🥃 Hennessy Paradis
Premium Hennessy cognac at 40% ABV; according to Difford's Guide, created in 1979 by Maurice Fillioux, with no age designation; sources differ on the number of eaux-de-vie.
Hennessy Paradis is a premium cognac from the Hennessy house at 40% ABV, created in 1979 by the blender Maurice Fillioux. It stands outside the core V.S, V.S.O.P, X.O range and has no age designation. What sets it apart is a very wide blend of eaux-de-vie, which are combined in stages.
The sources differ on the composition. The Hennessy heritage page speaks of more than a hundred exceptional eaux-de-vie, while Difford's Guide speaks of several hundred, combined in several blending stages. So it is better not to name an exact number. No years of age are stated on the bottle, and the sources do not specify cask types beyond oak. Double distillation in a Charentais still and maturation in oak follow the AOC Cognac rules.
Why this matters to you. Paradis is designated neither V.S.O.P nor X.O: it is a separate line, not the next age step on a ladder. So compare it with X.O by description and label, not by years. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1979 — Maurice Fillioux; the house was founded in 1765 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | AOC Cognac (cahier des charges) |
| Raw material | cognac eaux-de-vie: over a hundred according to the heritage page, several hundred according to Difford's Guide |
| Distillation method | double, in a copper Charentais still |
| Cask type | oak casks |
| Minimum maturation | no age designation; under AOC at least 2 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Hennessy Paradis → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Hennessy, 🥃 Cognac
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Hennessy Fine de Cognac, 🥃 Hennessy Fine de Cognac, 🥃 Hennessy V.S, 🥃 Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, 🥃 Hennessy X.O, 🥃 Hennessy V.S, 🥃 Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, 🥃 Hennessy X.O, 🥃 VS, VSOP, XO, 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac, 🥃 Courvoisier Extra
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Paradis is an older X.O?
Not necessarily. Paradis is a separate line with no age designation, so it cannot be compared directly with X.O by years.
Who created Hennessy Paradis?
According to Difford's Guide, the blender Maurice Fillioux in 1979.
What is the strength of Hennessy Paradis?
40% ABV according to Difford's Guide.
What to read next
- 🥃 Hennessy V.S — Entry-level Hennessy cognac, 40% ABV; according to Difford's Guide, more than 40 eaux-de-vie, aged 2.5 to 5 years in Limousin oak.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 VS, VSOP, XO — Cognac age statements, based on the youngest spirit in the blend.
- 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac — An age mark for cognac: the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has been aged in oak for at least 10 years, the same as for XO.
Similar
🥃 Hennessy V.S · 🥃 Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège · 🥃 Hennessy X.O · 🥃 Hennessy Fine de Cognac · 🥃 Courvoisier X.O · 🥃 Courvoisier V.S
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Hennessy Paradis (40 %; no age statement; first created 1979 by Maurice Fillioux; several hundred eaux-de-vie)
- Difford's Guide: Hennessy, Heritage (1765; V.S from the 1865 star classification; V.S.O.P 1817; X.O 1870; Paradis 1979; Fine de Cognac)
- LVMH: Hennessy (founded 1765 by Richard Hennessy; X.O by Maurice Hennessy, 1870; Fillioux family)
- Cahier des charges de l'AOC «Cognac», arrêté du 10 juin 2026, BO Agri 18.06.2026 (comptes d'âge, alambic charentais, vieillissement en chêne)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)