This is probably one of the highlights in the existence of Cognac Chronicles. We had the opportunity to chat to someone whose love for cognac is unsurpassed and not only cognac but a specific brand. I am talking about none other than Don Henny. This man has one of, if not THE biggest collections of Hennessy in the world, I don’t know of any collection bigger than his. Don Henny started his collection purely through the love and eventually he’d built up such a collection he took it on as a hobby. One thing he will tell you is that his cognacs don’t just sit around, he drinks the shit of out of them, then keeps the empty bottles which is testament to the fact that good cognac needs to be enjoyed and not just sit around. But before giving away too much  here goes…

Interview with Don Hennessy

First and foremost, a big thank you for giving us the time to answer a few questions. It’s big an honour for us to have you as our first insert for Cognac Chronicles. So could you tell us how exactly your fascination with the Hennessy brand started?

I was mainly a beer drinker, as you know Belgium is a great beer country. So it was in a local café that I got in touch with Hennessy, my friends liked Whisky but for me that was to dry… I chose a Hennessy Cognac. (I listen to Hip Hop and they talk a lot about Henny in their rhymes, so I knew it from there by name).  I’m now 36, it was around 18-20.  After that I bought a bottle VS and immediately fell in love for the aroma.

When did you start collecting Hennessy bottles and paraphernalia?

That came some years later around age 25-27, when I really started buying more and more. In the beginning I bought mostly VS, Fine and XO.  One of my early bottles was the Red Tome Book which has a Napoleon quality. This one really touched my tasting experiences… and my hunger to taste others got bigger.

How long has it taken you to build up the collection you have?

Around 10 years, of course in the early days I only bought a few bottles at a time. Now I buy a lot more as I have found my way in this Cognac world.

Do you have an idea of how many bottles you have all in all?

Gathered around 600 bottles now, all kind of size and types. I now and then update my inventory, but it changes constantly. So hard to fetch up but around this amount I mostly have in my collection today.

How did you go about acquiring some of the older editions of the brand that you have in your collection?

Network that I build up during collecting through my website, forums, FB*IG Youtube, Congac Expert, etc. People contact me when they got something to sell, so now and then someone contacts me with a very special bottle.

Have you had any support from the folks at Hennessy in acquiring the more limited editions?

Yes of course. And now and then I get a gift or they send me info about several bottles I need. They invite me to Hennessy Cognac, It’s always great to go there and they treat me well (went 2 times so far) sadly last time I got invited for an event I could not go but I will go again no worries.

If you don’t mind us asking has there been any value put to your collection if so how much is it worth? On average how much does it cost you to keep adding on?

No, and I don’t think it’s really possible to put a global value on it.

On the regular, most bottles I buy are up to € 500 in general and a lot more also for rare old ones or hard to find releases.

So Don, since you started drinking Hennessy has the flavour profile changed for you even in the slightest?

Yes it does, the more old aged and special ones you drink the less you drink the regular range of young aged ones like VS, Fine, Black, White. So I do prefer the older aged cognac, as they give you an explosion in taste, aroma and tasting pleasure.  If you are used to drinking the regular VS and you are able to taste a Paradis you will immediately be blown away by all the great flavours these prestige cognacs have to offer you. The range that Hennessy has released of blends is endless.

Do you only drink Hennessy or are there any other brands you enjoy? If so what other brands do you drink?

I would say I drink 99% Henny… hmm what I drink otherwise I like Rhum, Pineau des charantes, Lambrusco and a nice cocktail.  

Have you had any offers from the brand to buy your collection or any other collectors? What’s the highest offer you have had? Would you ever consider selling your collection?

I get frequently offers for bottles out of my collection from other collectors (not from Hennessy), now and then I sell something special. No intention of selling my collection, it’s a life passion and best hobby ever :-)  So I am definitely not going to quit or anything, just get more stuff, hehe. Maybe when I am old and I got no one to take over…  A Hennessy museum would be cool to create with my collection in my dream…

So do you think you will ever get tired of this hobby of yours?

Euuh Nope!

So tell us do you have anybody special in your life and what do they think of your hobby? And your family?

My family is ok with it they also like it all.

Are there any bottles that are special to you and hold a special place for you?

They all are, even empty ones  I keep (haha). Like said I got all kinds of shaped, size, crystal, limited, old bottles etc… It’s hard to name a favorite, but I like my Exclusive XO collection and Crystal bottles most... but there are so many limited editons I also keep close to.

How do you generally enjoy you r cognac? Are there any that you just cannot drink neat if so why?

Straight as this is the way you can enjoy the finesse of this product the most. The only one out of the range I mix is the Black one, has a quit unique taste but made for mixing. Some of my favorites are XO Grane Champagne, Richard, Private Reserve 1865, Napoleon and one of most prefered is the Cuveé Bicentenaire.

Thank you for your time and we hope to chat to you soon.

Welcome! Greetings, Don Henny