LVMH owned Cognac Hennessy announced the arrival of its 8th generation master blender

Hennessy marks another milestone in their 250-year history with the induction of the 8th generation Master Blender from the Fillioux family. Hennessy’s current Master Blender, Yann Fillioux who is part of the unbroken cognac-making dynasty that dates back to the 1800s, officially inducted his nephew Renaud Fillioux de Gironde as the next Master Blender at the Maison Hennessy.

Renaud Fillioux de Gironde has been a member of the tasting committee for the past 14 years and will still continue to hone his skills under the mentorship of his uncle who finally steps down as the as the “guardian of the temple” at the Maison Hennessy.

Yann Fillioux has created his ultimate blend: the legacy cognac Hennessy·8 to honor the arrival of Hennessy’s 8th generation and a heritage of passing down its cognac- making savoir-faire. The bottle embodies Hennessy’s 250 years of excellence, shared expertise, perpetual reinvention and marks the passing down of the master blender’s torch to its 8^th generation.

Maison Hennessy released the limited edition 250 Hennessy·8 bottles last March 2016. Hennessy·8 contains eight eaux-de-vie (spirits), seven of which was chosen by Yann Fillioux to illustrate each of the seven successive generations of Hennessy Master Blenders, and the eight was chosen by Renaud Fillioux de Gironde. This blend is a one-time creation and will never be reproduced again for the Maison Hennessy. “The number 8 is the eternal symbol of perfection, as Hennessy·8 well illustrates,” says Yann Fillioux. “For me, it embodies ideal simplicity and absolute perfection.” He notes that this cognac blend is nothing less than “a Master Blender’s dream come true”.

The bottle design is a masterpiece by the internationally renowned artist Arik Levy. The bottle is crafted in hand-blown Baccarat crystal, and features eight inset rings, an ode to the eight generations of Master Blenders and eight eaux-de-vie that the blend contains. According to the release, the set also features, “a crystal stopper engraved with a floral motif reprises the notion of eight rings, while a copper silk thread around the bottle’s collar leads to an “H” medallion sealed by a ribbon, a specialized technique perfected by Hennessy’s sister house, the Maison Guerlain.” The precious Hennessy·8 chest cradles the carafe like a protective shell which is made from oak staves designed in 25 layers, each one symbolizing 10 years of Hennessy’s history.

The set includes: an elegant toolbox containing four tasting glasses originally designed by glassmaker Georg Riedel and Yann Fillioux 30 years ago; a pipette made of oak barrel wood and a cork holder; a keepsake brochure describing the genesis and spirit of Hennessy·8; a dedicated key; and a personalized authentication plate and a numbered certificate signed by Yann Fillioux. The symbolic Hennessy·8 set costs 35,000 euros, each carafe is individually numbered and signed by Arik Levy and may be personalized upon request.