[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t all started with a Prince. Two centuries ago, the future King George IV, a cognac connoisseur requested an excellent pale cognac which Hennessy delivered in 1818. He wanted his cognac superior, a cut above the rest and so Hennessy presented to him VSOP, or Very Superior Old Pale.
It is then that Hennessy pioneered a new style of cognac, becoming the first house to produce VSOP – the perfect expression of a balanced, harmonious and complete cognac. This would go on to transform the art of cognac making, inspiring the “Very Special Old Pale” designation. This hallmark of excellence has stood the test of time becoming an icon and a world leader today.
Over the next two centuries, as the world was being transformed by innovation, V.S.O.P remained true to its roots, its quality unaltered thanks to the Hennessy master blenders who passed down the secrets of this timeless cognac from one generation to the next. To this day, Hennessy continually produces cognac maintaining its original and unique character.
At Hennessy, we believe that “our heritage is our future,” says Maurice Hennessy, the global brand Ambassador and 8th generation of the Hennessy family.
In celebration of this 200th Anniversary of Hennessy V.S.O.P, members of the Hennessy Family and the Hennessy Maison were in Nairobi last week to be part of this key milestone in Kenya. Mr Maurice was accompanied by his nephew, Mr Roch Hennessy. As part of their visit, the Hennessy family met key stakeholders to discuss the dynamic Hennessy Maison, its heritage, savoire faire and vision for the future.
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“I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit Nairobi, its energy and vibrancy is exciting,” said Maurice. “Hennessy has always been a brand without borders, enjoyed the world over. It’s always amazing to see Hennessy being embraced across continents and cultures and it’s important we celebrate this milestone with our valued consumers.”
The business has survived 252 years in the market and Maurice attributes this to its founder, Richard Hennessy, who started the Hennessy brand and archived a lot of his work including a large selection of writings and records that they tap into. This ensures the consistency of the brand and the Cognac, he says.
“We’ve also had Authoritarian leadership right from the start. That means the business was not necessarily about monetary value but we focused more on creating and maintaining excellence through each generation of the Hennessy family,” Maurice says.
Before the merger with Louis Vuitton to form LVMH Hennessy limited the number of shareholders to three to make it easy to manage ideas.
He said the Kenyan middle class has been growing each year, though there was a slow uptake last year due to election-related fears. “But we’ve seen an uptick since the elections were completed. Hennessy enjoys brand loyalty in Kenya. Kenya is a very unique and exciting country,” he said.
