Hennessy X.O Year of the Horse is the house's Lunar New Year 2026 limited edition, with bottle and gift box designed by Chinese artist Xu Zhen. The cognac inside is the standard X.O blend.
About This Spirit
For the Year of the Horse, Xu Zhen's design shows a galloping horse in metallic copper and deep mineral tones on a flowing red background, meant to suggest energy, freedom and forward movement. The X.O carafe carries a red and gold label and a dark red neck capsule, and comes in a cream gift box with gold details that Hennessy describes as eco-designed. The same artwork appears on the V.S.O.P, James Hennessy and Paradis editions this year. It is bottled at 40% ABV.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Dark chocolate, candied fruit and cinnamon, with a hint of cracked pepper.
- Palate: Rich and firm, stewed plums and cocoa, then clove and toasted oak.
- Finish: Long and spicy, with lingering dried fruit.
Serving & Food
Pour neat into a tulip glass at room temperature, or over a single large ice cube to soften it. It sits well with Lunar New Year sweets such as nian gao and candied lotus seeds, or with roast goose. A small splash of water opens the fruit.
How to Enjoy
Lunar New Year gifting, and friends who collect the zodiac bottles year by year.
Product Details
Producer: Hennessy
Expression: X.O
Edition: Year of the Horse 2026, design by Xu Zhen
Category: Cognac
Country: France
ABV: 40%
Size: 700mL
About the Distillery
Hennessy X.O goes back to 1870, when master blender Emile Fillioux put together a special blend for Maurice Hennessy to share with his inner circle. It is often cited as the first cognac to use the Extra Old name. The blend is built from eaux-de-vie aged in young barrels, which gives power early on and rounds out with time. Each Lunar New Year the house releases zodiac editions across its range, and for 2026 it worked with Xu Zhen, a Shanghai-based contemporary artist known for blending Chinese and Western imagery.