The history of Godet brandy began in 1550. It was then that the Dutch merchant Bonaventure Godet decided to settle in the French province of Cognac. Although at that time he did not even think about the production of a noble drink. His plans included the supply of alcohol and salt from France to Holland.
Monsieur Godet took a fancy to La Rochelle, where he began to do his own thing. His successes were so impressive that His Majesty Henry IV turned his attention to them. He decided to give the Godet family a noble title, inheriting from father to son.
After such a gift, the sons and grandchildren of Bonaventure did not dare to leave the country, but remained in France in order to continue the work.
Exit to a new level
In 1730, Godet brandy began to be delivered to the British court. This was aided by Augustin Godet. He sent his son there to expand the market. When he returned to France, he founded the Godet cognac house in La Rochelle.
1838 became a landmark in the history of the house, since it was then that completely new tastes of the drink were created. Gideon Godet the Younger invented technology.
How the new cognac appeared
Gideon was in Portugal on business and there came across barrels of 600 liters. With his light hands the containers were delivered to La Rochelle. They put alcohol from the Grand Champagne region there. They survived for eight years.
The drink was tasted almost every day until Godet cognac acquired a balanced taste and full aroma. Thus, the most popular drink from the entire line called Gastronome was born.
The heyday of the company
Under the brothers Paul and Louis Godt, the cognac house achieved incredible success. It began at the beginning of the last century. From the 20s to the 70s, the company's products were so popular that they headed the leading positions in all American ratings. Jean Godet, who at that time headed the company, was even able to circumvent prohibition. He invented a rather original method of delivery. Barrels of Godet cognac were dumped into the water off the coast, and then, under cover of night, they were transported by boats to the shore.
The receiver of Jean Godet was also brilliant. He ran the company from 1970 to 1984. His authorship belongs to the slogan: “The future has its own history today,” which is known throughout the world.
Trading house in the modern world
Now the head of the enterprise is Jean-Jacques Godet, he is already the eighth representative of the generation. He made the appropriate decision, and the conservative look of Godet cognac became modern and dynamic. Of course, the success of the company is explained not only by its appearance, the quality of drinks of this brand is always at the highest level.
According to reviews of Gode cognacs, one can say that floral tones are the main note in the brand's drinks, and the lightness and low content of tannins are considered a hallmark. Many types of this cognac are sold in exclusive bottles.
But the manufacturer is famous not only for expensive products, there is also a relatively budget Lautrec line, the quality of which also exceeds all expectations. Drinks belong to the Premier Cru category, grapes for them are grown exclusively in the Grand Champagne microzone.
Popularity does not leave this trading house even now. Gode cognac is preferred by very famous people all over the world. He is still served in the court of the British monarchs. The Queen can only afford a glass of Godet Excellence. The most famous French restaurateur is Alain Ducasse, and he also drinks drinks exclusively from Godet cognac house. Only the products of this company are served to the passengers of Air France aircraft.
The annual sale of the drink is more than a million bottles. And all thanks to the fact that the company always adheres to its own slogan: "We choose our alcohols in the same way as we choose our friends."
How to read the markings
All cognac houses must comply with the established standards. The Year is no exception. They are strictly regulated and controlled by the National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac. The age of this noble drink is determined by the youngest alcohol. That is, in cognac there can be a blend of five-year, eight-year and even fifteen-year alcohol, while the drink will still be considered five-year-old.
At the moment, very often on the back label of imported alcohol, in translation, the age of the drink is indicated, say 5-25 years. Do not flatter yourself, this is a five-year-old cognac, and the percentage of twenty-five-year-old alcohol there is very low. It is unlikely that it exceeds 10%, and most likely even less.
- VS (very special) - minimum alcohol has a two-year exposure.
- VSO P (very excellent, old, pale) - here the aging of spirits begins from four years.
- XO (Extra Aging) is a six year old drink.
Classic brandies
In Godet VS cognac, the blend was collected from the Bon Bois, Fen Bois and Borderies regions. It has a rich golden color, has a powerful aroma in which leather, vanilla, herbal and floral notes are pronounced. Dried fruits and pastries are also heard. The taste is dominated by herbs and nuts. The drink is served as a digestif.
Godet VSOP cognac has a straw yellow color, which is very similar to a shade of natural gold. Light floral aroma saturated with tones of fresh honey. Differs in special power and softness.
Godet XO cognac is no less special. The color is much darker than in the previous two - it is light brown. The aroma is quite bright with pronounced oak tones. The pleasant taste goes well with coffee and cigars.
Cognac Godet Antarctica
This drink is different from classic cognac. This is visible to the naked eye. Since its color is transparent. Naturally, this feature very distinguishes it from other drinks of this class. Although, if you look closely, you can see a straw ebb.
The aroma is full of notes of seasoned gin that perfectly complement the floral tones. If the cognac is cooled, then dried apricots, bananas, citruses and spices will appear in the aroma.
When chilled, the drink has a classic cognac taste, but if you warm the glass in the palm of your hand, you can feel not quite standard shades. The finish is a long honey-vanilla.
Admirers of the drink consider it noble and refined. It is because of this that gourmets are ready to pay a lot of money for an unusual drink.
Price and place of purchase of Antarctica
This drink is very rare on the shelves of ordinary supermarkets, as it belongs to the category of elite alcohol. More often it can be found at specialized points of sale that have permission to distribute French cognac to our country. The average price for a half-liter bottle is about four and a half thousand rubles, but since it is mainly sold in gift wrapping, its price may be slightly higher.