Hennessy Paradis is the creation of Maurice Fillioux, the uncle of the current master blender of the company, Yann Fillioux. Its “paradise” name refers to the aging warehouse, now called the Founder’s Cellar, where the finest Hennessy cognac barrels rest and develop their character. “Paradis” is a commonly used term in the region; small producers use it to describe a cellar or small storage room where they keep their eaux-de-vie. In his creation, Maurice relied on cognacs produced by his grandfather and great-grandfather, aged up to 70 years. The result is a truly heavenly spirit, with the youngest component being 25 years old and the oldest nearly a century. Aroma: rich, fruity and floral, dry rose petals, honey, truffles in chocolate, pineapple, passion fruit, pepper, cinnamon, a hint of cardamom and oak. Taste: rich and complex, dried apricots and plums, raisins, candied orange peel, cinnamon, cocoa powder, a hint of dried herbs, notes of tobacco and oak. Finish: long and elegant, with notes of dried fruits, cinnamon, nutmeg, a touch of licorice, and oak.