Everyone approaches the choice of alcoholic beverages in general and cognac in particular, taking into account their personal preferences. In addition to their own taste sensations, attention is usually paid to the manufacturer, brand and endurance.
Everyone is familiar with the stars decorating the labels of cognacs of domestic production. However, the mysterious letters XO, VS, VSOP are indicated on foreign-made bottles. Deciphering these abbreviations causes difficulties for many not too sophisticated connoisseurs of an elite drink.
We will clarify this issue.
French roots
To begin with, it should be noted that cognac is a product that is produced exclusively in France. All other drinks, in accordance with international economic agreements, are not entitled to bear such a name. Therefore, the decoding of VS, VSOP, XO and other abbreviations for alcoholic beverages in Armenia or Georgia is not required. All the necessary information, from the aging time to the spill site, is indicated on the label and is absolutely understandable to everyone.
By the way, the technology of production of the considered varieties of alcoholic beverages is absolutely identical. Therefore, whether it be asterisks or VSOP, the decoding indicates one thing - how many years cognac alcohol was aged in special barrels.
The only thing I would like to additionally mention is the careful and reverent attitude of the French to this national drink. They carefully monitor compliance with all quality standards, regardless of the combination of XO, VS, VSOP. Decryption is not required, you can simply enjoy an unsurpassed taste.
Production technology
As you know, the basis of cognac is grape spirit. However, it reaches true taste and bouquet only after a certain aging time, which occurs in special oak barrels.
During this process, the original product undergoes a huge number of different transformations. Some substances that spoil the taste of the final drink disappear from it. The organic material of the barrel walls gives the drink a taste that everyone appreciates.
These natural processes proceed at a very low speed. Therefore, the process of creating a truly elite drink can take many years. The minimum period that is necessary so that the alcohol poured into barrels can bear the proud name of cognac is at least one and a half years. Only after that it acquires soft velvety notes with a light aroma of oak and mahogany color.
My years are my wealth
Previously, each manufacturer created its own labeling system, which was indicated on cognac bottles. Therefore , it was very difficult to establish how many years a particular drink was aged in special oak barrels .
Only after the creation of the French National Bureau responsible for the production of cognac in this country were invented combinations of XO, VSOP, VS, the decoding of which no longer causes any difficulties and indicates the age of the drink.
Classification
Any specialist is able to taste to distinguish all the changes that occur in cognac alcohol at the very beginning of its maturation. Therefore, the combination of VS or VSOP, the decoding of which is so interesting for inexperienced customers, is not too important for him. The main task of these abbreviations is to distinguish drinks whose aging time is close to 10 years.
This is especially true for monitoring the production process and the quality of the finished product.
So, the following aging periods are distinguished:
XO - the aging period of brandy alcohol in an oak barrel should exceed 6 years;
VVSOP - the process of making this drink is at least 5 years;
VSOP - the drink falls into the bottle after 4 years of aging;
VS - the minimum shelf life in an oak barrel is 2 years.
Conclusion
Finally, we note that the aging time of brandy is calculated from the first of April of the year following the spill. Therefore, in most cases, the duration of a drink in barrels is slightly longer than that indicated on the label, which has a beneficial effect on its taste.