Hennessy has a long-standing relationship with African American culture, especially hip hop. It has been described as “synonymous with rap music and African Americans, who are the brand’s major consumers and advocates”. While music, especially the 2004 2Pac song “Hennessy” has been credited with popularising the drink, some historians have pointed to a much older relationship, which began when African American servicemen encountered cognac in France during World War I and World War II.
Hennessy has actively pursued this consumer group for decades. It targeted minority audiences as early as the 1950s, when it placed advertisements in African American magazines like Ebony and Jet, used African American models, and hired African American employees. By some estimates more than two thirds of Hennessy sold in the United States is consumed by African Americans. It is sometimes referred to as “Henny”.
Hennessy appears frequently in the lyrics of popular music, and by one estimate the words “Hennessy” or “cognac” are referenced in more than 1,000 songs.
Cognac is essentially distilled alcohol from grapes… think about using wine to make distilled alcohol. I’m not positive, but I think I t was originally a way monks thought they could preserve wine through distillation and reconstitute it back into wine at a later time, but turns out not to have worked like that. Once you boil off the alcohol and discard the mash, you don’t get the ‘wine’ part back.
It’s just a different base to ferment and distill into a hard spirit. Because it starts as a sweeter fruit than grains, like rye, wheat, or barley, it tends to have a sweeter flavor. It’s particularly nice as a warm drink in the winter, but a bit sweeter than bourbon.
I think I’d like to go with your answer. I’m pretty sure I had cognac and didn’t like it. In the context of this post I’m afraid I can only accept answers from black dudes, though.
Wikipedia page
So French Cognac from the actual city of Cognac…
How does it taste? I mean stereotypes aside… Is it good? Maybe they can turn a blind eye if it’s really nice booze.
Cognac is essentially distilled alcohol from grapes… think about using wine to make distilled alcohol. I’m not positive, but I think I t was originally a way monks thought they could preserve wine through distillation and reconstitute it back into wine at a later time, but turns out not to have worked like that. Once you boil off the alcohol and discard the mash, you don’t get the ‘wine’ part back.
It’s just a different base to ferment and distill into a hard spirit. Because it starts as a sweeter fruit than grains, like rye, wheat, or barley, it tends to have a sweeter flavor. It’s particularly nice as a warm drink in the winter, but a bit sweeter than bourbon.
I enjoy it - it’s smoother and sweeter and and with a different fruitier flavor than whiskey while packing the same punch.
I own a bottle and sometimes sip on it or include it as an ingredient in a mixed drink or cooked meal.
I’d recommend trying it at least once if you already enjoy liquor
Thx for the description. I’ll try it.
Hennessy is to cognac what Smirnoff is to vodka, there are far, far better cognacs.
Look for the different grades - XO is the best one, apart from XXO but I’ve only seen that once
Special mention for Armagnac, you get some superb brands of that, all better than Hennessey
I’m sure there are, but who wants to twice as much for their first taste?
Someone who doesn’t want to go “Eug, that’s rough”, then never try any other cognacs because you didn’t like it the first time
I’m not a cognac aficionado but I think it’s good
I don’t remember. It’s usually only brought out for celebrations where there’s lots of alcohol.
It’s cognac so… No.
I think I’d like to go with your answer. I’m pretty sure I had cognac and didn’t like it. In the context of this post I’m afraid I can only accept answers from black dudes, though.
I would recommend trying Pineau then. It’s cognac diluted with juice, it’s a lot softer you should like it