One of the most famous brands of the Russian Empire, which competed with the best French cognacs, continues to delight connoisseurs with its excellent quality and noble taste.
Gourmet drinks have been produced near Odessa, in the village of Velikodolinskoye since the end of the XNUMXth century.
what should be real cognac
History of the Shustov brand
The Shustov family, which grew from the peasant class to a noble noble family, managed to become famous even before the foundation of cognac production. In 1863, Nikolai Shustov founded the N. Shustov and Sons”, which began the path of the merchant dynasty to the world of elite alcohol.
The starting step to the great empire was a small distillery in Moscow, specializing in the production of vodka.
At that time, there were a huge number of such enterprises in the Russian Empire, so a truly outstanding entrepreneurial flair was required to conquer the market. And Nikolai Shustov had it. Instead of lowering prices, saving on quality, the far-sighted merchant decided to launch an active advertising campaign that went down in history.
To promote the product, the merchant hired emotional students who, when they came to local drinking establishments, first of all demanded that they be served “Shustov vodka”.
If it was not in the assortment, the newly minted artists made a real scandal and defiantly left the institution. The owners of taverns had no choice but to buy the missing drink.
In 1897, the first Odessa cognac was produced under the name “Phoenix”, and in 1899 the Shustovs’ possessions were replenished with the Erivan Brandy Factory. At that time, the sons of the founder already managed the family business (the eldest was named after his father, Nikolai).
The Shustovs would not have been Shustovs if they had violated the family tradition of doing everything thoroughly. Before the release of new products, cognac art was studied in detail, for which Nikolai’s brother Vasily Shustov went to France. Advertising of drinks was organized by analogy with a vodka, only instead of students, respectable ladies and gentlemen visited Moscow restaurants, demanding “Shustov brandy”.
At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the company became one of the official suppliers of the Imperial Court, owning at that time already three cognac factories: Yerevan, Odessa and Chisinau.
In 1913, the company ranked 4th in terms of cognac production and 1st in the production of tinctures and liqueurs in the Russian Empire.
In the Soviet years, all enterprises were nationalized, and the Shustov family was left with nothing.
Today, the owner of the famous brand is OKZ (Odessa Cognac Factory), which is part of the Global Spirits alcohol holding.
In 2002, the most powerful workshop in Europe was equipped here with French distillers, where about 3 million decaliters of the precious drink are produced in one season.
In 2009, the Trade Leader’s Club Expert Council awarded TM Shustov the gold award “For the Best Trademark”. Among the most titled and best-selling drinks of the brand: “Ukraine” (11 medals), “Kiev” (8 medals), “Odessa” and “Desna” (6 medals each).
In 2012, the European Business Assembly awarded OKZ the title of “The Best Cognac Company in Europe”.
Production features
The secret of the success of Shustov’s cognacs lies in favorable climatic conditions, high-quality raw materials and adherence to classical production technology.
Grape plantations, located near the village of Velikodolinskoye, are on the same parallel with the French region of Cognac, in close proximity to the Black Sea. Weather conditions are characterized by a large number of sunny days, hot summers, mild winters, and a significant oxygen content in the air.
Local soils are highly fertile: they consist mainly of chernozems and limestone-humus deposits.
Grape vines were brought from the best nurseries in France and Germany. In order to prevent diseases, the plantations are surrounded by rose bushes and planted with a wide spacing between rows (3 m).
For the distillation of young wine, Charente stills made in France by Prulho are used. The distillation is performed twice within 36 hours.
Exposure is produced in barrels of hundred-year-old oak for 3-50 years. For their manufacture, wood from the French forests of Limousin and Tronce is used, flour and reed leaves are used as a sealant. Some OKZ barrels are over 100 years old.
Species overview
The collection of the famous brand consists of 6 main product lines:
Ordinary cognacs made from spirits aged 3–5 years
The most famous: “Desna 3 *” and “Desna 4 *”, produced since 1988. Golden-amber drinks are distinguished by a spicy aroma of musk, mint and grapefruit.
The harmonious taste is dominated by notes of oak, cedar, roasted coffee, plum.
A memorable aftertaste pleases with hints of cherry and ginger.
Good as a digestif, goes well with coffee, cigars and fruit.
Shustoff
A classic series that includes refined, soft blends of spirits aged 3–5 years. The recipe was created in the XX century.
