Hennessy VS Cognac

The best-selling cognac on earth, and for good reason. Hennessy V.S is a blend of more than 40 eaux-de-vie, aged in French oak for a minimum of two years — most components sitting somewhere between two-and-a-half and five years in Limousin barrels. It's the entry point to the Hennessy range and the workhorse of countless bars worldwide.

What sets Hennessy V.S apart from other young cognacs is its weight. Where many VS bottlings feel thin, this one is robust, with a real backbone of oak and spice. That's down to Hennessy's scale and cellar depth — they can blend for consistency and body year after year. It's 40%.

The nose is nutty and warm, with vanilla, caramel and orchard fruit over a spiced-oak base — cinnamon, nutmeg, a crack of black pepper. The palate brings baked apple, walnut, a twist of orange and a smooth, full texture that belies the price. It finishes clean and gently spiced.

Honestly, this is where cognac cocktails belong. It's got enough character to stand up to mixers and enough polish to sip if you want. Your Sazerac and your Sidecar will thank you.

How to Serve

Built for cocktails — a Sidecar, a Sazerac, or long over ice with ginger ale. It's perfectly pleasant neat too, but it earns its keep behind the bar.

Where to Drink It

American Bar at The Savoy for the definitive Sidecar. Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood for something relaxed. Swift in Soho for a modern cognac serve.

Food Pairings

Lovely in a cocktail alongside charcuterie, or neat with a slice of apple tart — the baked-apple note in the glass does the rest.