I’m harldy impressed by you attempt at witticism. Need I remind you that you are not Dr. Johnson and this isn’t 18th century England? Besides, had you been telling the truth, you wouldn’t have missed the ‘Hennessy Cognac’ logo that appears at least twice before arrive at that page, nor would you have failed to see the clear mention that Hennessy is a cognac below the quote you’ve mentioned.

PS. If it wasn’t for that dastardly French revolution, I’d be sipping cognac, not brandy, at the ancestral manor instead of being in Korea, entertaining the local gentry for mere peanuts.

https://entourage.hennessy.com; click on “our house” sublink (assuming you can get your own nose out of your PBR long enough to take a good look at your screen).

As though I’d accept a correction from a “someguy”! Now if it had come from “refinedgentlemaninKorea” — that would have been “barely acceptable”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognac_%28drink%29

Turns out that just being a “window shopper” of fine liquor is quite insufficient. It’s indeed “Hennessy XO”; fortunately, the harsh taste of my “self-correction” was soothed going down, by some extremely cool and mellow jazz:

https://entourage.hennessy.com

Hennessy “XO”, the first “eXtra Old” cognac, is powerful, masculine, and generous — a genuine pleasure. It releases woody, spicy aromas. Now an established symbol of luxury, its rich character is enhanced by a distinctive decanter designed in 1947.

EXtraordinary, eXtra Old. XO was created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy for the private use of the Hennessy family. XO was then commercialized and shipped that same year, first to Ireland and then to Shanghai [!] as of 1872. Hennessy XO, the original of the category eXtra Old, was re-launched in 1947 in the now famous and very sensual decanter.

Hennessy XO is blended from more than 100 eaux-de-vie specially selected from the four premier growing areas.

Now why in the world do you suppose that M. Hennessey selected “Shanghai” for “marketing” his XO, back in 1872 (as opposed to, say, New York, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, etc.)? After all, the Dear Leader wasn’t even a gleam in his daddy’s (oops, granddaddy’s) eye yet.

So “XO” is evidently “old custom” for mainland China. Who knew.

Other Hennessey “brands” (if that’s the right word): VS, Privilege VSOP, Paradis Extra, Richard Hennessy, Ellipse.

What do you suppose happens if a DPRK “agent” returns across the border with the “wrong” Hennessy varietal? And who gets to “taste” a new bottle first, in order to guard against poison?

One longs irrationally for answers to these inconsequential but interesting questions. Doubtless the “taster” is somebody “expendable”, maybe even a peasant from the DPRK countryside. He’d be well qualified, as the “woody, spicy aromas” could be reminiscent of the taste of edible tree bark.

Now that’s what I’d call “eaux de vie”. And, after all, brandy IS for heroes…

Hostile Western powers headed by the US are repeatedly pressing you China on RMB appreciation. We see it with our eyes and feel it with our hearts. In order to combat their evil intentions, and to bring down the appreciation of your currency, we have taken the initiative of printing vast amounts of money for you. How lofty and noble a spirit that is!

Classic.