10 Best Hennessy Substitute: Mixed and Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Hennessy has become wildly popular. Hennessy is a great drink for celebrating your achievements or just for purely enjoying the taste of it. But what happens if you run out or find buying Hennessy too expensive? 

A cheap Hennessy alternative is to go with an American brandy. Marancheville, Leopold VSOP, and Remy Martin are higher priced alternatives to Hennessy. Or if you are looking for a non-alcoholic drink substitute then Ritual non-alcoholic whiskey or rum are going to be the best alternatives. 

Why is Hennessy So Special?

Hennesy is a cognac coming from a rich grade region of France. Hennessy is special because it has a unique flavor profile that has been crafted for centuries. In addition, Hennessy has a good marketing campaign where it has been branded as a drink of luxury and wealth. 

Hennessy is one of the world’s most popular cognacs. And for good reason. 

However, getting around all the marketing, you can find good cognac like Henessy for a more reasonable price. Or you can find cognac which is more expensive but better as a drink. 

What Does Hennessy Taste Like?

Hennessy has a warm, aromatic, and vanilla taste. Because of its darker undertones of flavor, it is usually drunk in the fall or wintertime when the months are cold and days are short. 

What is a Good Substitute for Hennessy?

Substituting Hennessy may not be as difficult as you think. We have found 6 alcoholic beverages that are similar to Hennessy. Below are the best Hennessy alternatives. 

Before getting into each substitute for Hennessy, the categories of cognac are listed below. 

  • VS means very special
  • VSOP means very superior old pale
  • Napoleon
  • XO means extra old

1. Marancheville VSOP Cognac

Marancheville VSOP cognac is a high quality substitute for Hennessy. It comes from the Marancheville estate in the heart of the Champagne region of Cognac in France. The centuries-old estate has passed down its distillation methods through generations. 

The flavors of vanilla and oak that come through this cognac are similar to Hennessy. Since it ages for four years in oak casks, the oak flavors will come through stronger than Hennessy.  

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2. Hennessy Fine de Cognac

Hennessy Fine de Cognac is a very high-quality cognac that will impress your friends and family. This is a luxurious alternative to regular Hennessy. It has a very rich flavor profile that is smooth and easy to drink. 

3. Bache Gabrielsen

Bache Gabrielsen oftentimes partners with small local producers to bring artisanal cognac to you. This is a great gift idea for someone who likes Hennessy but is looking for something similar to Hennessy but a little different. 

Bache Gabrielsen produces all sorts of different cognacs that can match the flavors you are looking for in a cognac. From fruity and floral, to spicy and oaky. 

If you are looking to venture away from Hennessy and explore different cognac, then the Bache Gabrielsen Pure and Rustic Tasting set is perfect for you. In addition, this is the perfect gift for a lover of Hennessy. 

4. Bourgoin Fine Pale Cognac

Bourgoin is a high-quality cognac that is going to impress your friends. This cognac is a great after-dinner cognac because it is smooth and easy to drink. The rich flavor makes it the perfect substitute for Hennessy. 

This brand is new to the stage of cognacs, so give it a try! It is on the more pale end of cognacs with notes of floral and tropical fruits. 

5. Leopold Gourmel VSOP Cognac

When your Hennessy is out, this is a top bottle you should reach for when looking to make another cognac purchase. The sleek bottle alone will be enough to impress yourself and your friends. However, once you open it up you quickly realize there is much more to it than the cool bottle. 

There are strong floral and fruit flavors that are very potent, but not overpowering. The flowery and tropical fruit flavor is going to give your palate a luxurious taste and feel. 

6. Hine Rare VSOP

If you are looking for something very similar to Hennessy then look no further than Hine Rare VSOP. It is a high-quality cognac worth trying. It has a smooth and vanilla taste to it which is similar to Hennessy. 

Hine Rare VSOP is a luxurious and unique flavor profile. It is a great substitute for Hennessy and an impressive one. 

7. Remy Martin

Remy Martin is a cognac similar in popularity to Hennessy. Therefore it becomes a good cognac alternative if you are looking to change things up and drink another cognac. 

