Overview: Hennessy returns as a sponsor of the Pâté-Croûte World Championship, marking a strategic shift to champion Cognac through food pairings rather than solely as a digestif. Renaud Fillioux de Gironde leads the brand’s culinary exploration, joining the UK judging panel for the second year in October at The Savoy, London.
The Full Story
Hennessy aims to showcase the category’s versatility through culinary collaborations and dinner events beyond its traditional role as a digestif. While wine has long been the traditional choice at the dining table, there is another grape-based drink that is arguably just as perfect a partner for food. The richness and elegance of Cognac has seen the French spirit paired with everything from desserts and cheese courses to fresh seafood and charcuterie.
Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, eighth-generation master blender, highlighted the close relationship between the art of blending and French culinary craftsmanship. He says the competition’s focus on “tradition, precision and creativity” align with Hennessy’s approach to Cognac production, making the partnership a “natural fit”. Fillioux de Gironde joined Pâté-Croûte’s UK judging panel for the second year, which was held at The Savoy in London in October.
There is also a growing appetite for consumers to understand the provenance and craft behind what they’re eating and drinking. “More and more people want to know what they drink. They want to drink less, but better,” he says. “They want to know where it’s coming from.”
Production & Profile
Hennessy Paradis is a blend of more than 100 eaux-de-vie with the youngest component being 25 years old. Richard Hennessy features liquid aged up to 200 years.
The master blender team tastes 60-70 samples every morning, and the entire stock is tasted annually to see how each batch evolves. This rigorous process enables the team to make the right call on future releases.
Brand & Industry History
The creation of Hennessy has long been in the hands of the same family. Fillioux de Gironde took over the master blender role from his uncle almost a decade ago. Under his guidance, the brand’s range spans high-end expressions such as XO, Paradis and Richard Hennessy.
What This Means
Hennessy will continue to explore further collaborations in the culinary world and is preparing to release a limited edition Cognac for Chinese New Year. Celebrating cultures from across the world is part of the brand’s ethos, says Fillioux de Gironde.
Consumer Takeaway
For the drinker, this partnership offers an opportunity to experience Cognac with different dishes. Paradis, with its elegant and delicate character, is particularly suited to fruity desserts, while richer, more intense Cognacs can complement grilled meats, pepper-led sauces and dishes with pronounced spice.
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