Nicolas Winding Refn

Danish-born American film director Nicolas Winding Refn recently collaborated with film composer Cliff Martinez and photographer Dan Tobin Smith for the latest Hennessy XO campaign. Refn weaves a rich tapestry illustrating the revered cognac’s taste and feel, thus coming up with the storyline, “each drop of Hennessy XO is an odyssey.” 

True to Refn’s conceptual signature, this striking narrative quickly pierces a smooth veneer and flows through a dreamscape of colour, texture, and elements such as water, earth, fire, and metal. Through a topography of flowing liquid and gentle curves, the director offers powerful images that capture such intangible sensations enveloped in a cascade of flavours. 

Throughout its 250-year history, Hennessy has proudly perpetuated an exceptional heritage based on adventure and discovery. Inspired by the Hennessy Comité de Dégustation’s profound know-how, the journey articulates seven tasting notes into distinct chapters that flow seamlessly into one another: the palate warmly embraced by flavours of candied fruit; the intriguing sensation of an intense, rising heat slowly revealing the complex taste of eaux-de-vie that have been patiently aged in oak barrels; the strong spicy note with a distinct peppery flavour; the wave of warmth growing, cresting, and then breaking, giving a feeling of robust, full, and voluptuous presence; and then the well-rounded flavour of a rich, dark chocolate that gently caresses the palate with its silkiness; the vigorous ebb and flow of oak notes interlaced with vanilla; and finally the evanescent oak notes that leave a long, omnipresent finish. 

“Taste is a powerful sense” Refn notes. “Experiencing certain tastes creates the sensation of a journey. The complex flavours in Hennessy XO excite the palate and offer rich contour and contrast, opening the door to unique experiences.”