Hennessy dominates the cognac trade the way few companies dominate any luxury sector. The visit is polished and well-organized: an introductory film, a walk through the cooperage where barrels are still made by hand, a boat crossing of the Charente to the ageing warehouses on the opposite bank, and a tasting at the end. The riverside setting — old stone chais stretching along the water — gives a sense of the industrial scale behind the luxury brand.
Book ahead in summer. Multiple tours run daily in English, French, and Chinese, and they fill quickly. The shop carries expressions and limited editions unavailable elsewhere in France.