Hennessy VSOP Privilège
The Hennessy you can drink neat and still pour into a Sidecar without hesitation. Aged for at least four years in French oak, rounder than the VS and much more approachable than the XO.
What VSOP means on the label
VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. It means that the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has aged for at least four years in French oak, twice as long as the VS. Hennessy describes VSOP Privilège as a complete and harmonious blend, made from eaux-de-vie selected for their powerful yet smooth structure, finesse and complex nuances.
In practice, it’s the house’s all-rounder. While the VS is still a little fiery and young, the VSOP has lost its rough edges: more cinnamon, more dried fruit and a longer, warm finish. At the same time, it’s still lively enough for a classic cognac cocktail. In stores, it’s often listed simply as Hennessy VSOP; it’s the same bottle.
At a glance
Rounded, warm and balanced
Dried fruit & vanilla
Raisins and apricot, with the sweet vanilla of oak. Less alcoholic than the VS.
Cinnamon and caramel
Smooth and rounded, with cinnamon and caramel. The structure is firm, but the sharpness of young cognac has mellowed.
Long and warm
A warm finish where the oak and a light spicy note linger.
Flavor profile of Hennessy VSOP Privilège served neat at room temperature. A drop of water brings out the fruit.
How to enjoy VSOP at its best
VSOP is the bottle that teaches you how to taste cognac. Take your time with the first sip and experiment with water and ice.
Tasting with a drop of water
Pour 30 ml into a tulip-shaped glass, smell, and take a small sip. Then add a few drops of water: the alcohol recedes, bringing out the cinnamon and dried fruit.
Cognac glasses →Over one large ice cube
Pour 40 ml VSOP over a large ice cube in a heavy tumbler. Swirl the glass for a minute; the cognac becomes cooler, smoother, and slightly sweeter, without getting watered down.
Tumblers →In a Sidecar
Shake 50 ml VSOP, 20 ml Cointreau, and 20 ml fresh lemon juice hard with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe. VSOP gives it more body than VS.
Go to recipe →Classic cognac cocktails with VSOP
Most old cognac cocktails were made with cognac mature enough to drink neat. That's what VSOP is for.
Sidecar
Cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon. VSOP makes the balance between fruit and oak even better.
Sazerac
The original from New Orleans, with cognac, sugar, bitters, and a rinse of absinthe.
Champagne Cocktail
A sugar cube with bitters, a splash of cognac, topped up with champagne.
Hot Toddy
Cognac with hot water, honey, and lemon. The VSOP's cinnamon notes are just right.The right glass for Hennessy VSOP
A tulip-shaped cognac glass for sipping, a heavy tumbler for serving over ice, a coupe for the Sidecar, and an Irish coffee glass for the Hot Toddy.
More Hennessy flavors
Hennessy
Where it all began. The brand page tells you everything about Hennessy: its origins, varieties, and classic cocktails.
Go to Hennessy →
Hennessy XO
The 1870 blend. Deep and rich, with cocoa, spices, and candied fruit. For after dinner.
View Hennessy XO →
Hennessy Paradis
Dozens of very old eaux-de-vie. Plum, honeysuckle, and oak, silky smooth and endlessly long.
View Hennessy Paradis →Everything about cognac: the types, the best-known brands, and the cocktails.
Questions about Hennessy VSOP Privilège
Can't find your question here? Read more on the Hennessy page or check out our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Hennessy →What percentage of alcohol is in Hennessy VSOP?
What's the difference between Hennessy VS and VSOP?
Is Hennessy VSOP the same as VSOP Privilège?
Do you drink Hennessy VSOP neat or on the rocks?
Can you use Hennessy VSOP in cocktails?
Buy Hennessy VSOP
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Hennessy VSOP online from Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. Check Gall & Gall for the current price and availability. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
