Famous French Brandies: Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados

In general terms, brandy is a distillation product of any fruit brew. The most famous French brandy is cognac – a distillate of white grape wine from the region of the same name. However, the alcoholic palette of the country is not limited to cognac.

Another no less worthy representative of the French brandy is Armagnac. Like its more famous counterpart, the drink is made on the basis of white wine and is named after the region of production. Both drinks are both vintage (from the harvest of one year) and blended (a mixture of spirits of different ages), blended are much more common. However, despite the obvious similarity, cognac and armagnac have many differences.

Cognac – a visiting card of France. The Cognac region is located on the western Atlantic coast of the country, north of Bordeaux, and is divided into 6 zones: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Bois Ordinaries, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois. The best samples of cognac are produced in the first two. Almost any brand of cognac is a blend of spirits of different vintages and terroirs (geographical zones with unique soil and climatic conditions). Even the so-called “vintage” varieties are still mixed from different barrels. The aging period of noble alcohol starts from two years, but more often it is 4-5 years, the age of some samples reaches 20 years or more.

Armagnac two centuries older than cognac (appeared in the XNUMXth century, and its more famous counterpart – only in the XNUMXth). As the name suggests, the drink is made in the Armagnac region, in the province of Gascony in southwestern France. The region is divided into three zones: Bas-Armagnac, Haut Armagnac, Tenareze.

Due to a single distillation, Armagnac turns out to be more aromatic, but also less soft; alcohol appears sharply in the taste of the drink. Usually it is a blend of several spirits from different vintages, zones, barrels, but millesime (vintage) versions are more common than cognac.

For marking and classification of Armagnac, the cognac system is used, only it is not used so strictly:

• VS – Very Special, from 2 years old;
• VSOP – Very Superior Old Pale, from 4 years old;
• XO – Extra Old, from 6 years;
• Hors d’Age – from 10 years.

Unexpectedly, but Armagnac usually contains more aged, and therefore more expensive alcohols than cognac. The French say that they gave the world cognac, and they saved armagnac for themselves – and they won.

Other French brandies

Wine distillates produced in France, but outside the regions of Cognac and Armagnac, are simply referred to as brandy and do not have the status of a name protected by origin. They are most often distilled in continuous stills and aged in oak barrels (the exact aging time depends on the manufacturer). Ready spirits are often diluted with wine, grape juice, mixed with other brandies, including cognac. Some brands even use cognac aging labels, although they are not authorized to do so.

Calvados

Calvados is another famous representative of French brandies, but somewhat isolated, as it is made by distilling apple wine, not grape. Some producers ferment not only apples, but also pears. Unlike cognac and armagnac, this is a relatively young drink – the first mentions of Calvados are found in the 100th century, and industrial production began only 1960 years later. Any piece made before the XNUMXs is considered vintage.

Like cognac, Calvados is double distilled in a copper alambik. Beverage production zones: Calvados Pays d’Auge, Calvados, Calvados Domfrontais. The classification of apple distillate is similar to cognac, but with some differences:

• Trois Étoiles – three stars (otherwise they say – three apples), exposure from two years, served as an aperitif, with ice and soda.
• VO – Very Special, aged over three years, served in the same way as the previous version.
• VSOP – Very Special Old Pale, aged from four years, it is served in its pure form after a meal, with cheese or sweets.
• Hors d’Age – an exposure of six years, served as a dizhestvo in its pure form, nothing to eat.

Famous brands of French brandy

Коньяк: Hennesy, Remy Martin, Courvoisier, Camus, Augier, Drouet et Fils, Pierre Ferrand, Selection Olivier Blanc, Croizet, Salignac и др.

Armagnac: Marie Duffau Napoleon Bas, Gelas, Chateau de Laubade, Larressingle and others.

Calvados: Daron, Busnel, Lecompte, Boulard Gran Solage and others.

Other brandies: Massenez Wild Raspberry Brandy, Meyer Kirsch, etc.

How to drink brandy from France

French grape brandies are mostly drunk neat before or after meals to improve appetite and digestion. A cognac glass is slightly warmed in the palms so that the aroma is better revealed. Both water and ice will only spoil the taste of the drink.

Calvados, on the contrary, can be cooled with ice cubes.

The strength of all fruit distillates is at least 40% vol., Armagnac is usually a little stronger, its degree can reach up to 50% vol.

Popular brandy cocktails

Sidecar. One and a half parts cognac, 1 part triple sec, 5 parts freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix everything in an ice-filled shaker and serve with a lemon wedge.

Metropolitan. One and a half parts grape brandy, 1 part sweet vermouth, 1 part sugar syrup, a couple of drops of angostura. Mix everything in a shaker with ice, serve in a chilled martini glass.

Hot Toddy. Pour honey into a mug for coffee cocktails so that it covers the bottom. Add 30 ml of brandy (grape or apple), squeeze the juice of a quarter of a lemon. Pour in 200 ml of boiling water. Stir, add cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg.