It may have been a rocky year for Cognac and Asia, but the house of Hennessy has doubled down on its efforts to turn around slumping sales.
It has not only released an ultra-premium cognac, but also committed to a 12-part collection dedicated to Chinese astrology.
Starting with the Year of the Horse in 2026, the Zodiac Collection will mark the Lunar New Year with a dedicated expression inspired by its animal and formed exclusively from eaux-de-vie distilled in that animal’s year.
It’s a change of tact from one of Cognac’s four great houses, which usually marks the Lunar New Year with a limited repackaging of its pre-existing blends. This, then, can be considered a long-term commitment by Hennessy despite waning demand for French brandy across Asia.
Limited to just 50 bottles, Hennessy’s Zodiac bottles will only grace the collections of its most committed private clients. And as a result, bottles will only be available through dedicated Moet-Hennessy channels.
While the cognac itself does not have an age statement, you can expect some of the eaux-de-vie in this blend to span multiple generations. Master blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde said: “The Horse Edition is a rare cognac that embodies great finesse. Some of the eaux-de-vie it comprises seem to defy time – preserving a remarkable, almost timeless elegance.”
The crystal decanters are equally special. Blown by Baccarat and engraved and painted by hand, the level of detail and craftsmanship is on par with Fillioux’s blend. The golden horse motif on the bottle progresses along the decanter’s neck with two red and gold Chinese-inspired knots: a saddle knot symbolizing success in China, and a horseshoe knot, meaning good luck in Europe.
The Hennessy Zodiac Edition – Year of the Horse is priced at $35,500 and is only available through Moet-Hennessy’s private client channels.
