Hennessy has been marketed as what's known as a Veblen Good: an item where as the price increases, the demand increases. Veblen Goods are named after the economist Thorstein Veblen, who also introduced the concept of conspicuous consumption.

Veblen Goods are meant to signal affluence: the high price is supposedly a sign of wealth and disposable income. Usually they're items with a strong brand identity and an element of scarcity or exclusivity (see also: Birkin Bags; anything made by Supreme). Hennessy, with its associations as an Old World high-end French Cognac, might have once been able to claim this distinction, but now it's as mass-produced as any other spirit in its price range. Still, its association with being the most expensive thing at the bar (along with Gray Goose and I guess Patron) makes it appealing to people who want to show off. Who are rarely the bartender's favorite people at the bar.

The thing is, if your idea of showing off your wealth is buying a $15 1oz pour of let's say better-than-average brandy and then stiffing the bartender, I've got news for you: you're no Jeff Bezos. Still, the combination of thinking they're cool, thinking they're rich, and y'know-- booze-- is a perfect environment for bringing out the worst in people who don't actually have taste of their own.

It's a shame, because Hennessy and Courvoisier have basically sucked up all the oxygen in the Brandy market, and it's really an interesting spirit that deserves more attention and a better reputation than it gets.