Cognac "Vaspurakan" refers to the category of vintage, seasoned COP. They started to release it back in 1980. Its full name is cognac "Ararat Vaspurakan 15 years old." Yerevan Brandy Factory, which is located in Armenia, is engaged in production. The youngest alcohol in the blend has a fifteen-year exposure. In general, the composition of this drink includes sixteen to twenty cognac spirits, whose age can reach eighteen years.
This cognac is bottled in bottles of 0.5 and 0.7 liters. His strength is standard - 40%. At present “Vaspurakan” cognac is one of the most popular and recognizable among Armenian brandies.
History tour
Cognac making appeared in Armenia in 1887. It was then that the merchant and philanthropist Nerses Tairyan began the production of brandy alcohol using classical French technology. He dared to take this step thanks to his cousin Vasily Tairov. He already had rich experience in winemaking and a degree. It was Vasily who admired such a generous gift of nature as high-quality local grapes and the unique climate of the Ararat Valley.
Friends and relatives helped a lot financially. And soon the distillation apparatus of the Sharan type stood at the plant. Then it became possible to equip the premises for aging raw materials.
Both brothers had an entrepreneurial vein, and she did not let them down. At that time, all these new technologies were a breakthrough in the production of strong alcoholic beverages in Armenia. Cognac production has reached a new level.
"Ararat" under the auspices of "Shustov"
In 1899, the plant became the property of the Russian partnership "Shustov and Sons." The new owners also turned out to be perspicacious people, and the company under their leadership continued to flourish. The plant was reconstructed, the newest and most efficient equipment was delivered. Moreover, the best specialists were involved in the production.
Mkrtich Musinyants was an outstanding technologist, he owns many original recipes that are used now. For many years he was the head of the enterprise. It was he who, in 1902, made the blend of the first vintage cognac of Armenia, Fin-Champagne Selected.
Achievements and rewards
Cognacs that came out of the hands of this talented man made a splash at an exhibition in France. The Grand Prix Cup was brought home to Armenia, although officially it belonged to Shustov. Moreover, the brandies of the Ararat factory received the title of Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty.
Under the guidance of these outstanding personalities, the plant flourished and in the early twentieth century, Armenian cognacs became popular throughout the world.
Description of cognac "Vaspurakan 15 years"
This drink has a rich amber color, and only true connoisseurs will be able to discern the unobtrusive tone of "old gold" in the palette. The aroma of Vaspurakan cognac is quite complex, with resinous balsamic and woody notes. In the background are the tones of prunes, figs, cloves, cinnamon and hazelnuts. The bouquet perfectly complements the shade of wet oak planks.
The brandy "Ararat Vaspurakan" tastes quite soft and slightly sweet. Also in the aroma there are spicy fruity notes. As befits an Armenian cognac with such a high exposure, it is saturated with oak tones, vanilla and chocolate. Dried fruits are still barely perceptible, as if in the background. The aftertaste has an average duration. It is warming, with spicy notes, slightly islandy.
Brandy "Vaspurakan" is well balanced, it will be appreciated by lovers of fruit flavors and aged strong drinks.
How to distinguish an original from a fake
Recently, the Yerevan Brandy Factory has made adjustments to the design of its products, it is worth paying attention to.
- The lid should only be cork. If a bottle of Vaspurakan brandy is clogged with plastic or metal, this clearly indicates a fake.
- The logo must be embossed. It represents the letter "A" with the phoenix bird. Moreover, it is located above, above the label.
- The taste should not be alcohol or, especially, a chemical shade.
Production Features
First of all, grapes are taken exclusively from their vineyards, which are located in the Ararat valley. The process is controlled not from harvesting, but from planting vines.
The special climate of the region, the variety of soils and unique grape varieties - this is what, first of all, makes the brandy of the Ararat factory so soft and bright.
Harvesting takes place in September and lasts only a few days. Farmers get up at dawn and leave the vineyards only after sunset. This is done so that the berries as soon as possible fall under the press and do not have time to lose their unique taste. In order to obtain juice, they use exclusively pneumatic pressures, the same ones are precisely used for the production of elite sparkling wines. Further, the wort begins to ferment, resulting in excellent dry wine. After distillation, cognac alcohol is obtained from it, which is sent to aging containers. When alcohol reaches the desired age, the master (technologist) proceeds to blend.