With all this talk of Hennessy White being illegal in the US, it’s understandable that cognac connoisseurs around the country are thirsty (pun intended) to get their hands on this mysterious, potentially contraband product. But is it worth the hype?
Short answer, yes. Long answer, well . . .
Is White Hennessy Sold in the US?
Hennessy White is not illegal in the country, it’s simply not sold here.
Hennessy refuses to give a concrete answer as to why their highly-sought after Pure White brand is unavailable in American stores.
One theory is that Pure White’s off-brand taste and appearance clashes with the company’s already existing image of being purveyors of high-class and expensive spirits, which, if we’re being honest, is in line with Hennessy Pure White.
If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, you’ll find it to be one of the smoothest sips of cognac in your life. It’s elegant in taste, pure in spirit, and its pale color belies the sheer magnitude of flavor that it delivers. But getting a bottle of this mysterious elixir is no easy feat because it’s only available in two locations: Cognac, France, which is also the Hennessy headquarters, and strangely enough, the Caribbean.
It’s through the latter that most Hennessy Pure White’s make their way into the country, usually by vacation-goers visiting Barbados or the other Bahamian Islands. It may show up from time to time in various specialty liquor stores in the country, but it will usually be in limited stock, so if you see one, get it.
But is it worth the hype, or is it all just bluster?
Sure, it’s mysterious for a lot of Cognac lovers because it’s hard to find in the United States, but what of its taste? The aroma? Does it have a pleasant finish? Does the Hennessy Pure White have worth beyond its elusive quality and tales of its contraband nature?
Before we dip into Hennessy Pure White, we take a closer look at Cognac.
What is Cognac?
For the newbie appreciators out there, here’s a little lesson on that wonderful elixir we call Cognac. Cognac is a type of brandy made from the distillation of white wine and aged in oak barrels. It’s a mixture of different kinds of spirits called eau de vie, or, “water of life.” Different kinds of eau de vie (varying in terms of the fruit used, how long it was aged for, and where it was aged, among other things) are then blended to create Cognac.
Now, Cognac can only be called Cognac if and only if it is produced in the Charente region of France, particularly in the town of, you guessed it, Cognac. There are other factors as well that determine whether a spirit can be called Cognac, and it ranges from the type of grape to be used (Ugni blanc is the requirement) down to the kind of barrel where it’s aged (French oak only, please).
Cognac is twice distilled in a special pot unique to the Charente region called an Alembic Charentai, before it is aged in barrels made from oak specifically from either Limousin or Tronçais, two forests to the east of Charente.
Although it may seem peculiar, or even unnecessary to the layman, it’s these key differences that distinguish Cognac from Brandy, or whisky, for that matter, which isn’t typically blended.
And now for that burning question . . .
What Makes Hennessy White Different?
Hennessy Pure White is unique because of the various kinds of eau de vie that is used to create it. Of course, the formula is secret, but one Hennessy insider has been quotes as saying that the Hennessy Pure White is “a difficult Cognac to produce.”
As a unique cognac in itself, the Hennessy Pure White is very different from the classic blend, standing out with a bold personality on its own. It’s sold only in 70cl bottles.
This is how we tasted the Hennessy Pure White:
The Eye
HPW has a light, honey color, with a dazzling amber glow. Think of it as drinking a glass of afternoon sunshine.
The Nose
As soon as you open the bottle, you’re immediately seduced by its gentle, sweet, almost sensual, flowery aroma. The scent is strong, without being harsh, and the prominence of the oak is welcoming without being too overpowering.
The Taste
From its looks alone, you should expect a very delicate taste; On first sip, the HPW gently provides your palette with subtle flower notes and hints of fresh fruit, which slowly turns into a highly complex and delightful finish.
The Finish
One of the smoothest, gentlest finishes from a spirit as strong as Cognac, the HPW leaves you with absolutely no burning sensation. The HPW finish gives you a very light, flowery finish that lasts much longer than other types of Cognac. There is a very pleasant lack of acrid bitterness and that dreaded line that goes down your throat when you have inferior alcohol.
The Blend
Double-distilled, aged in oak barrels, and blended with eau de vie from the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and the Fins Bois areas, it’s a delightful mix of complementary tastes and aromas.
The Age
The HPW has one of the most complex blends of eau de vie, with spirits ranging from 2 years all the way up to 50, which is why HPW defies normal categorization. However, if it were up to us, we would classify it as a VSOP-quality Cognac. It blends a lot of the aromas and tastes of younger Cognac’s, but the smooth finish of a decades-old spirit.
The Price
So how much is a Hennessy White bottle? Since there’s no official HPW distributor in the country, most bottles are sold by independent importers, which means that the HPW can vary in price. However, in most cases, a bottle of HPW comes to about $100-$150 a bottle (plus shipping and handling, if applicable).
But if you buy your pure white Hennessy in the Caribbean or in Cognac, you may be able to get it at $40 to $50.
Source: Finest Wine
But is Hennessy Pure White Worth the Hype?
In our opinion: Hennessy Pure White is well worth the hype and legend that surrounds it. Of course, because it’s not imported to the US, the markup of Hennessy Pure White can be ridiculous. Although, given its legendary taste and its esteem as a rare spirit, you can kind of forgive the price tag.
Setting aside our conspiracy theories on why it isn’t sold here (it’s a marketing ploy by Hennessy. The government is stock piling it for nefarious means!), let’s talk about this amazing liquor.
Hennessy Pure White is one of the most versatile cognacs in the (limited) market: it’s light enough to be drunk neat while imparting strong fruity and flowery notes, but it’s strong enough to hold its own in a cocktail.
Hennessy Pure White is a favorite for cognac lovers of any age or experience, and it’s perfect for those collectors, culture vultures and style aficionados who just want to own something that no one else has.
Speaking of collectors, they’ll find the Hennessy Pure White to be right up their alley, thanks to the uniquely beautiful, one-of-a-kind design of the bottle. At the end of the day though, whether you’re collecting it for style or substance, the Hennessy Pure White will unite both camps with its amazing flavor.
So why the shortage?
Again, Hennessy has yet to give Americans a straight answer. The prevailing theory is that it “clashes” with their current branding of high class spirits. Which I personally find ridiculous: Hennessy Pure White holds its own with VSOP-quality Cognacs, in taste and aroma, and the packaging is just as beautiful as the next bottle.
Marketing aside, Hennessy has no reason to not distribute it in the country. But until Hennessy themselves give us a direct response, we’ll never know for sure.
But here’s the good news: there are importers in the country that can get you a bottle of this mythical spirit without having to take out another mortgage on your home (mild exaggeration, I know).
A quick Google search for “Hennessy Pure White Importer America” will yield multiple results. But be warned: make sure you get your bottle of HPW from a trusted and legitimate source. There have been reports of fake bottles of Hennessy Pure White that look like the real thing but are just watered down versions of the regular Hennessy cognac. So, caveat emptor, I suppose.
Yes, pure white Hennessy is expensive. Yes, it’s ridiculously hard to find and yes, it’s worth the hype. But you get your money’s worth on the taste and aroma alone. So it’s an experience worth having for any Cognac or spirits lovers.
