Now when buying alcohol you should not rely only on the price. Many manufacturers specifically overstate the cost of their products just to increase profits. To navigate in alcohol, you need to know the classification and regions of production. For example, real cognac is made only in France, in the province of Cognac.
Even if the drink was prepared strictly following the technology, but in another country or even in any other French locality, it can only be called “grape brandy”.
The classification of liquor from the Cognac province is a different story.
Excerpt
Here the designations are very different from ours. The marking was developed by the National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac. They do not put stars here, but the shutter speed is indicated in Latin letters. But this practically does not change the essence. The age of the alcohol begins from April 1 of the following year.
And the age of the cognac itself is determined by the youngest distillate in the blend.
Shutter speed marking
- VS (Veri Speshel) - such a drink has a minimum age of two years. With the addition of Superior - three years.
- VSOP (Veri Superior Old Pel) is a cognac that is at least four years old.
- VVSOP (Veri Veri Superior Old Pel) - a five-year drink.
- XO (Extra Old) - the minimum alcohol in the blend is 6 years.
French law prohibits the classification of cognacs older than six years. But this does not mean that such drinks do not exist in the Cognac province. Such alcohol has its own names. For example Camus Jubilee.
Production region
It is also important to know in which province cognac is produced, since the Cognac region itself is divided into six subregions:
- In Champagne, the soil contains a large amount of clay and metals. Once upon a time there was a sea on this place. In this region, drinks are made with an average price category.
- Grand Champagne. Actually, this is the Champagne subregion. And this is the best area for the production of a noble drink. Here you can make distillate, which has great potential for aging (from twenty years).
- Petit Champagne, second subregion. Here the conditions are slightly different. Drinks are dense and have a persistent fruity aroma. They have the potential for aging does not exceed twenty years.
- Borderi is a province of Cognac, in which the drink has a mild flavor with a violet aroma. The age of alcohols reaches fifteen years.
- Fen Bois is the largest province in Cognac. Here, too, soft alcohol is obtained, in the taste of which freshly squeezed grapes are clearly audible.
- Bon Bois is a very difficult climate for brandy production. Most often, spirits from this zone complement the blend.
- Bois Ordiner is the most difficult microzone, as vineyards are located along the coast. Drinks from this region are very recognizable, they have a special taste. Here the alcohols withstand about five years.
Now very often you can hear the question: "What brandy from the Languedoc province?" In view of the above, it is worth noting that such a drink is not produced in this region. Yes, it is a French province, but it has nothing to do with Cognac.
Cognac Champagne
Many Champagne brands have come out of the Grand Champagne region. There really is a huge assortment.
Below are the most famous brands and their brightest representatives.
Cognac Courvoisier
One of the four famous French cognac houses. The products of this company are known all over the world. It is especially popular in Asia and England. It is here that Napoleon is very fond of, which the gourmets of these regions personify with constancy and excellent quality. In 2016, Courvoisier took fifth place in the ranking of the best-selling cognacs in the world. Now the company is owned by Suntory Holding, which is the third largest producer of elite alcohol in the world.
Courvoisier Napoleon
This drink was created by great masters. In order for the friendship of the House of Courvoisier with the Emperor of France to be perpetuated. The drink belongs to the category of Fin Champagne, since in its blend spirits from Petit and Grand Champagne.
The drink has many years of aging, and that is why in its aroma sandalwood, dried apricots and orange blossoms are so clearly audible.
The taste is very bright, saturated, with tones of prunes, licorice and dark chocolate. You can feel its individual features, not only using it as a digestif, but also interfering with tonic or ice.
Brandy house "Frapin"
This company has a very long history and ancient traditions. But at the same time, technological innovations are quite successfully used here. Most of all, Europeans love the drinks of this house. Moreover, a very large share (about ten percent) remains precisely in France.
For comparison, this indicator exceeds the regional average by three to four times. All products of this house are made exclusively from Grand Champagne alcohols.
"Frapan V. S. O. P. Grand Champagne"
This drink is made exclusively from berries collected in their own vineyards. The aroma is clearly audible wood-balsamic tones. The background includes honey, dried fruits, vanilla and jasmine.
In a mild buttery taste, bitter chocolate, sandalwood and walnut cake are heard.
Chateau de Montifo
This drink has been produced since 1837. For its manufacture, only grapes from Grand and Petite Champagne are used. All cognacs of this house have a bright color and rich fruity aftertaste.
Representatives of three generations of the Valle family always taste new cognac. Brand owners make sure that the main characteristics of the brand are always preserved.
Views of the Chateau de Montifo
20 Years Old has a bright golden amber color. The aroma can be heard linden flowers, dried apricots, chocolate and prunes. The soft taste is dominated by notes of walnut.
VSOP, Fine Petite Champagne AOC. The color of the drink is fiery amber. The aroma is saturated with lime color, in a velvety taste shades of dried apricots and pears are heard.
VSOP Sabina. In a golden amber drink fiery glare is beautifully cast. The aroma is full of ripe grapes and the color of linden. In a harmonious velvety taste felt pear and apricot.
Cognac "Camus"
Representative of the French province of Cognac, Borderi subregion.
This cognac house ranks fifth in Cognac in terms of sales. If we take into account only independent family enterprises, then this house will be the first. In 2015, the company's turnover amounted to 150 million euros.
Camus Borderies XO
This drink is produced in limited quantities. Alcohols are made from berries collected exclusively on their own vine plantations. It has a complex aroma in which dried apricots, iris, walnut and vanilla are clearly audible. The velvety taste is felt candied fruit, peach cream and fresh pastries.
This drink has many awards from international competitions.
Pierre croizet
This drink is from the Fen Bois region. The house honors its traditions, all production is in an old estate. They never use modern chemicals, which is why the company's products can be considered a bioorganic drink.
Cognac has a twenty-year exposure. It has a light, golden amber color.
In a light floral aroma notes of violets, bells and chocolate are heard.
The taste is light and airy, the main colors are floral. In the background are chocolate, prunes and an oak barrel.
All cognacs in this region are light and airy, and Pierre Croizet is no exception. Despite the fact that the taste is bright, floral, there is no unpleasant sweetness in the drink. It is very different from cognac from the Champagne region. Cognac Fen Bois is not in vain famous for its femininity.
The main thing is to always remember that a noble drink should be enjoyed, not drunk.