09/12/2021
We have heard that there is counterfeit Hennessy in circulation, however we have only heard about this being the case in the PRC, and Nigeria. I have not seen any evidence of counterfeit Hennessy product at any liquor store that is part of the three-tier-distribution system (direct to consumer sales may be a different story).
- How to Detect Counterfeit Hennessy Product -
1) Batch labels printed on a dark background are not necessarily indications of a counterfeit bottle as Hennessy has been printing batch numbers using light print on a grey background for some time.
2) It is very unlikely that you will find counterfeit Hennessy in The United States due to heavy regulation, however if you do come across a suspect bottle of Hennessy smaller details on the bottle will most likely provide you with enough information to confirm either case (cross hatching on trademark label, relief on the main label, bottle engravings). You can also send the batch number to Hennessy via message at: https://www.hennessy.com/en-us/form/contact
3) You can also contact one of the organizations below:
https://www.ttb.gov/distilled-spirits
https://www.safeproof.org/
4) Attached is the most thorough video about spotting counterfeit bottles of Hennessy, and I will update the link if I find a better video. It's getting late, and I really can't believe that I have to respond to some meme-troll-picture that likely started at 4Chan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl_Mp4H7610
- Liquor Regulation Makes It Unlikely That You Will Find Counterfeit Hennessy in Any Licensed Liquor Store -
1) Any liquor store in the region will be purchasing Hennessy from the same distributor that we have been assigned to, and I can assure you that there is no reason that distributors or retailers in the area would actually be stocking counterfeit Hennessy.
2) Beer Wine and Spirits, Lucky's, Liberty, and so on (I haven't spoken with them, I'm just assuming) prefer that our customers remain among the living.
3) Research from the Center on Alcohol Policy regarding the benefits of the three-tier-distribution system (supply/custody chain, regulation, enforcement):https://www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CAP-2020-Report-on-Counterfeit-Alcohol_FINAL.pdf
- My Suggestion (TLDR)-
Buy from a brick and mortar store, and enjoy your Hennessy. There isn't a single distributor in this country that would risk their exclusive market license to make $30 to $500 in profit on a bottle of liquor. There isn't a single retail store that would risk its license to make a thousand extra buck a day.
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