel Libeskind.
Richard Hennessy Cognac is an ultra-premium cognac that pays tribute to the house’s founding father. First crafted in 1996, this luxurious expression is a blend of more than 100 eaux-de-vie. These are some of the rarest and oldest eaux-de-vie from Hennessy’s reserves, aged from 40 to a whopping 200 years. The cognac comes in a striking Baccarat crystal decanter that befits such a prestigious spirit.
The beautiful amber cognac leads with floral and spice aromas on the nose with nutmeg, fennel, and oak. The palate is gently spicy with leather and dried fruit taking the center stage. There’s a pleasant sweetness throughout with caramel, honey, vanilla, and a hint of rancio.
Hennessy is the best-selling cognac in the world and has been run by 8 generations of the Hennessy family and 7 generations of the Fillioux family master blenders. Blended using eaux-de-ve from Cognac's top 4 regions, each batch of wine is double-distilled to achieve the most flavorful, elegant eaux-de-vie possible. Hennessy also possesses the finest selection of old eaux-de-vie in the world.
Confident and assertive, Richard Henessy Cognac is made from some of the most sacred eaux-de-vie in Hennessy's reserves, carefully selected and preserved in The Founder's Cellar on the family estate.
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.
Inside this awe-inspiring decanter is a Cognac created with the rarest eaux-de-vie from Hennessy’s reserves, ranging in age from 40 to 200 years old. For this reason, the quantities available are extremely limited, as only 12 French oak barrels are used each year to make this special Cognac.
In a mersion of visionary minds, Richard Hennessy's monumental legacy is housed in a contemporary incarnation inside a bold, architectural, and graceful decanter made from Baccarat crystal (which comes with the usual ritual accessories including glasses, a fusil, and a tray) designed by the world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.
The Polish-born artist is known for the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan, as well as projects such as the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the Royal Ontario Museum, Crystals at City Center in Las Vegas and the Zhang Zhidong Museum in Wuhan, China.
Much of Libeskind's work is instantly recognisable for its angular forms, intersecting planes, and frequent use of diagonally-sliced windows, a style that he has used to great effect in museums and memorials—but which he has equally adapted to conference centres, skyscrapers, and shopping malls. The Hennessy decanter is no exception:
"Cognac and architecture are not as different as you may think. There is a complexity, process and structure to Cognac just as there is in architecture. My creative process is deeply informed by music, literature, poetry, and philosophy. I relish bringing a myriad of ideas from different backgrounds to the design of kin objects. I believe it elevates and brings new meaning to the design."
With the design process spanning over four years, Daniel Libeskind explains:
“The decanter was developed over many years — like a major city plan or cathedral. I always begin by creating hand sketches to work out my first ideas— sometimes hundreds are made. Once I have a strong idea and sketch, I work with my design team to develop the form further on the computer. We then create 3D models that we can further develop. We approached the design the same way Hennessy creates its Cognacs—slow and methodically. This gave us the space to explore the ritual of drinking cognac and how it translates to the design of the decanter."
Before designing something new, Libeskind takes the time to immerse himself in his immediate surroundings:
"I am inspired by the interplay of history and the future—particular magic happens when the two come together. The inspiration for the decanter came from the powerful emblem of Richard Hennessy as a symbol of the future of the brand. I wanted to honour the history while elevating it," he says.
Libeskind drew on the founder Richard Hennessy's complex and intense characteristics to create the design of the decanter, combining geometric crystalline shapes of Baccarat crystal with soft curves.
"I started with the classic Hennessy bottle shape, but I wanted to push the boundary of the design. We also wanted to create something strong that embodies the legacy of Richard Hennessy. The result was to insert the soft curved shape within the crystalline form that echoes the spirit of Richard Hennessy. The juxtaposition of the organic curves with the bold geometric form of the silhouette gives a new energy and complexity to the liquid inside."
Eye: A pure amber color with warm intensity
Nose: Delicate flowery notes, soft spices, nutmeg and hints of fennel
Palate: Notes of spices, leather, preserved fruits continuously appear and reappear with aromatic complexity and one magical symphony of flavor
Open to the public. We are located on the ground floor of the historic California Club in downtown Los Angeles. Please park with the valet in the parking garage and we will be happy to validate your parking.
Business Hours
Tuesday - Friday
09AM-7PM
Saturday: Noon to 7pm
Sunday & Monday CLOSED