Since ancient times, cognac lovers have been arguing about the traditions of its use and various shades of the bouquet. It has always been considered and is still considered an elite drink. Cognac was put on the table in the house, where they wanted to emphasize the high status of the owner. Recently, the assortment has expanded so much that people began to think more often about the taste and quality of their favorite drink.
History of Russian cognac
At the end of the nineteenth century, a strong grape drink was first exported from Kizlyar, which was obtained at a local wine-vodka smoking factory . At that time, cognac factories already existed in Yerevan, Kutaisi and Tbilisi, but it is impossible to consider that these are factories producing Russian cognac, although these cities were part of the first Russian Empire, and then the USSR. Further development of cognac business took place in two completely different directions. On the one hand, factories were built in the Stavropol Territory and the Caucasus (the famous Kizlyar Brandy Factory). In these areas, climatic conditions allowed the cultivation of grapes, which was necessary for the production of cognac products. On the other hand, enterprises were built in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East in order to process alcohol produced in the southern regions of the country.
Why is Russian brandy considered poor quality?
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, established trade and logistics ties even within the country were irretrievably lost and destroyed. Russian cognac factories lost their usual wine spirits and, accordingly, began to look for a replacement for them abroad. Unfortunately, when Russian brandy was produced (five stars or less - it doesn’t matter), first of all, cheap analogs of alcohol of dubious characteristics were used for its manufacture. It is the poor quality of budget Russian cognac that has led to the fact that there is no special trust in it.
Cognac factories in Russia
But, in spite of everything, manufacturing companies have remained and still exist in Russia that use their own raw material base and produce Russian cognac (five stars) on its basis. Reviews about him are very versatile: neutral, negative and laudatory.
The main cognac factories in Russia:
- Kizlyar.
- Derbent.
- Novokubansky.
- Praskoveysky.
The bulk of the drinks accounted for the first two cognac factories.
Excerpt
According to experts, this is the most important stage in the technological process of production. The taste characteristics of such an elite drink as five-year-old Russian cognac depend in many respects on the duration of aging: its quality and variety of smells.
Experts in their reviews recommend evaluating the exposure time. Buying for a person who is ignorant in this matter is akin to participating in a lottery drawing. Indeed, on the one hand, there are long-known well-known brands in front of my eyes, such as Hennessy and others, which have a very impressive cost and abound with beautiful inscriptions like VS or VSOP, and on the other hand, they are much more modest in terms of price and appearance of domestic cognacs with an incomprehensible abbreviation "KV".
Soviet classification
There is a certain classification of elite alcohol, for example, the inscription VS indicates a two-year cognac, VSOP - a four-year one, etc. In Russia, they use a different classification that has existed since Soviet times.
The minimum aging period of cognac in the USSR was three years. A one-year aged drink can be easily distinguished by the number of stars on the bottle label. There are three, four or five stars. This is what distinguishes Russian cognac - the number of stars shows the exposure time of the drink.
Vintage cognacs are more expensive elite Russian alcohol. They are indicated by the letters:
- KV - cognac aged for at least six years.
- KVVK - cognac, aged not less than eight years, high quality.
- KS is an old cognac with an aging of at least ten years.
- OS is a very old cognac; aging is at least twenty years.
Collected types include drinks with an aging of more than twenty-three years. Now that the abbreviation on the bottle label has become clear, you can draw conclusions yourself about the exposure time and reasonableness of the price. And in a sense, it will become much easier to choose Russian cognac. Reviews will also help you choose a quality drink.
Expert opinions and consumer choice
For the preparation of cognac cognac alcohols of various aging are used. In our country, the drink is prepared according to traditional classical technology.
Five-year-old Russian cognac is especially popular and in demand among consumers. The reviews of numerous domestic tasters and experts indicate that this is a drink with a rich aroma and with the taste of almonds present in it. In addition, a slight presence of honey is felt in it. But not only excellent taste qualities, according to experts, distinguish Russian cognac from others. The elite drink has a wonderful amber color, which not all even the most expensive types can boast of.
Cognac production
The cognac production technology is quite simple, the drink is based on real grape spirit. In practice, they use the usual one, since demand far exceeds supply. To prepare Russian cognac, it is necessary to ionize the water, that is, thoroughly clean it of impurities. The fluid passes through a special filter. Water at this stage changes its ionic composition and is purified several times. Then cognac spirits are mixed with sugar syrup, color, aromatic spirits and pure waters. Ultimately, bottles of a Russian amber-colored drink appear on store shelves.
Expert reviews indicate worthy taste characteristics of the Russian drink. In their opinion, domestic cognac can safely compete with foreign elite alcohol.
Cognac alcohol extract
Brandy alcohol is aged in oak barrels. During the year of this procedure, it evaporates by 0.5%. Oak containers should not have any metal parts that may come into contact with the liquid. After some time, five-year-old Russian cognac (five stars) will be obtained, but until this point some manipulations are carried out with alcohol. In barrels, lignin, carbohydrates, various tannins and other components found in oak wood are mixed. Proper mixing in the future will have a beneficial effect on the quality of an amber drink with a unique range of flavors. After aging, cognac spirits are filtered. But this happens only after they are treated with cold (temperature -12 degrees) for 10 days. Only after these procedures described above cognac is bottled in branded bottles and enters the retail network.
How to check the quality? Professional Tips
The variety of cognac on the shelves does not surprise anyone. Today you can choose any country of origin of this original drink, as well as what you can afford. Unfortunately, the best Russian cognac (5 stars), which is in high demand, quite often becomes the object of numerous fakes. In their appearance, the analogues are not much different from the original.
How to check whether quality cognac or not? Here are some ways that experts advise in this matter:
- It is necessary to turn the bottle of cognac, which has not yet been opened, with its neck down. Now you need to look at the bottom inside. A sufficiently dense and large drop of the drink should fall from it. It is believed that in low-grade and low-quality cognac, drops from the bottom simply flow down the walls.
- Having poured a certain amount of cognac into the glass, it is necessary to rest your thumb on one of its sides. Then you need to look at it through the walls of the glass. A fingerprint should be visible through the cognac drink. This means that cognac has excellent quality.
- You need to turn the glass with cognac in your hands and watch at the same time how trickles of the drink flow down its walls. Ideally, this should occur slowly with the formation of large droplets.
Experts tell you how to choose a good cognac
There are several fairly simple ways to choose a great drink. Russian cognac (five stars) is not cheap. Although sometimes for decent money you can buy a substitute of unknown origin. Experts say that it is advisable to buy elite drinks in large supermarkets or specialty stores, where an experienced sommelier will offer and pick up for every customer whatever he wants. If you have any doubts, be sure to ask the sellers for a quality certificate for a particular brandy.
Before you pay for your purchase, you need to inspect the bottle. It should be branded with embossed glass. The label should be glued perfectly evenly, in addition, excise stamps must be present on the bottle with cognac. Usually there are two of them: regional and federal. It is advisable not to purchase cognac, the label of which indicates that it contains distillation alcohol and various flavors. The bottle should be closed with a wooden cork or pressed crumb cork. This is a prerequisite, by these signs you can easily determine whether the fake is in front of you or the original.
Very often cognac is packed in beautiful boxes or special tubes. You need to get a bottle and see which amber drink is inside. It is important when examining brandy liquids to pay attention to transparency. Cognac should be without sediment and turbidity. If after opening the bottle you feel an unusual smell, feel free to return it to the store and demand a refund.
Cognac is preferred by many gourmets. Its pleasant mild taste and light aftertaste will be a great addition to any holiday or a significant event.