Al Farabi (Al Farabi) is a cognac from Kazakhstan, created using French technology from Georgian raw materials. The Turkic-Muslim origin of the name seems strange, because the Koran forbids alcohol. But the name of a famous philosopher and mathematician of the East on a pot-bellied bottle with a long neck attracts attention, is easy to remember and historically justified.
His full name in the Oriental is voluminous: Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Tarkhan ibn Uzlag al-Farabi. The famous philosopher of antiquity was born in Farab, at the mouth of the Arys and Syrdarya rivers, now it is the territory of Kazakhstan. But then he traveled all over the Arab caliphate – he lived in Baghdad, then in Cairo, Aleppo, Damascus. He studied all his life, wrote music, studied philosophy, logic and law, but once a library with the works of Aristotle and Plato was given to the scientist for storage, and this determined his future fate.
Al Farabi remained in history as the “Second Teacher” (meaning – the second after Aristotle), as the author of comments on the works of ancient scientists, who influenced the science and philosophy of the East and Europe. Al Farabi was a polyglot – by the end of his life he knew perfectly 70 languages, created the Otrar library, wrote dozens of works on philosophy, mathematics and logic. The Kazakh national university, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, is named after him, his face is on Kazakh coins, books and songs are written about him. The most mature and famous work is the “Treatise on the views of the inhabitants of a virtuous city” written in 948.
Company and drink history
Kazakh company GEOM ltd. arose in 1997 as a result of the merger of three small enterprises that buy alcohol and bottle it. But GEOM ltd. initially positioned as a manufacturer of strong drinks. And in 2001 it received an international certificate, and the products appeared on the shelves of stores in the CIS countries.
Cognac Al Farabi was created by Kazakh winemakers at the company GEOM ltd in 2000. In production, Georgian spirits from grapes grown in Georgia, in the Imereti region, and traditional cognac technologies of France were used. The drink was liked by local consumers, and since 2003 it has been exported to the CIS countries.
Business card of GEOM ltd. on the international market is the Snow Queen vodka, which has become a transnational brand since 2004. It was then that the Snow Queen began to be exported to Britain. Al Farabi cognac with Snow Queen vodka has common features:
- both drinks are produced only in Kazakhstan;
- only luxury spirits are used;
- water for drinks is taken from melted water – from the Ala-Tau mountains;
- use a special membrane cleaning technology;
- Snow Queen and Al Farabi cognac are completely organic products.
Since 2006, the products of GEOM ltd. sold successfully in India, France, the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and the United States. At the moment, “GEOM Ltd.” remains the most famous alcohol company in Kazakhstan on the international market.
Tasting notes about Al Farabi
Al Farabi, 5 Years Old (40%) is a golden-amber drink with a traditional strength and a slightly vanilla smell characteristic of cognacs. The aroma has fruity-floral notes, but it remains fresh and light.
Cognac spirits for Al Farabi are aged in oak barrels for at least five years. The velvety taste also consists of hints of vanilla, fruit, citrus and with small splashes of chocolate. Medium long aftertaste with coffee aftertaste. Cognac is recommended by connoisseurs and restaurant critics as a digestif. It is served with fruit, chocolate and coffee.
