Hennessy V.S.

Hennessy is one of the oldest and most renowned producers of cognac. The company was founded when the Irishman Richard Hennessy, who had served as a mercenary for King Louis XV, was rewarded with land in the village of Cognac, France, in 1765. Richard established a trading business, initially sending liquor to his friends and relatives in Ireland. His son, James Hennessy, expanded the business to include the production of cognac. They renamed the company James (or Jacques) Hennessy & Co., a name that the company retains to this day. Successive generations of the Hennessy family have managed the company, now in its eighth generation. However, ownership has changed over the years. In 1971, Hennessy merged with Moët & Chandon, and then in 1987, the beverage group merged with the haute couture firm Louis Vuitton to create what is now the world's largest luxury goods business: LVMH.