After a three year break, Hennessy steps back into the single-batch world with the release of Master Blender’s Selection No. 5. Since launching Selection No. 4 in 2021, master blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde had plenty of opportunities to taste through a wide range of brandies, as this latest release is made of a blend from 18 local distillers.
To craft Master Blender's Selection No. 5, Renaud went through a rigorous eaux-de-vie (fruit brandy) selection process, followed by a maturing process of at least seven years in French oak barrels. He selected and combined various eaux-de-vie produced by these 18 families of distillers until he got a batch he felt was worth adding to the series. Due to the elongated selection process, this limited-edition release is one that can never be replicated.
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“I wanted to pay tribute to the artisans behind the scenes—exclusive Hennessy distillers who are experts and share with us, year after year, first-rate eaux-de-vie remarkable for their purity, finesse and potential,” says Renaud. “Some have been with us almost since the Maison was founded over 200 years ago. It generally takes many years of training between generations for the son or daughter of the current distiller to take over. It's with these future generations that we'll continue to grow and offer cognacs rooted in our terroir yet deeply contemporary in nature."
The cognac itself offers aromas of spice and candied orange. The soft, velvety palate delivers notes of fresh pastries alongside flavors of cocoa and sweet spices, followed by light tobacco and sweet citrus notes. The brand recommends enjoying it neat or on the rocks.
Bottled at 43 percent, Hennessy Master Blender's Selection No. 5 is available in limited quantities exclusively in select retailers across the United States for a suggested retail price of $99 per 750ml bottle.
Related: Why You Should be Drinking Cognac
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