In Russia, at the national competition for professional winemakers "Absolute Quality", "Bastion" (cognac) won the gold medal of quality. Even the most demanding sommeliers unconditionally recognize this drink as worthy of its 5 stars.
French roots of Russian cognac
The Bastion brand is owned by the Moscow Inter-Republican Winery (MMVZ). This brandy has been familiar to Russians for over 15 years. In 2000, the Russian Wine Company (RVVK) was the first in Russia to organize a unique marketing strategy for introducing French- made Russian cognac onto the market.
Cognac "Bastion" is made from high-quality French spirits from the vicinity of the city of Cognac, which is the founder of the entire cognac industry. After distillation, the distillates are aged in barrels for 5 years, and then imported into Russia in tanks.
The following is the Russian "assembly" of this drink. It consists in the fact that the masters of assembly mix distillates to achieve a characteristic taste and aroma. Having received a product that meets the organoleptic requirements, Bastion (cognac) is bottled at the MVVZ. Then labels are glued to them and sent to the distributors.
Affordable premium quality
As a result, the Russian consumer receives a low-premium-class product, referred to in Russia as "Bastion" cognac. The price of this drink is significantly lower than that of competitors. The cost of a five-year-old cognac in a 0.5-liter bottle is offered to connoisseurs an average of 700 rubles. The same "Bastion", but three-year exposure costs about 200 rubles cheaper. The four-year-old occupies an intermediate position at a cost that stays in the region of 550-600 rubles. Thus, cognac produced in France in compliance with all the requirements of French winemakers, costs Russian consumers many times cheaper than famous brothers. This is possible thanks to such tricks:
- The duties imposed on alcoholic products imported into the Russian Federation depend on the packaging: it is much cheaper to import alcohol in tanks.
- When transporting alcoholic beverages in tanks, the duty does not depend on the strength of the drink, while importing strong alcoholic beverages in bottles is subject to the highest duties.
- Russian assembly is significantly cheaper than French.
- Not less than 60% of the cost of famous cognacs is paid for by the brand, while Bastion (cognac) is not subject to such pathos.
Production technology
French alcohol is prepared from high-quality raw materials using a special technology that provides for double distillation in traditional copper alambiks. By the way, Russian alcoholic products of high strength are often subject to a single distillation from raw materials of not the best quality. After this procedure, alcohol is aged for several years in oak barrels made from wood from the Limousin forests of southern France. Each barrel is fired from the inside using special technology. It is precisely because of this that the Russian Bastion has a recognizable French taste. Cognac is aged in barrels for 3-5 years and only after that it is imported into the territory of the Russian Federation. The exposure time corresponds to the stars of the drink: 3-year-old cognac has 3 stars, 4-year-old and 5-year-old - 4 and 5 stars, respectively. The most sought after "Bastion" with 5 stars.
Taste characteristics
Cognac "Bastion", reviews of which are generally quite good, is preferred by lovers for taste, aroma and even for the performance of the bottle. An important role in the choice is played by the cost of this drink.
The bottle for Bastion is really worthy of attention: it is cast from thick transparent glass, colorless or tinted, framed by a cork cap and a stylish label.
The connoisseurs describe the taste of cognac almost lovingly, noting especially that it leaves an imprint of a very courageous drink with a long aftertaste of cinnamon, oak and chocolate notes.
Lovers of spirits are also not indifferent to the color of the Bastion. This cognac has a noble amber overflow with a golden hue. The color is very deep and saturated.
The structure of the drink is very dense, clearly distinguishable by greasy marks on the walls of the glass, if tilted. Density indicates a long exposure with the appropriate microclimate.
The smell of cognac evokes thoughts of green apples, flower glades and honey hives. The aroma also shows a small bitterness.