Cognac is one of the strong alcoholic drinks revered in Russia. This brandy got its name from the French city of Cognac, which grows three specific grape varieties. Store cognac in oak barrels, and the color saturation of the drink depends not so much on the aging time, but on the age of the barrel. According to some doctors, 20 grams of this wonderful drink a day can prevent the development of heart disease.
Each type of alcohol has its own original dish. However, cognac almost does not need snacks. In accordance with etiquette, it is served after a heavy meal to enjoy the exquisite taste and aroma. The realities of our days do not allow us to fully surrender to the savoring of the drink. Therefore, cognac with lemon or chocolate, according to most, is the best combination of products.
A bit of history
The brandy has long been taken as a basis in English-speaking countries and makes an impression on the Russian person. They don’t drink cognac in the company of foreigners; rather, they taste it with coffee and a cigar. We even know the rule of five C, which implies the following sequence: cafe, cognac, cigarette, chocolat, citron, which means coffee, cognac, cigar, chocolate, lemon.
Since 1948, cognac has been produced in Russia as a product of an individual branch of the wine industry.
In 1965, Soviet GOSTs and standards appeared, and alcohol production was gaining momentum. Plants were built all over the country, and grape crops were cultivated in permissible climatic zones. Since the widespread distribution of brandy, the brand name “brandy” has been allowed to be used only in France and Russia. The decline in production occurred during the years of the anti-alcohol campaign, which negatively affected the industry as a whole and the production of spirits.
Russian tsars and cognac
There are several versions about who came up with drinking cognac with lemon. One of them testifies to the culinary find of Nicholas I, who drank the drink in one gulp. The unexpected strength of the cognac made the Russian Tsar wrinkle, and the lemon lying on the table quenched the discomfort. Another version says the invention of lemon as a snack under Nicholas II. It is as if someone from the king’s circle spoke about the delights of citrus, which sets off the taste of cognac. The monarch tried and recognized this fact, after which he ordered the courtiers to bite overseas drink with only lemon slices.
The opinion of experts
True French people enjoy cognac with pleasure and do not allow it to be mixed with any appetizers. The ideal combination is to follow the rule of three C: coffee - cognac - cigar. In Russia, since the reign of Nicholas, it is customary to consider lemon as the best snack for cognac. There are several options for citrus snacks:
- Sliced lemon sprinkled with ground coffee, grated chocolate or sugar.
- They make canapes on a skewer, collecting citrus wheels, cheese, olives together.
- Spread caviar or nuts on lemons.
- Grated cheese mixed with honey is served in a separate bowl for dipping lemon circles into it.
- Caramelized half rings are prepared by boiling lemon slices in sugar syrup for an hour, and then drying them in the oven for about 30 minutes.
There is no unequivocal opinion about brandy snacks. Experts consider it to be bad manners to use cognac with lemon. Reviews of drink connoisseurs are rather skeptical. They believe that real cognac does not need snacks, and citrus acid only spoils the specific taste and aroma.
How to drink cognac
The optimum temperature for serving a drink is considered to be 22 degrees. A tulip-shaped glass is best suited, which must be filled by a quarter. Before use, you must hold the glass in your hands for several minutes, slightly warming. It is recommended to drink cognac in small sips, so that it slowly spreads, and then passes inside. So you can feel the bright aftertaste left by the drink in the oral cavity.
What brandy is in harmony with
Experts strongly recommend that you do not resort to lemons as an appetizer for cognac, especially if an expensive and seasoned product is used. It is better to drink a cup of original coffee, taste brandy and light a cigar.
If the evening in a friendly company is extended in time and accompanied by alcoholic drinks, snacks are an integral attribute of a fun pastime. In this case, you can forget about the rules of brandy consumption and offer guests dishes that are in harmony with this noble drink. To find out what is the right snack for cognac, you need to follow the advice of experts.
Light snacks
At meetings not burdened by serious libations, it is more appropriate to serve light and laid-back meals. In the list of noble snacks, the places were as follows:
- Dark or dark chocolate with a maximum cocoa content.
- Fruits: apples, melons, apricots, pineapples.
- Berries: grapes, strawberries.
- Hard cheeses: Edam or Parmesan.
- Nuts: peanuts and almonds.
- Pate from the liver of a bird.
- Black olives with pitted.
Canapes from light snacks will help the hostess of any celebration to discreetly eliminate the unfortunate combination of cognac with lemon and profitably present their culinary talents.
And drink and eat
Unfortunately, the Russian mentality does not contribute to the rejection of hearty dishes for the sake of etiquette. It’s not an easy task to eat and drink hard, but many are coping. In order not to spoil the holiday, stay in your right mind and solid memory, you need to properly eat brandy. What, besides canapes, please guests? The culprit of the celebration will help the following dishes:
- Low-fat grilled meats.
- Cold poultry appetizers.
- Vegetable Slices.
- Sandwiches with caviar.
- Salted salmon or trout.
It is not recommended to serve spicy dishes or products cooked with an excessive amount of spices, for example, sausages. No pickled cucumbers and sauerkraut. No need to eat cognac mutton or pork. Dumplings, dumplings, whites will be superfluous. Soups and borscht will also not work. But it is quite possible to diversify the table with high-calorie sweets.
Desserts and drinks
At the end of the evening, tired of heavy food, the body requires something unusual. And then brandy with lemon will not help. It is better to choose sweets and juices. You can safely combine cognac with ice cream or chocolate cakes. The most preferred dessert is called nut biscuits or tiramisu.
As for drinks, mineral water without gas is recommended. You can drink cognac with apple or grape juice. A distinctive feature of the drink is its exclusive combination with dry white wine. You can not drink brandy with carbonated drinks. For example, the worst of the combinations is called cognac with cola or pepsi.
Lemons: Pros and Cons
The answer to the question of why you should not eat cognac with lemon is quite logical and lies in the composition of the fruit. Citric acid blocks taste receptors, they become less sensitive and do not fully feel cognac. In addition, citruses temporarily block the sense of smell, which also negatively affects the sensations. Nevertheless, it must be recognized that lemon will never leave cognac snacks. Already very firmly this combination settled in the head of a Russian person. It is important not to get involved in the process of drinking and try to comply with the measure in the use of alcohol with or without lemon.