“Top of Armenia” – Armenian cognac of the middle price segment. The drink is produced by Ararat Winery LLC. Cognac is exported to the states of the post-Soviet space.
Historical reference. “The Ararat winery was founded in 1903 by the Russian businessman N. N. Shustov, who supplied alcoholic beverages for the Imperial Court. The Ararat Valley, where the enterprise is located, is famous for its mild and warm climate: there are 300 sunny days a year. The grapes ripened in the valley are ideal for the production of cognacs, which do not differ in quality, and sometimes surpass French ones.
However, much more alcohol can be made from grapes growing in the Ararat Valley than is necessary for the population of Armenia. In Soviet times, the plant, which was part of the Ararat association, had no problems with sales. But in the 90s of the XX century, all ties were destroyed.
At the beginning of the XNUMXst century, when it became clear that the enterprise could not survive without export, the plant’s blenders created several new cognacs, including the Top of Armenia. As befits a drink designed primarily for a foreign consumer, cognac received a sonorous name. The label was decorated with a simple but recognizable image of Mount Ararat. There is also a more spectacularly designed gift version of the Peaks of Armenia, which is sold in tubes.
Although the plant owns 100 hectares of vineyards, the demand for cognacs has grown so much that additional raw materials are needed, and the company’s management began to accept grapes from the population. To reduce the cost of the drink exported to Russia, part of the “Top of Armenia” began to be bottled at the Kazan distillery.
“Top of Armenia” initially has a tart taste. But cognac bottled in Kazan has a sharper taste than that bottled at the Ararat Winery.
Types of cognac “Top of Armenia”
“Top of Armenia” 3 years – golden cognac, tart taste is balanced by grape notes.
“Top of Armenia” 5 years old – amber-colored cognac, honey aroma contrasts with spicy astringency in a slightly oily taste.
“Top of Armenia” 7 years old – cognac of the color of old amber, in taste and aroma, shades of dried fruits are balanced by the bitterness of old oak.
“Top of Armenia” 10 years old – dark cognac with a touch of bitter chocolate and a warm, spicy aftertaste.
Cognacs “Top of Armenia” 7- and 10-year-old are usually drunk as a digestif, it is better not to eat them with anything. But if you want to have a snack, then the best option is a slice of orange or apricot.
The taste of ordinary cognacs “Top of Armenia” 3- and 5-year-old seems to many to be too tart, but it goes well with coffee. An alternative option that is suitable for a picnic:
- cut off the top from the apricot fruit (not to half, but so that the tip of the stone protrudes slightly above the cut);
- remove the bone;
- fill the recess with cognac;
- make a toast and drink;
- eat apricot.