Few people know about Staraya Gagra cognac, since it is produced at a small distillery, in limited quantities, and sold mainly in Abkhazia itself. On the shelves of shops in other regions of Russia, it can be found extremely rarely, and abroad, and at all – only as a present or a tourist souvenir after traveling to Abkhazia. Opinions about the quality and characteristics of the drink among lovers of strong drinks who have tried it are diverse – from delight about the sweet-rich taste to condemnation for too aggressive fruity-almond aroma. Tall bottle with a narrow high neck, more wine than cognac. The laconic design of the label and the lack of protection on it could become a reason for easy falsification, if cognac were more popular.
About the manufacturer
The trademark belongs to Amzara Limited Liability Company, named after a small village near Gagra, where Arkady Kondzharia, the head of the company, comes from. The distillery itself is also located near Gagra – in the Abkhazian village of Bzypta. Near the distillery there is a company store with a tasting room under a bright tent. Here you can taste wines and cognacs, and then buy your favorite drinks. The tasting room is designed for tourists, who are many in Abkhazia in the summer, and the routes are made taking into account such a visit. Here you can also try your hand at pressing grapes or just take a close look at the large press, which is installed here for sightseers.
Arkady Kondzharia began creating his own distillery by gathering an initiative group of people who know a lot about grapes, wine and strong drinks, who for several years studied the vineyards of nearby villages and the characteristics of the grapes grown here. Konjaria himself walked at least twenty kilometers a day, rumored to be picking grapes to taste and talking to local vintners and farmers. He managed to conclude agreements with the owners of the best vineyards and launch the production of original Abkhazian wines and brandy.
In terms of dates, the history of the distillery looks something like this:
- 1995 The company “Amzara” was registered, and Arkady Kondzharia became its general director.
- 1996 Construction of a small distillery for experiments with grapes.
- 1997 Active cooperation with farms in the vicinity of the distillery.
- year 2000. The company began to bottle the first wines and make chacha to order.
- 2003 The Amzara company won a mini-grant for the development of Abkhazian winemaking in the UK Department for International Development competition. In the same year, for the first time, a government order was received – for the production of vintage wine for representative needs.
And until now, the most famous drink of the distillery is not cognac, but Aatsy wine – red semi-sweet, thick, viscous, with a slight aftertaste of cherry jam foam loved by many since childhood. Arkady Kondzharia even uses the label from the Aatsy bottle as an avatar for social media accounts.
Characteristics of cognac “Old Gagra”
“Old Gagra” is an ordinary amber drink with a traditional 40% strength and an expressive aroma characteristic of Abkhazian drinks, in which notes of almonds, vanilla and dried cherries are most noticeable.
The taste of cognac is spicy, rich, with nutty-vanilla nuances. Warm tart aftertaste with a nutty aftertaste. Restaurateurs recommend it as a digestif, but Abkhazians themselves often serve their cognacs with national dishes. “Old Gagra” goes well with cheeses, olives, sets off the taste of meat dishes and emphasizes the aroma of vegetables and herbs.
