There are several foods called Napoleon. Cognac, which bears the name of the great commander, has long been known throughout the world.
How it all started
The history of cognac business has rather deep roots. Since the 16th century, when it became necessary to transport their goods far beyond the borders of the country, wine companies began to produce a special type of product, which later became known as “cognac”. And by the 19th century, he had become quite famous and respected by many. But where does Napoleon have to do with it ? Cognac, of course, was the emperor’s favorite drink, but that’s not the point. Just Bonaparte always preferred all the best. He respected good alcohol with unlimited respect and could accurately determine which of the offered products was of the highest quality. There is an official classification of this kind of alcohol, but the word "Napoleon" is sometimes added to the names of some drinks. Cognac with such an amendment has a certain feature. The fact is that in this case we are talking about exposure. Initially, cognac is considered good, which is at least six years old. The "Napoleons" this bar is much higher. Here we are talking about ten or even twenty years.
Historical reference
Napoleon loved cognac and always, going to war, took with him a sufficient amount of this strong drink. After fierce battles, in a difficult situation or during times of serious thought, a glass of good aromatic alcohol was able to relieve fatigue, restore strength and help make the right decision. It is no secret that the greatest minds of this world loved to drink, and did it with special pleasure. Historians claim that during the Patriotic War of 1812 , Napoleon I Bonaparte, traveling to Russia, took with him several barrels of excellent French cognac. But the battle was lost, and the great commander, leaving the country, was forced to leave all unnecessary, which prevented him from moving quickly. They say that along the way he buried not only looted jewelry, but also barrels with his favorite drink. This is the decision Napoleon made. Cognac is probably still stored somewhere underground. Although no one has yet managed to find him.
Emperor rating
The first cognac that received the highest approval of the emperor was Courvoisier Napoleon. Everything happened by chance. In 1811, the Courvoisier company was still little known and was no different from wineries in other provinces. Suddenly, a rumor passed that the monarch himself was going to visit the plant. Panic started in the workshops. Everyone was trying to restore perfect order. It got to the point that they even started washing each bottle. The hosts decided to show Bonaparte the best drinks, but an amazing event happened. While visiting Napoleon, passing between the rows of barrels of wine, he suddenly stopped near one of them. The oldest brandy was stored there. It is not clear what prompted the emperor to take this step, but, having tasted the drink himself, he was indescribable delight. Since then, the small company has become a regular supplier of the imperial court, and the Courvoisier Napoleon drink has become considered the best French cognac.
There is a price to everything
Buying a good product is always difficult. Especially when it comes to brandy. Shop shelves these days are clogged with continuous surrogates. What if there is a real product among them? How to choose a good drink from such a variety and not make a mistake? First you need to carefully read the label that contains the basic information. Regarding specifically cognac products, there are two main factors that should be paid special attention to:
1. The place where the grapes grow.
2. Extract of the finished drink.
On the international market, brandy can only be called a product made using special technology from raw materials grown in one of the six “crus” (land) of the French region of Cognac. According to the established classification, the following exposure ranges were adopted:
- VS - at least two years. This is the minimum time that a drink must spend in an oak barrel before it goes on sale.
- Supertor - at least three years.
- VSOP, VO, Vieux, Reserve - at least four years.
- VVSOP, Grande Reserve - at least five years.
- XO, Extra, Royal, Tres Vieux, Napoleon, Vieille Reserve - at least six years.
According to this classification, one can imagine how much a real Napoleon brandy will cost. The price for 1 bottle of such a 0.5-liter drink ranges from 45 to 60 euros. A collection of exclusive copies at auctions sell for 10 thousand dollars.
Kazakh alcohol
Recently, the production of alcoholic beverages is engaged in all and sundry. But only real master winemakers are able to produce such a complex product as cognac. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, several wine and vodka enterprises are engaged in this, but only a few manage to achieve the desired result. The assortment of really decent drinks here is small, but there are quite good specimens. For example, cognac "Napoleon". Kazakhstan produces a drink with a three-year exposure corresponding to the VS range. The product has a rich, bright taste and pleasant aroma. True, the Kazakhs themselves are more proud of their other creations. Cognac "Alfarabi" can be called a real achievement. For its production, alcohol is used, made according to the classical technology from the products of the best vineyards of Georgia. Aging the drink (6 years) allows you to attribute it to the Napoleon range, and this already speaks of the quality of the product. Experts note its delicate, velvety taste with distinctive fruity notes and a soft finish. But some ordinary consumers have their own opinion on this matter.
Products of the Camus cognac house
"Camus" is a brandy of cognac, which was created in 1893 and in a matter of years gained fame and recognition all over the world. He was especially popular in Russia. Tsar Nicholas II himself had a weakness for this wonderful drink. He even entered into an agreement with the owner of the company to supply his products to the yard. In gratitude for this, Gustave Camus created for the emperor a special cognac Camus Napoleon. Needless to say, in the production all the wishes and taste preferences of the Russian monarch were taken into account? The blend of the mentioned drink includes more than a hundred different alcohols. The combination was chosen by the owner himself. The result is a rather complicated original bouquet. The unusual taste complements the delicate aroma of dried fruits, which gives the drink a special charm. Such brandy practically does not need a snack. This is a real work of wine art. But it costs, like any masterpiece in general, very expensive. For example, most Russians, both earlier and today, simply cannot afford such pleasure. But there are people who can still afford this royal drink.
"Gift" from France
Back in Soviet times, it was believed that the best wine product in the world was Napoleon cognac. The French trading house Camus has been supplying it to our country since 1959 for thirty years. In those years, few people really knew about drinks. Perhaps that is why the extract of Napoleon was taken for the name. Later, the Poles launched the production of counterfeit products under the same name and imported it into our country for a long time. The fake was catchy framed: a matte bottle, a colorful label. This confused the buyer and made us believe that he had in his hands a real product of the highest quality. But this drink was just brandy (and that at best). Indeed, for the production of cognac you need a certain grape variety that has grown in a particular French region. Then the product requires special processing using sophisticated technology and exposure for a long time and under certain conditions. But the Poles did not burden themselves with such problems, and our people drank strange liquid for a long time, marveling at its suspicious and unpleasant taste.
Technology features
Only a real French drink can be called "Cognac Napoleon." Exposure in this case should be at least six years. The name of the great commander is not the name of the drink, but the mark according to the approved classification. To achieve a certain quality, the product must go through a rather difficult path. First, a specially prepared mixture of alcohols (blend) is in brand new oak barrels for two months. During this time, the liquid acquires an original vanilla flavor with a light aroma of spices and a characteristic color. The result is the so-called white cognac. At the next stage, it is poured into used old barrels, where it is stored for the remaining time. Typically, cognacs of the Napoleon category are aged 12-15 years or more. Such a mature product already has a more complex bouquet and a whole gamut of flavoring shades: nuts, cloves, as well as cinnamon. The aftertaste from such a drink remains tender, pronounced and slightly dry.