🥃 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.
Hennessy V.S is the entry-level line of the Hennessy cognac house: a cognac at 40% ABV with no exact age on the label. The designation V.S stands for Very Special, the lowest age grade for cognac. According to Difford's Guide, it is a bestseller among cognacs worldwide and, in style, the lightest and simplest of the house's main expressions.
According to Difford's Guide, the blend combines more than 40 cognac eaux-de-vie from the region's four main crus, matured in Limousin oak casks for 2.5 to 5 years. The Hennessy heritage page traces V.S to the star classification of Maurice Hennessy from 1865, when Three Star was the name later known as V.S. Under AOC Cognac rules the youngest eau-de-vie must spend at least two years in oak, and distillation is double, in a Charentais copper still.
Why this matters to you. V.S is not a brand name but an age designation shared by all cognac: the years are counted by the youngest eau-de-vie. Compare it with V.S.O.P (from 4 years) and X.O (from 10 years) by the designation, not by price or bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1765 — the Hennessy house; V.S traces back to the 1865 classification by Maurice Hennessy |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | AOC Cognac (cahier des charges) |
| Raw material | more than 40 cognac eaux-de-vie from the region's four main crus |
| Distillation method | double, in a copper Charentais still |
| Cask type | Limousin oak (according to Difford's Guide) |
| Minimum maturation | V.S — at least 2 years for the youngest eau-de-vie; Difford's Guide: 2.5–5 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Hennessy V.S → 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 Paradis, 🥃 Hennessy Fine de Cognac, 🥃 Hennessy Paradis, 🥃 Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, 🥃 Hennessy X.O, 🥃 Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, 🥃 Hennessy X.O, 🥃 VS, VSOP, XO, 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac, 🥃 Courvoisier V.S
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that V.S is simply a younger cognac?
Yes, in terms of age: in a V.S the youngest eau-de-vie is at least two years old, in a V.S.O.P at least four. But it remains a cognac with double distillation under AOC rules.
How many cognac eaux-de-vie are in Hennessy V.S?
According to Difford's Guide, more than 40, from the four main crus.
What is the strength of Hennessy V.S?
40% ABV according to Difford's Guide.
What to read next
- 🥃 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.
- 🍷 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 Paradis · 🥃 Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège · 🥃 Hennessy X.O · 🥃 Hennessy Fine de Cognac · 🥃 Courvoisier Extra · 🥃 Courvoisier X.O
⚠️ 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 VS (40 %; no age statement, 2.5-5 years in Limousin oak; 40+ eaux-de-vie of four premier crus)
- 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)