The line includes cognacs “3 stars”, “4 stars” and “5 stars”.
Main notes in bouquets: vanilla, flowers, chocolate, fruits, prunes.
In the aftertaste, notes of almond, ginger, orange are noticeable. Ideal as a digestif and cocktail ingredient.
Paris Grand Prix
Cognacs, including French and Ukrainian premium spirits (at least 10 years old) with the addition of 20-year-old components. They were first released over 100 years ago.
The line consists of 2 outstanding drinks “GRAND PRIX PARIS VSOP” and “GRAND PRIX PARIS VS”.
The first is characterized by a velvety creamy-chocolate bouquet with notes of oak, vanilla, honey, roasted nuts, white cherries, a long aftertaste with a hint of grape seed.
The second is distinguished by a delicate taste with tones of candied fruit, vanilla, honey, roasted nuts, candied fruits, a warm, long-lasting raisin finish.
Vintage cognacs
Exclusive drinks consist of spirits 8-15 years old, aged in Hungarian oak barrels.
“The Seagull” has a delicate floral-creamy bouquet with tones of violet, almond, ginger.
Arcadia is characterized by a deep amber-honey shade and a complex taste with a predominance of vanilla-chocolate tones.
“Jubilee” is distinguished by its amber-golden color, sophisticated velvety bouquet with floral, chocolate-vanilla and fruit accents.
Collectibles
The line is represented by 2 famous cognacs.
“Odessa” is produced from 11-year-old spirits with the inclusion of older 30-year-old components. Post-bathing rest is 2 years. Main notes: flowers, chocolate, dried fruits.
“Golden Duke” is a blend of 20-year-old spirits, additionally aged in French oak barrels from 3 to 20 years.
Differs in soft, thin, refined bouquet. Pairs well with fruit and white grapes.
In addition to the classic version, aged pieces are available in a gift box and wooden boxes.
Chocolatier
A line of original cognac-chocolate digestifs 30% strength, declared as a ladies’ drink, but also popular among men.
Includes 3 types of products: “Chocolate and Cherry”, “Chocolate and Citron”, “Chocolate and Vanilla”.
Recommended as a hotel dessert or addition to cakes, eclairs, ice cream, chocolate.
The line “Shustoff 150”, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Shustov Trading House, has been singled out as a separate series. Produced by distilling selected wine materials and aging the spirits obtained in oak barrels for at least 1 year with the addition of older spirits to improve the bouquet.
It has an amber-honey hue, a fresh aroma with notes of grape seed and vanilla, a long elegant aftertaste with a chocolate accent. Good as a digestif and base for a cocktail with ice.
Interesting Facts
The main victory of the Shustov brand was the award to him in 1900 in Paris of the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition.
As a result, the company’s products received the right to be called “cognac” (by analogy with French drinks), and not “brandy”.
In addition to the famous vodkas and cognacs, the assortment of Shustov’s factories included original tinctures, liqueurs and liqueurs.
They say that their recipe was given to Nikolai Shustov by his father Leonty Arkhipovich. Fragrant drinks with unusual names (Zubrovka, Riga Balsam, Spotykach, Erofeich, Casserole, Nectarine, Rowan on cognac, etc.) are in demand to this day.
Ryabinovaya tincture was once considered the signature drink of the House of Shustovs and was sold in all chain stores.
In addition to the sensational restaurant “performance”, the company’s owners also used other ways to promote products.
Shustov’s alcohol was actively advertised in periodicals, and not in the tabloid press, but in official newspapers.
There is a legend that one of the Moscow actresses unobtrusively promoted the brand, mentioning it during performances.
Particular attention was paid to transport advertising: cognac posters with Shustov’s signature “bell” decorated horse-drawn carriages, steamboat boards, the first trams and even airships.
The first cognac produced at OKZ in the post-war period (in 1947) bore the telling name “Three Asterisks”.
Among the fans of Shustov’s products were: Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie and Frank Sinatra.
By the 150th anniversary of the enterprise (in 2013), the N. L. Shustov brandy museum was opened at OKZ – one of the largest in its industry.
And in 2015, the factory produced a series of cognacs dedicated to the famous inhabitants of Odessa.
cocktails with cognac
Relevance: 08.07.2019
Tags: Brandy and Cognac, Cognac Brands