Arakhtan is the youngest brand of the Great Valley company, whose name translates as “Great Valley”. This is a traditional cognac for a certain audience – it is designed for the tastes of lovers of strong drinks from the post-Soviet space, in which the concept of “Armenian cognac” was equated with a quality mark. The largest part (about 60%) of the exported Arahtan is intended for Russians, the rest is supplied to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Baltic States and Ukraine.
Historical reference. Great Valley is a trademark and the company itself, created in 1998, when the Artashat distillery founded in 1905 went bankrupt. The property of the plant went under the hammer and passed into the hands of businessman Tigran Arzakantsyan, who is still the chairman of the company’s board today. Along with all the outdated equipment, the new owner also got barrels of old spirits, whose age exceeded 40 years. Reserves “Great Valley” experts call the richest in the Great Valley.
The first step in the reorganization of production was not the modernization of equipment and not the repair of premises, but the invitation to the company of the most famous Armenian blender and cognac master Robert Azaryan. He worked for two decades at the Yerevan Brandy Factory, and came to Great Valley to make his dream come true – to create his own brandy drink. It is he who owns the authorship of the first vintage cognac of the new company “Tsar Tigran”.
The production has also undergone many changes: new equipment has been purchased, the bottling line has been automated, and the workshops have been expanded. An excellent level of organization and European management systems are confirmed by an international certificate. “Great Valley” became the third company in Armenia in terms of production, sales and exports.
In the case of the company, there are 3 trademarks known outside of Armenia: in addition to the Tsar Tigran brand, the brand Sevan, which was still created in 2012, and the ordinary Arakhtan, which was first released in 2013.
Arahtan Features
- The drink is made according to a traditional technology that does not differ from French ones, but distillates are obtained from autochthonous grapes (growing in the Ararat Valley) varieties Garan Dmak and Voskeat.
- Grapes are harvested in early October, when even the smallest berries have ripened, but before the onset of autumn cold weather, in order to save each bunch.
- After double distillation, spirits for maturation are poured into barrels made of Caucasian oak by hand and without the use of iron parts.
- Alcohols are kept in the cellars of the company at a temperature of 15-16 ° C for at least 3 years. Only then the blending masters take them to make a bouquet.
Types of cognac Arakhtan
- Arahtan, 5 Stars (42%). Bright golden five-star cognac made from spirits that have matured in oak containers for 5-10 years. Astringent aroma with walnut-orange notes. Velvety taste with hints of green apple and white grapes. Connoisseurs and restaurateurs recommend the drink as a digestif; it goes well with coffee, hard cheeses, olives and chocolate. Bartenders use “Arakhtan” for cocktails.
- Arahtan, 3 Stars (40%). A light golden three-star drink made from spirits that have matured in oak containers for 3 to 5 years. Light tart aroma with notes of candied orange, nutmeg and oak wood. Soft, velvety taste with grape-apple shades. Connoisseurs and restaurant critics recommend Arahtan, 3 Stars as a digestif, but it is no less good in combination with many dishes. Therefore, cognac can also be served during a meal – with hard cheeses, olives, seafood, tender poultry or not spicy veal.
