10 Things We Learned At The Hennessy Chateau

1. Richard Hennessy created the maison in 1765 and the business is now led by the 8th Generation of the Hennessy family and 7th Generation of the Fillioux family.

2. 2015 marks Hennessy's 250th Birthday and to celebrate they are releasing 250 barrels of 250 litres of special cognac and embarking across a global tour to Guangzhou, Moscow, New York, Johannesburg and Paris.

3. Hennessy is the largest selling cognac brand in the world, representing over 40% of all cognac sold globally! (That's a lot of cognac).

4. Hennessy XO has a more earthy flavour and Cognac in France has the perfect woodland climate to forage for both wild mushrooms and black truffles.

5. No less than 100 eaux de vies (spirit before it is aged into cognac) go into Hennessy special blends.

6. Auguste and Irene Hennessy bought the brand home Chateau Bagnolet in 1841. Built in 1810 on the banks of the Charente river on the edge of Cognac, this magnificient house was built in the style of a Louisiana colonial Maison. The house is reserved for private guests of Hennessy and Grazia were lucky enough to take a sneak peek. Our favourite was the Victorian orangerie planted full of white orchids!

7. Grazia's favourite Hennessy Cocktail was a delicious mix of Hennessy XO cognac and ginger ale with a wedge of zesty lime (below).

8. Hennessy fixes 15,000 of their own barrels in their own cooperage.

9. The Hennessy Gold Cup is the longest running sports sponsorship in the world, taking place at Newbury RaceCourse in late November every year.

10. Richard Hennessy is the most premium cognac in the Hennessy portfolio selling for over £2,000 a bottle. Richard Hennessy youngest eaux de vie is around 50 years old, older than many of the Grazia readers!

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