Hennessy XO
The cognac Maurice Hennessy had created in 1870 for family and friends. Deep, powerful, and yet elegant: a bottle to sip slowly, after a meal, in a fine glass.
The first Extra Old, from 1870
Hennessy XO was created in 1870 at the request of Maurice Hennessy. At first, it was intended only for family and close friends; following its success, it went on sale two years later. This made it a new style of cognac: distinctive, rich, and complex.
The blend consists of about one hundred eaux-de-vie, and the youngest eau-de-vie in it has aged for at least ten years, as the XO designation requires. That long stay in oak makes it deeper and woodier than the VSOP, with cocoa, rock candy, and candied fruit. It comes in the distinctive, rounded decanter.
At a glance
Deep, powerful, and elegant
Cocoa & candied fruit
Rich and layered: candied fruit, cocoa, and spices, with old oak underneath. The longer it sits in the glass, the more it reveals.
Rock candy and spices
Full-bodied and powerful, with rock candy, pepper, and dark chocolate. Despite its depth, it remains smooth.
Very long
A long, elegant finish where new layers keep emerging: wood, cocoa, and a hint of dried fruit.
Hennessy XO's flavor profile neat at room temperature, after ten minutes in the glass.
Sip XO slowly
With XO, everything is about time: time in the glass, time in your hand, and time between sips.
Let it breathe
Pour 30 ml into a cognac glass and let it sit for ten minutes before drinking. Hold the glass in your palm; the warmth opens up the cacao and candied fruit.
Cognac glasses →With coffee and chocolate
After dinner, with an espresso and a piece of dark chocolate containing 70% cocoa or more. The bitterness of coffee and cacao brings out the sweeter side of XO.
Coffee and spirits →XO Old Fashioned
Briefly stir 50 ml XO, 5 ml sugar syrup, and 2 dashes of bitters with ice in a tumbler, garnished with a little orange zest. A cocktail that lets the cognac shine.
Go to recipe →Cocktails worthy of an XO
Use XO only in cocktails where cognac takes center stage: stirred, with few ingredients, no juice.
Cognac Old Fashioned
Sugar, bitters, and orange zest. XO makes it a deep, woody drink.
Manhattan
Red vermouth and bitters, stirred and served in a coupe. Softer and fruitier with cognac instead of whisky.
Brandy Alexander
Cognac, crème de cacao, and cream. The XO's cacao notes come through.
French 75
The original version with cognac, lemon, sugar, and champagne. Festive yet full-bodied.The right glass for Hennessy XO
A rounded cognac glass or a narrow tasting glass for nosing the layers, a tumbler for the Old Fashioned, and a coupe for the Manhattan.
More Hennessy flavors
Hennessy
Where it all began. Read all about Hennessy on the brand page: its origins, varieties and classic cocktails.
Go to Hennessy →
Hennessy VSOP Privilège
Rounder than VS, with cinnamon and dried fruit. Enjoy neat in a tulip glass or in a Sidecar.
View Hennessy VSOP Privilège →
Hennessy Paradis
Dozens of very old eaux-de-vie. Plum, honeysuckle and oak, silky smooth and with an endless finish.
View Hennessy Paradis →Everything about cognac: the types, the best-known brands and the cocktails.
Questions about Hennessy XO
Can't find your question here? Read more on the Hennessy page or check out our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Hennessy →What percentage of alcohol does Hennessy XO contain?
How old is Hennessy XO?
What's the difference between Hennessy VSOP and XO?
How many calories are in Hennessy XO?
Do you drink Hennessy XO with ice?
Buy Hennessy XO
Want the bottle delivered right away? Order Hennessy XO online at Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can check the current price and availability at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it won't cost you anything extra. No 18, no alcohol.
