After a three-year hiatus, Hennessy has brought back its Master Blender’s Selection collection with the launch of Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No 5
It’s been a big three years since Hennessy released Master Blender’s Selection No 4: the WHO declared the end to a global pandemic, Barbenheimer brought movie lovers back to theaters, and Cognac sales continued to tumble. Still, if anyone is going to bring the French brandy back to 2019 heights, who better than world’s best-selling brand, and what better than the return of its most mysterious release, Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No 5.
Like the previous three editions, Hennessy Master Blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde curated Master Blender’s Selection No 5. It features a blend of eaux-de-vie from 18 distillers from across the region, which were matured for at least seven years in French oak barrels. Renaud selected and combined the various eaux-de-vie produced by these families of distillers, merging their characters to create the final Cognac.
“I wanted to pay tribute to the artisans behind the scenes – exclusive Hennessy distillers who are experts and share with us, year after year, first-rate eaux-de-vie remarkable for their purity, finesse and potential,” says Renaud. “Some have been with us almost since the Maison was founded over 200 years ago. It generally takes many years of training between generations for the son or daughter of the current distiller to take over. It’s with these future generations that we’ll continue to grow and offer cognacs rooted in our terroir yet deeply contemporary in nature.”
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the Cognac offers a complex combination of spice and candied orange. The smooth and creamy palate features baked pastries, cocoa and sweet spices, followed by light tobacco notes and more candied orange. Hennessy recommends enjoying it neat or on the rocks.
“Being the 8th generation Master Blender is a tremendous honor, and I feel privileged to be able to continue the craft that was passed down to me by my uncle Yann Fillioux,” adds Renaud. “With Master Blender’s Selection No 5, I opted for an innovative approach blend produced in a single batch that will never be replicated – this limited edition is a celebration of the collaborative spirit and expertise in the world of Cognac.”
The Master Blender’s Selection collection launched in 2016 with new bottlings arriving almost every year through 2021.
Bottled at 43% ABV, the limited-edition Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No 5 is priced at $99 per 750ml bottle and available exclusively in select retailers in the U.S.
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
Last year, Hennessy teamed up with rap legend Nas to release a limited-edition Hennessy V.S bottle in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.