Now in my 50s, I often enjoy it with soda.

A man stands. The man's name is Nobuhiko Takada. Beside the man are a bottle of Hennessy X.O and a glass. The man's eyes gaze at the unique, voluptuous carafe of Hennessy X.O, adorned with a cluster of grapes.

"This shape never changes. At first, I really admired how seniors would drink it so deliciously. I thought, 'I'll drink this once I earn my own money.' I'll never forget the joy of uncorking it for the first time with my own fight money. I was a little nervous, actually."

The man's life has been full of ups and downs, or as he puts it, "going up and down the stairs..." Hennessy X.O has always been by his side.

"When I was an active wrestler, there was a guy who drank this so coolly. He was at a table with several people, but he poured his own drink from the carafe. He looked so happy, like a child drinking something they truly love, and it looked so delicious. Even pouring the liquor into his glass seemed enjoyable. Yet, he was composed and seemed content. I thought, 'I wish I could drink like that someday.' I still haven't quite achieved it."



How did the cognac's aroma and taste, with its unchanging blend since its creation in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy, the third-generation head of the Hennessy family, captivate him in his twenties and thirties?

"Hmm. Back then, there was certainly an aspect of drinking something valuable more generously. But knowing the real thing at a young age has definitely become part of my foundation. When I was young, I liked to fill the glass to the brim with plenty of crushed ice, and now in my 50s, I often enjoy it with soda. This cognac's taste is unwavering, so I sometimes discover flavors now that I didn't notice when I was younger. The aroma can knock on the doors of memory, reminding me of things I had completely forgotten."

Should one drink it without hesitation, even when young?

"Of course. Knowing the real thing becomes your foundation. Whether it's reaching beyond yourself, you ascend to a higher place. From a higher place, you can see further and wider. That's a fact Hennessy X.O, after a fight, taught my younger self. Being able to feel changes in my taste in my 50s and recall the past through its aroma is only possible because I drank it when I was young."

Page02.A Journey Through Seven Flavors, Invited by Hennessy X.O

A Journey Through Seven Flavors, Invited by Hennessy X.O

The mixed martial artist, who also possesses a sensitive and logical side, has consistently shouted "Come on out!" even in defeat. He seems to be thoroughly devoted to the man.

"A man is strong, gentle, and kind, isn't he? There was a top fighter named Fedor, and during a title match, I was entrusted with the championship belt before the fight. When I went up to the ring to receive the belt, the atmosphere was so tense it felt like there was electricity in the air. Amidst that, Fedor gave me a brief smile and a wink. It was a truly wonderful smile. In that moment, silence enveloped him. I got chills. I thought, 'What a man.'"



Hennessy X.O has seven unique chapters: a sweet sensation, bursting spiciness, overflowing chocolate, and more. Drinking it is also a journey through these seven flavors.

"Yes, because life is also a journey. A blissful glass feels like enjoying the journey while you're on it."

He too has various facets: 1_ martial artist, 2_ husband, 3_ father, 4_ TV personality, 5_ entrepreneur, 6_ philanthropist... If Nobuhiko Takada has seven faces, inspired by the seven flavors of Hennessy X.O, what would be his "seventh" face?

"…Perhaps a face that cannot stay still and seeks change. If I had to say, a reformer. I'm always looking for new themes. I've been like this for a long time. That's why I might need the unchanging value of something authentic like Hennessy X.O."

At that moment, the ice in his glass, rounded by time, clinked softly. Looking up, the man wore a composed, yet truly blissful, magnificent smile.

*Please be 20 years or older to drink alcohol. Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited by law. Drinking during pregnancy or breastfeeding may adversely affect the development of the fetus and infant. Please enjoy alcohol responsibly and in moderation.