Hennessy Very Special Henny Iced Tea 375ML is a ready-to-serve cognac iced tea cocktail bottled at 18% ABV in a 375ml format. It marks a historic first for the house of Hennessy — the brand's inaugural foray into premixed cocktails after more than 260 years of producing straight cognac.

Quick Facts: ABV: 18% (36 proof)  |  Origin: Cognac, France  |  Style: Ready-to-Serve Premixed Cocktail  |  Producer: Jas Hennessy & Co. (LVMH)

Production & Heritage

Jas Hennessy & Co., founded in 1765 in Cognac, France, and now part of the LVMH portfolio, has never before sold a product containing ingredients beyond cognac itself. The Henny Iced Tea was developed by Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, the house's eighth-generation master blender, who built the cocktail around Hennessy VS — a multi-cru blend of eaux-de-vie distilled from Ugni Blanc grapes in traditional copper pot stills and aged a minimum of two years in Limousin oak barrels. Black tea, orange, and lemon are blended directly with the cognac base, producing a balanced serve that bridges the gap between the casual hard tea category and the world of AOC-protected French brandy.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Black tea leaves open the nose, followed by vanilla oak, light citrus peel, and a thread of honeyed sweetness. The cognac's presence is understated but clearly identifiable beneath the tea aromatics.

Taste: The palate opens with a smooth wave of sweetened black tea, quickly joined by bright lemon and orange citrus. At mid-palate, the tannic dryness of the tea meets the round vanilla and dried-fruit character of young Hennessy eaux-de-vie, creating a drink that reads as refreshing rather than heavy. The cognac is present but deliberately restrained, lending a subtle fruity quality without overwhelming the tea foundation.

Finish: Crisp, clean, and lightly sweet, with a lingering trail of tea tannins and gentle cognac warmth. The finish stays refreshing and doesn't overstay — well-suited to its intended casual serve.

How to Drink Henny Iced Tea

Serve chilled directly from the bottle or poured over ice — no mixing required. The 375ml format is sized for roughly two generous pours. For those who want to build on the base, consider these riffs: a Henny Arnold Palmer, adding a splash of fresh lemonade to amplify the citrus and tea interplay; a Cognac Peach Tea, topping with peach nectar and a sprig of mint for a Southern-inspired twist; or a Sparkling Henny Tea, lengthening with chilled sparkling water and a lemon wheel for a lighter, effervescent version.

Best For

• Bringing a premium option to a backyard barbecue or pool day
• Introducing cognac drinkers to a convenient ready-to-serve format
• Gifting Hennessy fans something they likely haven't tried yet
• Replacing malt-based hard teas with a spirit-forward alternative at gatherings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Henny Iced Tea taste like? It leads with crisp black tea and bright lemon-orange citrus, backed by the soft vanilla and dried-fruit character of Hennessy VS cognac. The overall impression is refreshing and lightly sweet, with noticeable but not overpowering spirit warmth.

How does Henny Iced Tea compare to Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails Hard Tea? The most significant difference is ABV — Henny Iced Tea sits at 18% versus 5% for Jack Daniel's Hard Tea — making the Hennessy version substantially more spirit-forward. It also uses AOC-protected French cognac as its base rather than a whiskey or malt beverage foundation, resulting in a smoother, more complex tea cocktail.

Is Henny Iced Tea good for casual sipping? Yes — it was designed as a ready-to-serve cocktail that requires nothing beyond ice and a glass. At 18% ABV it carries more weight than most hard teas, so measured pours are wise.

Where is Henny Iced Tea made? The cognac base is produced by Jas Hennessy & Co. in the Cognac appellation of southwestern France, where the house has operated since 1765. The cocktail blend was developed under the direction of eighth-generation master blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde.

What foods pair well with Henny Iced Tea? Grilled chicken or pulled pork, where the tea tannins cut through smoky richness; shrimp po'boys, complemented by the citrus brightness; fresh fruit platters with melon or peach that echo the cocktail's light sweetness; lemon bars or shortbread for a dessert pairing; and mild soft cheeses like brie, which contrast the tea's tannic edge.

What sizes does Henny Iced Tea come in? The standard release is a 375ml bottle, designed for approximately two servings.

Is Henny Iced Tea worth the price? It positions as a premium ready-to-serve cocktail — priced above malt-based hard teas but justified by its genuine cognac base and significantly higher ABV. For Hennessy loyalists or anyone seeking a spirit-forward RTD alternative, it delivers a distinct step up from the mass-market hard tea category.

Why Henny Iced Tea?

This is, in a literal sense, a first — the first ready-to-serve product Hennessy has released in over two and a half centuries of continuous production. That alone places it in a different conversation from the malt-based hard teas that dominate convenience-store coolers. The cognac base is genuine Hennessy VS, distilled in copper pot stills from Ugni Blanc grapes and aged in Limousin oak, giving the cocktail a structural complexity that neutral-spirit RTDs simply cannot replicate. For drinkers who already enjoy the Hennessy Sweet Tea serve at home or at bars, this 375ml bottle delivers a consistently blended, portable version formulated by one of the most storied blending teams in the spirits world.