I would like to make a reservation right away that in this article you will not find information on how to identify a fake. This topic requires much more attention, and it is covered in this article.
Below is information on the correct selection of cognac for the required event, what snacks to use and when you can serve the drink to the table.
How to choose cognac in the store?
Coming to the store for cognac, it is important to clearly define the purpose for which you are doing this. This will help you choose the right drink. In this case, correctness does not mean the quality or authenticity of the product, but its compliance with the event you have planned.
For example, if you decide to organize a youth cocktail party, you will need a simpler cognac. In this case, ordinary grape brandies made using cognac technology in the countries of the former USSR are suitable. Agree that mixing vintage or collectible drinks with cola or orange juice, not to mention French cognac, smacks of vandalism.
Cognac for a feast
If you choose a drink for a feast (with hot dishes or cold appetizers), you can also opt for post-Soviet brandies with an aging period of up to 5 years or even buy authentic French cognac of the same age. That being said, I would recommend harder drinks. In the case of brandy, these are Armenian, Georgian and Moldovan varieties, such as: Ararat, Noy Araspel, Aragvi or Black Stork. However, the Ukrainian “Borisfen”, “Desna” and “Tavria” will also be quite appropriate.
As a dessert drink, you should give preference to softer ordinary options. For example, in this situation, varieties of grape brandy produced in Ukrainian Transcarpathia (three and five-star Tisa and four-star Zakarpatsky), as well as Odessa Shustov and Moldavian White Aist proved to be excellent.
Cognac as a digestif
And, finally, the culminating moment of initiation to cognac – digestifs. This is the unconditional scope of French cognacs from the Extra Old (XO) series, as well as vintage and collection varieties of post-Soviet grape brandy. At the same time, if you are going to supplement your afternoon relaxation in the company of a glass of cognac with a good cigar, you should stop at harder brands of the drink. For this purpose, Armenian or Georgian vintage and collectible cognac counterparts are ideal, as well as authentic drinks from Hennessy (in particular, made from Hennesy Davidoff spirits), Martell (for example, Cohiba) and Courvoisier.
Relevance: 14.09.2015
Tags: brandy and cognac