Remy Martin is going to be one step above Hennessy in price. But you will find out why this is the case quickly as it is a superior cognac. 

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Non-Alcoholic Substitute for Hennessy

If you love Hennessy but you need a non-alcoholic version then do not worry. You have options. 

1. Vanilla And Rum Extract

If your baking or cooking calls for Hennessy, but you need a non-alcoholic alternative then you can use vanilla or rum extract. The flavor profiles will be very similar and the alcohol will not be in it. 

You will get the rich and sweet flavor of Hennessy that you are looking for. Not that extracts are more powerful than Hennessy so you will need to use less in the recipe. 

It is recommended that if the recipe calls for a tablespoon of Hennessy, then only use a teaspoon of the extract. 

2. White Grape Juice

White grape juice is the easiest to get of the substitutes and is possibly already in your kitchen. If you are in a pinch, then white grape juice can replace Henessy in a recipe. Although it is not the best option to mimic the flavor profiles of Hennessy. 

However, white grape juice can be a good cognac substitute to blend into a mocktail or non-alcoholic drink you are interested in making. 

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3. Ritual Non-Alcoholic Liquors

Ritual brand make liquors that are similar in taste to Hennessy but without the alcohol. You can try Ritual zero-proof whiskey or rum as a non-alcoholic substitute for Hennessy. You can sip on this with friends and not get the ill effects of drinking alcohol that you are looking to avoid. 

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  • BUILT FOR COCKTAILS – Our non-alcoholic whiskey alternative is specially crafted to replace traditional whiskey, one-to-one, in the drinks you already know and love. Ritual spirits are made for cocktails and not meant to be consumed straight or neat.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cognac and brandy?

There is technically no difference. Cognac is just brandy that is made in a certain region of France. The region of France is Cognac. 

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The distinction is simple quality and superiority. Many believe that cognac is superior to many brandies. However, brandy can be cheaper and may taste similar to someone new to this type of liquor. 

Before buying Hennessy it might be smart to buy a cheaper brandy to see if you like the similar flavor. With this said, there are still a lot of high-quality brandies out there that will reach similar quality to cognac. 

Does Hennessy get you drunk?

Hennessy has 40% alcohol content, so yes Hennessy will get you drunk. You should consume Henessy in moderation since it is a highly potent liquor. 

Mixing a shot of Hennessy with coke or other non-alcoholic drinks will get you less drunk. You should only drink a little of Hennessy on the rocks or straight since it contains a lot of alcohol. 

Is there such a thing as fake Henny?

As with most expensive liquors, there are always people that will try to fake an expensive bottle. So be aware of scams and wrong labeling when you are purchasing Hennessy or another expensive cognac. 

If something is oddly low in price, then this is one way to determine if it is fake. Prices much lower than the market price for Hennessy or other cognac is going to be too good to be true. 

Also, check the cork. The cork on your Hennessy should be very tight. If it moves or seems loose then it is possible someone used this bottle and filled it up with something cheaper. 

Conclusion

Hennessy is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Its popularity comes from its very good taste and marketing campaign to sell it as a luxurious liquor. Celebrities and those that are wealthy are always talking about Hennessy. 

The great news is there are replacements. If you want something cheaper, but with similar taste, then look for a good American brandy. Brandy is the same as cognac, it is just not from the Cognac region of France. 

There are also higher-quality and more unique cognacs out there that you can impress your friends with. Get away from the mainstream Hennessy and get something that is more unique and exclusive. It might cost more, but it will likely be better and it will be more impressive. 

If you are cooking a recipe with Hennessy and do not have any on hand or just do not want to spend the money on a bottle you will only use a little bit of for the recipe then there are great alternatives. Vanilla or rum extract is going to make your recipe reach similar tastes. 

White grape juice is going to be the best substitute if you want to enjoy the similar tastes to Hennessy without the alcohol. Even better would be to get a bottle of non-alcoholic rum or whiskey from Ritual. 

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