Exclusive Hennessy Cognac Tours

Hennessy has been making the world’s benchmark cognac since 1765, and these are the house’s most exclusive visits: the Founder’s Cellar where the rarest blends sleep, a guided tasting ritual with canapés in a private lounge, and a pour of either Paradis or Richard — the two summits of the Hennessy range. This is a destination experience in the town of Cognac itself, and we handle the travel.

The Facts

The Two Experiences

Hennessy Exception — Paradis Tour ($315)

The full house in 2.5 hours: the boat crossing to the cellars (April–October), the Pavillons and Faïencerie cellars, a VR immersion into the making of cognac, and the Founder’s Cellar where the oldest eaux-de-vie rest. The tasting ritual closes it — Hennessy Paradis and X.O, served with canapés in a private lounge.

Hennessy Exception — Richard Tour ($635)

The same privileged route, crowned differently: created for the 300th anniversary of founder Richard Hennessy’s birth, this version pours Hennessy Richard — the house’s most precious blend, drawn from its rarest reserves — alongside the X.O, with canapés. For the cognac lover in your life, there is no higher shelf.

The House Itself

Richard Hennessy, an Irish officer in Louis XV’s army, founded the house in 1765 to make the finest cognac in France; by 1817 it was blending to a request from the future King George IV — the order that gave the world the X.O designation. The tour walks that history where it happened: the river the barrels once traveled, the cellars where the angels take their share, and the tasting room where three centuries of craft end up in your glass.

Why These Tours

• Founder’s Cellar access — the room most Hennessy visitors never see
• Paradis and Richard are tasted, not just admired: these are pours that cost hundreds by the glass elsewhere
• The April–October boat crossing turns arrival into part of the experience
• We arrange the whole journey from Paris — rail, and the overnight that makes it comfortable

The Honest Notes

• Cognac is a genuine journey from Paris — this is a destination experience, not a day trip, and an overnight in Cognac or Bordeaux is the right way to do it
• It pairs naturally with our Bordeaux wine tours — many guests build a southwest France leg around the two
• Both tiers walk the same route; the difference is what’s in the glass at the end
• Departure times vary by date — we confirm your slot when booking
• Book well ahead: Hennessy’s exclusive tours carry limited capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

Paradis or Richard — which should we choose?

Paradis is the classic summit experience and the right choice for most visitors; Richard is for the devoted — the house’s rarest blend, at a price that reflects it. The visit itself is identical either way.

How do we get to Cognac from Paris?

We arrange it — typically rail with an overnight in Cognac or Bordeaux. Tell us your dates and we build the travel around your tour slot: 424-386-5222.

Can this combine with Bordeaux?

Perfectly — Bordeaux is the natural base, and our Bordeaux wine tours plus Hennessy make a superb two-to-three-day southwest leg. We also offer a Bordeaux-and-Cognac private trip.

Is the boat crossing always included?

April through October — outside those months the crossing is replaced by a land arrival, with the rest of the experience unchanged.

What exactly do we taste?

On the Paradis tour: Hennessy Paradis and X.O. On the Richard tour: Hennessy Richard and X.O. Both are served with canapés in a private lounge as a guided tasting ritual.

Reserve Your Hennessy Experience

Book in the calendar above, or call or text 424-386-5222 and we’ll arrange the tour, the travel, and the overnight in one go. Three centuries of cognac are waiting in the Founder’s Cellar.