Tsar Tigran is a vintage drink named after the conqueror of Mesopotamia and Syria, the conqueror with the title “King of Kings”, the ruler of Armenia in 95-55 BC, Tigran II from the Artashesid dynasty. He created the doctrine of military-patriotic principles in order to ensure the power of the Great Armenian Kingdom and followed it throughout the 40 years of his reign.
The blend was created by the honored winemaker of Armenia Robert Azaryan from spirits obtained by double distillation and aged for at least three years. Cognac appeared on the market in 1999, and in 2011, at a competition in the UK, the brand received gold in the category “Cognacs, Armagnacs and Brandy”.
In 2015, the creatives of the Wellhead branding agency commissioned Great Valley to restyle the brand. The changes were not significant, the logo was not changed, but the solidity of the product was increased: the paper label in drinks with an aging period of more than 10 years was replaced by a transparent film label with a flexographic image.
Henrikh Abrahamyan, chief taster and head of the factory that produces Tsar Tigran, recommends serving cognac with seafood. In his opinion, shrimp, mussels, lobsters emphasize the velvety taste of the drink, and lemon or exotic fruits interrupt it. But restaurateurs serve vintage cognacs as a digestif.
About the manufacturer
AVKZ, or Artashat Wine and Brandy Factory, is the largest enterprise in Armenia, founded in 1905. In Soviet times, the plant had an all-Union significance – products were supplied to all the republics of the Union and abroad. After the collapse of the USSR, the company passed into the hands of shareholders, and in 1998 it became part of the Great Valley holding (Great Valley, in honor of the Ararat Valley).
The Great Valley holding, having united several wineries and two factories of cognac spirits, was created by Tigran Arzakartsyan. The company produces vintage wines and cognacs from autochthonous grape varieties growing in the Ararat Valley. Only traditional technologies are used, and production is organized in accordance with the National Standard adopted in 1999.
Interesting Facts
The landscape and climate of the Ararat Valley are close to the climate of Central Asia with its sunshine and subtropical ecosystem. Therefore, voskeat, garandmak and other autochthonous varieties used in the brand blend ripen perfectly. But even within the same valley and within the same variety there is a gradation. Ripening in the northern part of the valley, the grapes have floral and woody notes, with occasional tobacco accents. In berries from the south, fruity notes are brighter – apple-pear, sometimes with currant or strawberry hues.
Barrels for the maturation of brandy spirits are made from local oak wood. Trees are cut down from 3 to 30 years old, the older the oak, the richer the taste of the drink.
Armenian blenders admit that it is extremely difficult to systematize spirits, since each individual batch, due to barrels and selection of grapes, can have its own accent.
Those who like to serve cognac for lunch or dinner should remember that “Tsar Tigran” has a strong taste, and when combined with any dish, overshadows it.
The shades of the drink depend on the exposure – the older, the darker the palette, but there is a common feature for this cognac: the color is iridescent, does not refract.
Types of cognac Tsar Tigran
Tsar Tigran, 3 Years (40%). A tea-colored drink with golden reflections. Intense aroma with notes of tobacco, vanilla, candied fruit, nutmeg. Balanced spicy taste with hints of vanilla, cloves, cinnamon and grapes.
Tsar Tigran, 5 Years (40%). Dark amber drink with aroma of vanilla, candied fruits and nutmeg notes. Slightly oily taste with pear-apple hints and spicy aftertaste.
Tsar Tigran, 7 Years (40%). Dark amber cognac pleasantly smells of vanilla and chocolate. Harmonious vanilla taste with fruity notes and a slightly tart aftertaste with a hint of tobacco.
Tsar Tigran, 10 Years (40%). The drink is the color of a ripe chestnut. Multifaceted aroma with notes of exotic fruits. Full, oily taste with fruity undertones and a pleasantly warm strawberry aftertaste.
Tsar Tigran, 12 Years (40%). Drink category KS (Cognac Old). Color is dark gold. Complex aroma with notes of figs, cloves, plums. Spicy taste and soft plum aftertaste.
Tsar Tigran, 15 Years (40%). Amber-chestnut cognac with the aroma of oriental spices and caramel. Rich taste with hints of vanilla, chocolate, dried fruit and caramel aftertaste.
