Of course, when buying alcohol, no one is immune from acquiring a fake. And cognac in this case, by no means, is no exception. But at the same time, there are some rules, tricks and wisdom that can significantly reduce the likelihood of running into fake cognac. Manufacturers of “scorched” alcohol are able to imitate one or another parameter of cognac, but using all these skills in relation to one batch of drinks will cost them quite a lot.
We are talking about authentic French drinks, and not about grape brandy made using cognac technology. In the latter case, both the risk is much higher and the quality of the original drinks is usually lower.
famous cognac brands
Location and cost
In order to minimize the risk when buying cognac, turn to the services of large, trustworthy supermarkets or reputable, specialized stores selling elite alcohol. On the one hand, such stores are more responsible in choosing suppliers, on the other hand, you can always demand a certificate certifying the authenticity of the purchased goods there.
You should also pay special attention to the price of the drink. Bottles priced at 25 percent or more less than the bulk of a similar product should not be missed from a cognac rack. The cost of a bottle of ordinary cognac, not burdened by an impressive age, should correspond to about ten to fifteen US dollars. Agree that a bottle of a drink, the production of which took several years and about five liters of young grape wine, cannot be cheaper.
Packaging and design
When buying cognac, pay special attention to the packaging and design of the drink.
As a rule, good cognac from world famous producers (Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Rémy Martin, Camus, etc.) is bottled in simple classic bottles that do not sin with excessive pretentiousness. In addition to the container itself, special attention should be paid to the cork. It should be made of cork wood and tightly cork the bottle. If the latter is crowned with a hollow, and even loosely fixed metal cap, you can be sure that you have a XNUMX% fake.
In addition, carefully inspect all labels. They must be glued symmetrically and not contain any external defects. Moreover, real cognac labels are usually made on high-quality, slightly embossed paper, reminiscent of samples used for printing banknotes. Actually, the very quality of the print compares favorably with the dull and smeared labels that flaunt on most fakes. Well, of course, the excise stamp present on the bottle should be pasted over the label and not vice versa.
The label itself must necessarily indicate the following parameters: the age and type of drink, as well as the country of origin, place of production and a list of ingredients used. By the way, if any flavors or distillation alcohol appear in the mentioned list, then it is better to bypass the drink containing them.
Cognac eye test
First of all, in real cognac, the amber color inherent in the drink and the obligatory light transmission should be organically combined. It should not contain any turbidity or sediment.
Further, the drink must have some viscosity. To make sure that the cognac you are interested in has this quality, turn the bottle upside down. If there really is cognac in the container, then after moving its contents to the neck, the thick, oily drop remaining there will fall off the bottom, and the remnants of the drink will flow down the walls for several seconds. Also, watch for air bubbles. If you have real cognac in front of you, then first large bubbles will rise to its surface, and then small ones.
Determination of fake by smell
When you bring home a purchased drink, you can determine its authenticity by smell. To do this, pour a few drops of cognac into the snifter and disperse them throughout the glass. If after a few seconds you catch the characteristic smell of acetone or kerosene, then alas, you are still out of luck.
But that’s not all. Real cognac, in contrast to the flavored and tinted alcohol solution, changes its smell as it opens. When dealing with a genuine drink, you will first feel the characteristic smell of oak, then, slightly warming the snifter in your hand, you will alternately catch tobacco, fruity, floral and other aromas of the true brainchild of beautiful France.
Of course, after an olfactory check, you are unlikely to be able to return the identified fake to the store. But in any case, you will be spared the danger associated with the consumption of a drink of unknown origin, yes, and do not disgrace yourself in front of the guests.
details about cognac and how to drink
Relevance: 24.09.2015
Tags: brandy and cognac