Martell Vs. Hennessy

Martell and Hennessy, (along with Courvoisier and Rémy Martin) make up the famous “Big 4” Cognac Houses. These brands are instantly recognizable anywhere in the world. Indeed, these top four Cognac Maisons lead all global sales of the iconic French Brandy.

But is there any difference between these Cognac brands? We delved into the world of Martell and Hennessy Cognac to bring you how these two brands manage to retain their identities and stay true to their roots.

Martell: The oldest Cognac house

Dating back to 1715, Martell is the oldest of the large Cognac houses. Jean Martell founded it and, to date, still produces the highest quality, Cognac. Martell’s market share of global sales has increased over the year. In 2017, it was rated number two with 2.2 million 9-liter case sales.

The Martell house is famously known for Cognacs that demonstrate the very best of the Fins Bois terroirs and the Borderies. One of its famous products is the world’s favorite Martell Cordon Bleu. Created in 1912 by Edouard Martell, this multi-award-winning, iconic Cognac recipe remains the same today. It is a perfect example of how great a Borderies eau-de-vie can be.

The Martell Cognac house does not produce an extensive range as its competitors, and neither do they have as many Cognacs in the lower price range. Rather, they produce a carefully measured range of palate-appealing Cognacs. Examples include Martell Chanteloup and Martell L’Or de Jean Martell. They pushed the boundaries of Cognac when they released the Martell Blue Swift – an ‘Eau-de-vie-de-vin’ finished in Kentucky Bourbon barrels.

After three centuries, the world’s oldest cognacs are still available in stores and are still considered one of the best cognacs you could ever taste.

Hennessy: The undeniable market leader from Ireland

For many, the name “Hennessy” is synonymous with luxury. Henessy is the world’s best-selling Cognac brand. Steadily increasing in sales yearly, its 2017 sales figure showed a remarkable 8.5% increase, with substantial growth in China and the US. It recorded a total sale of 7.1 million 9-liter cases in 2017.

Hennessy was created in 1765 by Irishman Richard Hennessy, and his son, James, passed down many generations. Kilian Hennessy founded the group, Moet Hennessy, in 1971 in a merger with Moet et Chandon Champagne house. They merged with Louis Vuitton (the clothing brand) in 1987 to become LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) and the most prominent luxury goods group in the world.

Hennessy is famously known for its younger Cognacs and invests a lot of effort into producing and marketing its Hennessy VS. They’ve effectively focused on the younger generation of Cognac drinkers who love their Henny in a mixed drink or cocktail.

Martell Vs. Hennessy

Hennessy, the largest cognac producer, is Martell’s closest competition.

PRODUCTION

Both brands’ Eaux-de-vie blend is sourced from diverse regions in Cognac, each with specific climates and soils. Martell uses a large percentage of wines from Borderies — a tradition in line with Jean Martell’s early days in trading. Meanwhile, Hennessy sources its Eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, and Borderies.

PRICE

A 750ml Martell VS prices between ₦20,000.00 – ₦25,000.00 while Hennessy’s ranges between ₦21,000.00  – ₦26,000.00, making Martell cheaper than Hennessy cognac prices.

FLAVOR

Hennessy V.S., the best-selling Cognac, is made from a mix of over 40 Eaux-de-vie with subtle hints of caramel, fruit, spice, and vanilla. The flavor of its VSOP is on full display with raisins, toasted oak, dried apricots, vanilla, and licorice.

Martell V.S. has sweet lemon and stone fruit aromas, with a rich, smooth texture and fruit-forward notes. The Martell Blue Swift VSOP Cognac aged in Kentucky bourbon casks has spice and vanilla upfront with toasted oak, ginger, and candied fruit taste.