Would you like to get an inexpensive but tasty cognac? "Armenian Fortress" - a drink that is not ashamed to put on the festive table. Its taste and pleasant aftertaste will not leave indifferent even those who are well versed in high-quality alcohol.
Description
Cognac “Armenian Fortress” (8 years of aging) is premium alcohol, the fortress of which is forty degrees. This brandy belongs to the vintage category, therefore, it is produced by different brands. To create such a drink, selected distillates are required, which have been stored in an oak barrel for eight years. They are obtained from Armenian grape varieties such as Chilar, Mehli, Voskeat and others. Grapes are grown in the Ararat Valley, only whole berries are used for wine. Cognac is combined with different types of snacks: meat, fish, cheese, dried fruits, desserts.
Cognac - what is it?
Natural alcohol obtained from grapes is called cognac. It is produced by aging and distillation. They call it so only a French drink that has passed certain stages of aging. If it is made in other countries (not France), there the drink is also called cognac, but if alcohol is produced for sale in other countries, then it should be called brandy. Cognac exposure must be indicated on the label by a number. Got its name drink in honor of the eponymous city of Cognac in France. The history of the drink began in the XV century.
As a rule, this alcohol has an amber-golden color; it is also distinguished by its strength. Cognac alcohol (base) is produced by the distillation of dry white wines that are made from certain grape varieties. After they are kept for at least thirty months in wooden barrels or tanks. The production of cognac in France was originally established near the city of Cognac, in the six largest vineyards.
The classic technology of beverage production has remained unchanged for centuries. It includes a twofold distillation of alcohols in a special apparatus. The young drink tastes sour, the fortress is small, so it is evaporated additionally in copper tanks. At this stage, distillation products are produced. Then the drink is aged for years in barrels. The decisive factor will be exactly the last stage of production. It depends on what color the drink turns out to be, taste, aftertaste, aroma. Alcohol absorbs the essential oils of the tree, slightly oxidized. Oak tree gives a pleasant vanilla and nutty aroma to cognac.
The aging time for cognac is different. They must be indicated on the label. For example, if the designation VS is there, then this cognac has a 2.5-year aging in a barrel; XO means that the drink is old, and its exposure is 6 years. Many people liked the Armenian Fortress cognac. "Aregak" is the name of the line of classic cognacs to which the drink in question belongs. It is not recommended to use it in large quantities, since due to the content of tannins, alcohol is more slowly absorbed into the blood. This means that you can drink more cognac without getting drunk, but the harm to the body will be significant in any case.
Taste and Aroma
Cognac "Armenian Fortress" has an expressive aroma and taste, a beautiful amber hue. Its taste reveals soft woody notes, a touch of dried fruit and dark chocolate. The cognac has a dark deep color and a golden hue. The soft taste of the drink is balanced, intense, intense. In it everyone will feel velvety notes, woody shades, astringency. Some may find subtle vanilla and spicy shades in the bouquet. The alcoholic drink has an intense and rich aroma, there are almond notes and shades of ripe fruit.
Brandy spirits are included in the blend of the "Armenian Fortress", whose age is from five to eight years. Due to the fact that alcohols are aged in oak barrels, they absorb special aromatic and taste qualities that distinguish this cognac from others. Judging by the reviews, the Armenian Fortress cognac is 8 years old - a worthy drink that can be presented as a gift. However, it cannot be cheap, even though it belongs to the budget segment.
Bottle design
Armenian brandy is poured into transparent bottles, which have distinctive features. With their help, you can recognize a fake among the original. How to do it?
- Brandy is produced in Armenia, so the barcode on the label of the original bottle starts with the numbers 485.
- The shape of the bottle is round, embossed, voluminous, it is made of transparent glass. The bottom is round, ray relief, along the edge there are inscriptions.
- Label of excellent printing quality, glued evenly. All the inscriptions are embossed, this can be felt if you hold a finger on them. On the other side of the bottle there is another label that shows information about the drink and manufacturers, on the front side there is another label on the neck with the number 8, which means strength.
- Cork made of balsa wood. On its upper part there is a relief logo with a fortress. It is additionally coated with a protective film.
- An excise stamp is available.
In the absence of these distinctive features, we are talking about fake alcohol, even if it was purchased in a trusted store.
History
Cognac “Armenian Fortress” is a representative of cognacs from Armenia, which is produced at the Proshyan Brandy Factory, located in the capital Yerevan. This plant is more than a hundred years old, it was opened by Armenian businessman Abgar Proshyan. They built a plant in the Ararat Valley, where they began to grow indigenous grape varieties. The Armenian Fortress cognac (8 years of aging) belongs to the Aspet line.
Price
In the reviews of the 8-year-old Armenian Fortress cognac, it is said that it is sold in some stores for 400 rubles. However, an original 0.5 liter bottle cannot cost less than 700 rubles.
Reviews
Judging by the reviews, the Armenian Fortress cognac is a worthy drink that is inexpensive. The bottle has a beautiful and unique design, the contents have a pleasant taste and aftertaste. It is drunk easily, does not cause consequences and poor health. A pleasant smell is another plus. Alcohol for the production of this alcoholic beverage is of high quality. Buyers attribute it to the best economy class cognacs. According to them, he has a pleasant color, texture, good taste, he does not have a hangover.
Along with positive reviews, there are many negative, even angry comments. Some consumers note that this alcohol does not have cognac aroma and taste, the taste is completely salty, someone even calls cognac "Armenian Fortress" poison. They say that you can’t drink it cold, because it loses all the taste. There is no product on the manufacturer’s website; it is not always available in stores. There are those who doubt the aging of the drink. Judging by the taste and aroma, they say, it is unlikely that this cognac really spent eight years in a barrel. Significant disadvantages include the opportunity to purchase a fake, therefore, there are great chances to undermine health.
Where to buy cognac?
In the territory of the Russian Federation, you can buy the “Armenian Fortress” in specialized stores that sell certified alcohol. It is not recommended to buy cognac in dubious stores, shops, with hands. With a high probability you will be sold a fake under the guise of elite alcohol.