Many lovers of high-quality drinks know this amber color and aroma. This is brandy grape. It is believed that most often it is used by men, this is no wonder, because its strength is from 35 to 70 degrees. But sometimes ladies give preference to this drink, albeit in a diluted form, as part of cocktails. Consumers leave different reviews about this drink, which is also quite natural, because there are a lot of types and brands, and people have very different opinions. We will deal with this issue in more detail.
What is brandy. History
Brandy is a strong alcoholic drink, or rather, a whole family of drinks that are made by distillation, transfer of grape juice, berry or fruit mash. There are no strict standards or production regulations. The drink can have different strengths starting from 35 degrees. The name comes from a foreign brandewijn - "distilled wine". And this designation was fixed for alcohol prepared by the method of distillation from grape or fruit wine.
There is no specific date when grape brandy appeared, but its formation is clearly associated with the development of distillation by distillation. Strong alcoholic drinks were in use in ancient times - in Rome, China, Greece. As is known from history, that brandy, as we now know it, gained popularity in the 14th century. Initially, the distillation of grape wine made it easier for merchants to store and transport the drink. But then people noticed that the longer it is kept in wooden barrels, the more elegant and subtle the taste and aroma become.
Brandy Types
Three main types of such a product are known:
1. Grape brandy. Get it by fermenting fermented grape juice. This type is divided into several types:
Cognac. France, Cognac area. Using distillation cubes, the beverage is distilled twice. Aged in oak barrels. The most popular brands are Martel, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Remmy Martin.
Armagnac . Southwest France, Armagnac. A noble drink is obtained by long distillation through copper distillers. Then Armagnac is aged in oak barrels, and the process lasts much longer than cognac - from 12 to 20 years, there are instances with a 30-year exposure. The first alcoholic distillation drink made in France. The most popular brand is the Marquis de Montesquieu.
Sherry brandy . South of Spain. The most popular strong drink in Spain. Moreover, 92% of the country's brandy is accounted for by sherry.
Greek brandy (grape) . They have been making a drink here since 1888. The Metaxa brand is named after the founder, Spyros Metaxa.
Grape brandy of China, South Africa, Mexico. It is made almost the same as cognac. That is, double distillation in copper cubes and subsequent aging for at least 3 years in oak barrels.
American grape brandy. It differs from the European in color and strength. It is lighter and stronger. Made in California.
Armenian brandy . It is made in Armenia. In 2010, a new trade name was introduced - “Arbun”. As a raw material for the drink, grape alcohol produced exclusively in Armenia is used.
Moldavian grape brandy . The "Old Order" is the latest brand that is produced and exported by Euro-Alco.
2. Fruit brandy.
3. Brandy from the squeeze.
CJSC Novokubanskoe
CJSC Novokubanskoe was founded in the last century, in 1943. In the country, this company is considered the best in the production of cognac products. Brandy “Novokubanskoe Grape” is also produced here. Fans of this drink leave the most positive reviews about the taste and aroma of the product. In its production using French technology. The company is engaged not only in the production, but also in the cultivation of cognac grape varieties. The location of the vineyards is very favorable climatically - at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. A unique microclimate reigns on the border between the mountainous Stavropol and the plains of the Kuban: clean dry air, the smell of herbs, calm weather ... All this ensures the production of an excellent harvest of wine material. Cognac CJSC Novokubanskoe are widely known not only in our country, but also abroad. At various competitions, drinks were awarded high prizes and prizes, including the Prodexpo Grand Prix - an international exhibition.
Product range
Even in the difficult for the wine industry of the 80s, the enterprise continued to exist. The vineyards were preserved, they continued to introduce new brands of cognac into production, which still delight buyers. The year 2009 was marked by the release of an elite product with an aging of 40 years. By the end of the year, a line of four cognacs under the general name "Ekaterinodar" was released. For their production, wine alcohol was used, which was laid down in the last century at the foundation of the enterprise. In 2010, the design of the bottles of the Prometey brandy and Pobeda brandy was updated. In 2011, a new line of cognacs called the “Big Prize” was released. In 2012, Novokubanskoye CJSC is again creating a new series of drinks. In May, the Grape Novokubanskoye brandy was launched. Taster reviews confirmed the extraordinary taste, complex aroma. The bouquet contains shades of oak components. The unique “Novokubanskoe” contains alcohols that have been aged for more than two years in oak barrels, and after-rest is 4 years.
How To Make Brandy Grape
Manufacturing technology varies slightly depending on the variety of raw materials. Grape brandy is made from fermented grape juice. The process begins with wine fermentation, which lasts 3-4 weeks. It turns out a liquid with a strength of 9-12 degrees. It is placed in a distillation cube and heated to a boil. Vapors formed in the process have a degree much higher than the wort itself. After distillation, the strength of the material increases three times, and the volume of liquid decreases by half. During the second distillation, alcohol is divided into fractions; cognac is medium. Cognac and Armagnac can withstand several years in an oak barrel with humidity up to 85% and a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees.
Spin Fruit Brandy
Another variety is grape seed and pulp pressed brandy. There are also brandies from other berries and fruits. The most famous are apple calvados, plum brandy, cherry krishwasser. Most of these drinks are not aged, therefore transparent. In such cases, the manufacturer must indicate that the drink has no aging time. Some are aged 2 years, after which they have a strength of 70 degrees. Such brandy is diluted with softened water, color, sugar syrup. At the end, the drink is necessarily filtered.
The difference between brandy and cognac
True connoisseurs of elite alcohol should know that grape brandy and cognac are still different from each other. Cognac, no doubt, refers to the variety Brandewijn, but there is a difference in the manufacturing technology of these products. Real brandy is made only from grape juice, and brandy, as we discussed above, can be distilled from any other fruit. Some craftsmen try to make a drink at home. Knowing the correct sequence of actions, observing the formulation of technologies, this is quite possible to achieve.
Brandy has been around for many hundreds of years, but this does not affect the quality of the right drink. He does not lose his originality. In modern production, they use the original technology, while retaining flavor notes and unique aromas.
How to drink
Over time, more and more new varieties of brandy and cognac begin to be produced. To properly assess the subtlety of a drink, you need to try it correctly. Professional tasters evaluating grape brandy leave very interesting reviews and give tips on how to taste the drink in order to feel the whole bouquet of taste and aroma.
- To make out fragrant notes, the drink needs to be poured into a snifter. The portion should be small - less than half the volume.
- Drinking the drink in small sips, tasting is best done with friends and relatives, drinking slowly, enjoying the taste.
- Hold the snifter in the palm of your hand, the drink will warm up from the heat of your hand. The best temperature is 25 degrees.
- Cognac is not accepted for a snack, but if you need it, you can serve lemon or chocolate to the drink.
- For those who do not like strong drinks, you can prepare cocktails, add alcohol to syrups, juices, coffee and even ice cream.
- When the taste and aroma seem too oversaturated, you can add ice cubes.
Opinions and reviews of connoisseurs of this drink are many. It’s up to everyone to decide how and with what to drink brandy, but listening to the opinion of experts will still not hurt.