Hennessy VS
Cognac, France
Best-selling cognac in the world. Boisé (oak extract), sugar dosage, and caramel coloring permitted under cognac regulations.
- Aging
- Minimum 2 years, French oak
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- High
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Moderate
- Additives
- Moderate
In its favor
- ✓Real double distillation in Charente pot stills
- ✓Long oak aging
What to watch
- !Sugar dosage common (up to 4%)
- !Caramel coloring + boisé permitted
- !Grape-derived histamines
Factor by factor
Congeners High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines High ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Moderate ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Moderate ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Hennessy VS is well-made but engineered for smoothness, and that smoothness is partly chemistry the body has to clear in the morning.
Hennessy VS questions
Is Hennessy VS gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Hennessy VS is gluten-free, with no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
What proof is Hennessy VS? ▾
Hennessy VS is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Hennessy VS give you a bad hangover? ▾
Hennessy VS scores 7/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 8/10 for cognac overall. The main drivers are its congeners and histamines.
Is Hennessy VS vegan? ▾
Yes. Hennessy VS is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.