Cognac is appreciated for its delicate floral-fruity aroma and pleasant aftertaste. However, not all connoisseurs of this alcoholic drink know where, how and from what it is produced. No less important is the question of how the composition of cognacs of different quality and brands differs, how to make a choice and not get fake.
What is entitled to be called cognac
In the past, for the convenience of transporting grape wine by sea to other countries, enterprising winemakers began to use a distillation apparatus. In the process of such distillation, a strong drink was obtained, which was later planned to be diluted with water. The distillate unexpectedly stored in oak barrels turned out to be better than the grape wine from which it was obtained. So brandy appeared.
Cognac is a kind of brandy. It is also obtained by distillation of grape wine, but then aged in oak barrels. In doing so, important conditions must be observed. Firstly, grapes from several specific varieties can serve as raw materials for the production of the drink.
Secondly, cognac has a strictly regulated production process, the slightest deviation from which does not give the manufacturer the right to give such a name to his product. Third, and probably the most important condition - the place of manufacture of the drink should be the French city of Cognac.
Not Every Brandy Is Cognac
Today cognac is called brandy, made not only in France. Moreover, in different countries, in order to give a drink such a name, there are different requirements, because of which the composition of cognacs may differ. For example, its exposure or how close the technological process of its production to the original can be taken into account.
However, it is indisputable that a true cognac should include only distillate created from crops harvested from vineyards in the French city of Cognac. Therefore, if the drink is made in another part of the world, it is brandy. In this case, the alcoholic beverage can be of high quality, not particularly inferior to the original French drink.
The differences of this brandy
Uni-blanc is the main grape variety for the production of cognac. Also sometimes used are Colombard, Montil and Folle Blanche - they produce a more saturated drink, but they are more difficult to grow. The grape harvest period from Cognac plantations is between November 15 and March 31.
After double distillation of the fermented grape juice, you get a drink that after 30 months in oak barrels will become a real cognac. What is a part of cognac, except grape distillate? Nothing. Unlike brandy, the French drink has no more additives at all.
Chemical components and unique aroma
These or those aromatic and flavoring notes give cognac chemical components formed during the fermentation and distillation of grape juice, settling in oak barrels. What should be the composition of cognac - a true French drink - is strictly regulated by law. To determine the quality of a drink, the ratio of all its chemical components is measured.
The aroma and taste of cognac depend on such components as alcohols, acids, aldehydes, esters, tannins. Using chemical analysis, it is determined whether the cognac contains compounds that should not be there, and if the balance of the remaining components is not upset. It is a different percentage of alcohols, acids, aldehydes and ethers that gives rise to various variants of this elite drink.
The more tannins that make up cognac, the higher they are valued. And this factor is completely dependent on aging in oak barrels. Cognac with aging up to 5 years is called ordinary. The age of such cognacs is reflected in the form of stars on the label. If several cognac spirits were mixed for its preparation, the number of stars assigned to it reflects the endurance of the youngest of them.
Brandy classification
Special signs can also be used to indicate the age of cognac. So, the Very Special (VS) marking indicates a two-year exposure, Superior - a three-year, Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP) - a four-year, Very Very Superior Old Pale (VVSO) - a five-year and Extra Old (XO) - a six-year or more .
Cognacs that have stood in oak barrels for 6 years or more are called vintage. These are the most expensive and valuable grape spirits with their own names. Classification for cognacs older than 6.5 years is usually not applied. A separate category is collection cognacs, whose age can be tens of years.
How to determine the quality of cognac
The quality of cognac can be determined by its consistency, color and aroma. A good drink should have a small density and oiliness, draining, it leaves a clear mark. Depending on the amount of tannins that make up French cognac, the latter can have different shades. However, it should always be perfectly transparent. In order to verify this, it is necessary to leave a fingerprint on the glass, and then on the other side through the drink try to make out. If you can’t make out, the quality of cognac is doubtful.
The aroma of a high-quality elite drink should change when interacting with air. After brandy is rocking in a glass, the oak notes inherent in it at the beginning are replaced by fruity or floral. If the aroma of the drink is too pronounced, this may indicate its poor quality. Unfortunately, the average consumer is most often not able to distinguish high-quality, and therefore more expensive cognac from its cheap fake.
Determine the quality of cognac in a bottle
Turn over a bottle of brandy before buying: if large bubbles appear first, this indicates the correct consistency of the drink. Check that there is no sediment. Remember this feature: good cognac is not bottled in an unpretentious form. Manufacturers of a quality product using an unusual cognac bottle design are trying not only to attract a buyer, but also to prevent the appearance of fakes.
The label on the bottle of high quality cognac is always glued evenly and has a decent look. The text placed on it should contain all the necessary information: composition, aging, strength, producer, etc. The brandy should not contain anything other than cognac spirits enriched with tannins.
The most popular brands of cognac
The most popular brands of cognac are: “Hennessy”, “Courvoisier”, “Martel”, “Remy Martin”. The alcohol composition of the Hennessey brandy depends on the level it occupies in the standard classification. For example, the VS class is characterized by the presence of more than 40 cognac spirits, the VSOP - more than 60, and the XO - more than 100.
The Courvoisier company produces about a dozen varieties of cognac, not including exclusive ones. However, she does not have her own vineyards. Martel brandies are characterized by a special softness and fruity aroma. Cognac house "Remy Martin" today is the owner of the largest stock of cognac alcohol.
How to enjoy cognac
To assess the taste of good brandy, it is important to create a suitable atmosphere. Coziness and nobility, restraint and sophistication should be felt. In a word, cognac is not suitable for every event. Before serving, the drink should not be cooled - at room temperature its refined aroma is best manifested.
Traditionally, for the use of cognac, wide glasses are used on a short leg with a narrowed top. It is believed that this capacity allows you to fully experience the aroma due to its heating from the heat of the hand and the preservation of the vapors inside the glass. Recently, serving cognac in glasses on a high leg and without narrowed up walls has not been considered a bad form. In such a container, the aroma of the substances included in the composition of a good cognac is fully revealed due to the rapid evaporation during interaction with oxygen.
Real gourmets evaluate the whole bouquet of aromas of high-quality cognac in three stages: at a distance of 15-20 cm, at the edges of the glass and inside the glass. They drink it in small sips, slowly moving the fluid across the tongue. After each sip, they enjoy the aftertaste, which differs in the same way as the composition of cognacs.
Cognac is usually drunk after meals, combining with products that do not have too pronounced taste and smell. For example, hard cheese, seafood, meat, sweet products and coffee will help to emphasize its unique aroma.
A large number of alcoholic beverages today are unlawfully passed off as cognac. While this drink should be produced only in France, it is aged for at least three years in an oak barrel and does not have any impurities. To get a true aesthetic pleasure, pay attention to the choice of cognac.