Hennessy Master Blender's Selection No. 3 Limited Edition Cognac 750ml

Hennessy has been making cognac since 1765, blending the output of the Charente region's finest vineyards into expressions that have defined the category globally for more than two centuries. But the Master Blender's Selection series is different from everything else Hennessy makes — and not just in degree. Every other Hennessy expression, from V.S. to X.O. to Richard Hennessy, exists on a spectrum of craft and rarity. The Master Blender's Selection is something else entirely: a cognac that will never be replicated. A single batch, assembled once, from eaux-de-vie that will never appear in any other Hennessy blend — reserved exclusively for this one creation.

No. 3 carries a particular significance: it is the first cognac ever created by Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, the eighth generation of the Fillioux family to hold the title of Hennessy Master Blender — a lineage stretching directly from Emile Fillioux, who crafted the original X.O. for Maurice Hennessy in 1870. When Renaud succeeded his uncle Yann in 2017, the tradition of the Master Blender's Selection was passed to him. This is the cognac he chose to make first. An XO blend of 20 unique eaux-de-vie, aged in young but not new exclusively French red oak barrels, bottled at exactly 43% — the proof Renaud determined reveals the blend's full elegance, a lightness and precision that sets No. 3 apart from the more powerful structure of X.O. The bottle itself, inspired by 19th-century apothecary decanters, is as considered as the cognac inside it.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Light amber with a golden sheen — luminous and elegant

Nose: Aromatic and fresh with sweet pastry tones — toasted almonds, vanilla, praline, warm spices, roasted hazelnuts, and a subtle floral undertone. The young oak barrels give it energy without heaviness

Palate: Unctuous and supple — dried apricot, honey, nutmeg, and cinnamon with praline and toasted hazelnut; an elegant, velvety texture from the precision of the 43% bottling that balances richness with extraordinary lightness

Finish: Persistent and distinctive — spice, oak, and fruit linger with what Hennessy describes as "a touch of subtleness" — a finish that rewards contemplation

FAQ

What makes the Master Blender's Selection different from Hennessy X.O?
Hennessy X.O is one of the world's great cognacs — a blend of over 100 eaux-de-vie assembled to be consistently excellent year after year. The Master Blender's Selection is the opposite: a single batch, assembled once, from eaux-de-vie that will never appear in any other Hennessy blend. No. 3 will never be produced again. It is, by definition, a one-of-a-kind cognac. X.O rewards you with consistent greatness; the Master Blender's Selection rewards you with a moment that cannot be repeated.

Who is Renaud Fillioux de Gironde?
Renaud Fillioux de Gironde is the eighth generation of his family to serve as Hennessy's Master Blender — a direct descendant of Emile Fillioux, who created the original X.O. for Maurice Hennessy in 1870. When he succeeded his uncle Yann Fillioux in 2017, he became only the eighth person in Hennessy's 260-year history to hold this responsibility. No. 3 is his first creation in that role.

Where can I buy Hennessy Master Blender's Selection No. 3?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts — this expression is discontinued and not being replenished. Fast, insured shipping nationwide.