Hennessy XO CNY 2022 Limited Edition (1x70cl)

Cognac is a French brandy — distilled from wine, then aged in oak. XO is a legal age category, meaning the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has spent a set minimum number of years in cask, so it is a step up in age from VSOP.

This is the Chinese New Year 2022 limited edition, so the bottle carries special artwork. In Hong Kong, Cognac is one of the main gifting spirits, and a CNY bottle is about as easy a hand-over as it gets — new year visits, a business gift, or the bottle that sits on the table after dinner.

Tasting notes

XO Cognac usually shows dried fruit, candied orange peel, spice and oak, with a rounder, warmer feel than younger grades. Neat in a small glass at room temperature is the standard serve; a single cube is fine if you prefer it softer.