The drink, created by a Bulgarian using French technology from grapes grown in the Crimea, has become widely known due to its excellent quality and well-organized advertising campaign. This cognac literally became the hero of New Year’s melodramas and Russian TV series. In the films “Snowy Love, or a Dream on a Winter Night” and “Two kilometers from the New Year” he often appears in the frame. But this does not detract from its merits – delicate taste, light aroma and tart aftertaste.
Historical reference. The Klinkov trademark appeared on the market in 2001 as a product of the Alef-Vinal company and the author’s work of the hereditary Bulgarian winemaker Radostin Klinkov, who has been working in the company since 1999.
The author of the drink grew up in the small southern town of Burgas and learned the basics of winemaking from childhood. Then he received a special education and became a favorite student of Professor Nachkov, President of the International Association of Winemakers. The young man dreamed of working in the Crimea, because he knew about the vineyards grown from French seedlings and planned to create drinks from these grapes. He came to Kerch and got a job at Alef-Vinal, then, with the support of the head of the company, he began to do everything possible to create his own brand.
He had to go around all the “grape” places in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Russia in order to collect distillates for his cognac. But the result was worth it – the blend turned out to be bright, unusual. When it came to the name, they considered three options – “The Old Guard”, “Legion of Honor” and “Blades”. They gave preference to the nominal one, because there was no such thing in Ukraine yet.
Under the Klinkov brand, three lines of cognacs are currently being produced – VS (Very Special), VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) and XO (Extra Old). Alcohols in the Bulgarian blend – from 10 years of aging and older, and Crimean with an average exposure. After the assemblage, the blend matures (or “marries”) for another two years in French oak barrels. The company does not have a cooper’s shop, barrels are purchased in France.
At the suggestion of the author of the drink, the designers working on the brand created an original bottle shape – in the form of a prism with an octagonal base and corresponding cherry-colored tube boxes with golden embossing. The luxury of the Blades, emphasized by the designers, is in harmony with the brand’s slogan: “Knew everything. Reached the top. Above only the Blades.
Interesting fact
The rule of four “C”: Cognac, Cigar, Coffee, Chocolate – products that perfectly complement each other, is known to many. But the taste of chocolate dissolves after a sip of brandy, and coffee cools down quickly, so cigars and brandy are the soloists in a quartet. This fact became the basis and reason for holding in August 2017 the First Championship of Ukraine in slow smoking cigars. It was organized and held in Odessa by the Klinkov cognac house and the Fortuna cigar house.
It is not easy to choose a cognac that matches the strength of a cigar, so a special drink was created for the championship – Klinkov S-class. Connoisseurs assure that it blends perfectly with a cigar and does not lose its taste even from the strongest tobacco. The slogan of the championship was the slogan of the Alef-Vinal company: “We know how to make cognac. You know his value.”
Assortment of cognacs Klinkov
- Klinkov VS (40%). The blend is created from spirits with a minimum exposure in oak barrels of 5 years. A bright amber drink with a balanced taste and slightly tart aroma, in which you can hear notes of oak bark and tropical fruits. Long spicy aftertaste with hints of nutmeg and vanilla.
- Klinkov VSOP (40%). A blend of Bulgarian and Crimean spirits with a minimum aging of 7 years. Deep amber color, original sweetish-spicy taste, slightly astringent aftertaste with notes of dried apricots and honey.
- Klinkov XO (40%). A blend of spirits aged from 10 to 20 years. Dark amber color, round and slightly oily taste, dry aftertaste with hints of prunes and almonds. Notes of maple syrup are heard in the subtle aroma.
