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I, like many men, perceive cognac not only as an alcoholic drink that clouds the mind. For me, cognac itself is something courageous and sincere, and good cognac is the atmosphere of an intellectual conversation with people who arouse my interest and respect.
And if there are no problems with a good social circle, then cognac sometimes fails: in trying to try something new, I can stumble upon a completely disgusting swill that will not only ruin the evening, but also make you feel terrible about yourself in the morning.
Below I will talk about why this happens and which brands of cognac I will never buy in a store again.
What cheap cognacs do I consider good
Yes, actually it is possible. Of course, you need to understand that among the budget category you will not find really elite cognac, but within one or two thousand rubles, it is quite possible to pick up something pleasant.
For example, in the budget segment, I prefer the Georgian five-year-old Graneli cognac (price – about 1300-1400 rubles) and the ten-year-old Armenian cognac “Tsar Tigran” (price – about 2000 rubles).
“King Tigran”, which I consider a very worthy choice
When I plan just an evening with friends, and I have about the same tastes with them, then high-quality budget cognac is a great solution, but if I’m going to give a gift, I still choose a more expensive and presentable option.
How I ran into an outright fake
A few years ago, this was indeed a common problem: unscrupulous sellers offered people fake cognac at the price of the original. I discovered fraud already after opening the bottle and the first sample, when you can no longer prove anything.
Now it is extremely difficult to find a fake in the chain stores of my city: the state has introduced the EGAIS labeling system, which is mandatory for all alcoholic products.
Accordingly, all bottles that are sold legally have the necessary confirmation of quality and originality, so there are no fakes among them.
Another thing is small shops without a license located along the highway or a shop in the village near my dacha. This is where you need to be especially careful!
Such points of sale are less monitored by regulatory authorities due to their remote location: accordingly, I encounter fakes here much more often.
What cognac I will never buy again and I do not advise you
I suggest you familiarize yourself with my personal anti-rating of cognac brands that I will never buy in a store again:
- “Three Stars”, manufacturer: wine and cognac factory “Russian” for 390 rubles;
- “White Guard”, manufacturer: CJSC “Rosinka” for 695 rubles;
- “Chernomorsky three stars”, manufacturer: LLC “Rodnik and K” for 544 rubles;
“Black Sea Three Stars” – the taste of this drink seems disgusting to me, alcohol is strongly felt
- “Majestic Vartsikhe”, manufacturer: “Dugladze” for 500 rubles;
- “Five Stars”, manufacturer: wine and cognac plant “Rus” from 520 rubles.
“Majestic Vartsikhe” – Georgian cognac, which I absolutely did not like
Of course, everyone has their own tastes, but I can’t call the above brands of cognac “an amateur”: they are simply of poor quality, that’s all.
How do I distinguish good cognac from bad
Among the taste notes of cognac, professional tasters distinguish many amazing combinations, but for those who are far from this level, it is sometimes difficult to understand their verdicts.
I will try to explain as simply as possible what sensations arise from a good cognac:
- Cognac is necessarily aged in a barrel: accordingly, it should have a light oaky aroma and, oddly enough, a vanilla flavor.
- You should not feel an unpleasant alcohol flavor. On the contrary, in high-quality cognac one can distinguish a whole bunch of flavors (woody, fruity, berry, flower and others) – nothing should aggressively interrupt them.
- A burning cognac taste is normal and even good, but everything should be in moderation: you should have the feeling that a firecracker exploded in your head. A quality drink should be enjoyable!
Another important quality of a good cognac is that everyone in the company should like it! If you are entrusted with the responsible business of buying alcohol, then be sure to ask about the tastes of those with whom you have to drink cognac.
And do not forget about a hearty lunch or dinner, so that high-grade cognac does not cloud your mind, and you can enjoy its pleasant taste and good conversation for a long time.
I told you about brands of cognac that I consider to be low quality and disgusting in taste. Have you tried any of them? Do you agree with me? Share your opinion and experience in the comments!