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We went with a friend after work to a familiar bar to drink 50 grams of alcohol. I ordered cognac and a friend chose brandy.
We deliberately did not name the brand of drinks, relying on the taste of a familiar bartender. He smiled and poured us one bottle, saying that any brandy is cognac.
And then I was at a loss, not knowing what to do: agree with him, or make a scandal. I was not sure that brandy and cognac are one and the same. Previously, it seemed to me that these were drinks of different quality and production method.
I wanted to get to the bottom of this issue. As usual, I share the results of my research with you.
This story was sent by my subscriber Sergey R.
What is cognac
The French protected the name “cognac” as their brand, allowing only drinks made in the Charente region, near the city of Cognac, to be called that way.
To create noble alcohol, distilled grape spirits are used here, which are aged for at least 2 years only in oak barrels.
Brandy and cognac stand side by side on store shelves
With each year of aging, cognac acquires a richer color, aroma and taste. The darker the drink, the longer it has been in the barrel.
Cognacs are also produced in the post-Soviet space. The main factories producing this noble alcohol are located in the North Caucasus, Moldova, the Urals, the Far East, and Stavropol.
For example, “Armenian cognac” is also the property of the country and a recognized brand. But all this is only for the domestic market. Export versions, unfortunately, cannot be named.
There is a legend that in 1900 at the world exhibition, a drink made at a factory owned by Shustov took first place, for which the manufacturer received the privilege to use the name “cognac”. After the revolution, Shustov’s factories began to produce cognacs under the Ararat brand.
What is brandy
In the manufacture of brandy, fruit juice must ferment for several weeks, and then it is also sent for distillation.
For the manufacture of this type of alcohol, not only grape juice is taken, but also plum, apple and others. Distillation is used double, as in the manufacture of cognac, or single.
Brandy can be aged in wooden barrels or bottled in other containers. Sometimes aged spirits are mixed with young spirits (Solera process) to give a brighter taste.
Thus, cognac is a type of brandy, but not every brandy is cognac. For example, apple brandy will never become cognac.
There are factories in the post-Soviet space that produce drinks from grape spirit, created according to the technology of making cognac, but do not have the right to this brand name.
Their products are also referred to as brandy. On the labels of bottles with this brandy there are stars indicating the aging time of the drink in accordance with the Soviet classification of cognacs.
The most famous brands of brandy and their cost
The range of such drinks is huge. They differ not only in the raw materials used to create brandy, but also in manufacturing technology. I chose, in my opinion, the most interesting drinks that can be found in Russian stores.
Metaxa
Where it is made: Greece, Crete
Features: grape spirit aged in oak barrels is given a delicate taste and unique aroma by blending it with muscat wine and extracts of flowers and herbs, as well as insisting on dry grapes.
Price: 900-1000 rubles. for a five-year-old drink.
Metaxa
“Kizlyarsky” Young
Where it is made: Russia, Dagestan
Features: notes of cherries, prunes, nuts are felt. Made from grape spirit and aged in oak barrels.
Price: 1200-1500 rubles.
“Kizlyarsky” Young
Fanagoria
Where it is made: Russia, Krasnodar Territory
Features: shades of raisins and honey, as well as fruits are felt.
Price: 900-1100 rubles.
Fanagoria
Montre
Where it is made: Russia, Kaliningrad
Features: the drink is created according to classical French technology. Taste with light hints of vanilla and spices.
Price: 450-550 rubles.
Montre
Elad’Or (Эладор) VSOP
Where it is made: Russia, Stavropol Territory
Features: has a mild taste with chocolate and vanilla notes.
Price: 450-550 rubles.
Elad’Or (Эладор) VSOP
The most famous brands of cognac and their cost
I like drinks made in Georgia, Russia and Armenia.
ArArAt (Ararat) five years old
Where it is made: Georgia, Yerevan.
Features: the legendary drink with hints of blackcurrant and dried fruit.
Price: for a five-year brandy you need to pay 1000-1300 rubles.
ArArAt (Ararat) five years old
Ike five years old
Where it is made: Armenia, Yerevan
Features: has coffee-chocolate aftertaste and aroma of spices and nuts.
Price: 1000-1300 rubles.
Ike five years old
Kizlyar (5 stars)
Where it is made: Russia, Dagestan.
Features: there is a hint of cinnamon and ginger, the aroma of wild flowers and grapes.
Price: 650-800 rubles.
Kizlyar (5 stars)
Barclay de Tolly (four years old)
Where it is made: Russia, Stavropol Territory.
Features: deep taste with hints of prunes, vanilla.
Price: 650-750 rubles.
Barclay de Tolly (four years old)
Kakheti (5 stars)
Where it is made: Georgia.
Features: fruity aroma and aftertaste.
Price: 600-700 rubles.
Kakheti (5 stars)
I was a fan of the skate, because I really like its woody aroma and bitter-nutty aftertaste. But now I will try different brands of brandy. They are so diverse that, perhaps, I will make many pleasant discoveries for myself.
After studying the information, it seems to me that drinks made using cognac technology should still be called cognac. They stand out too much from the entire range of brandy. What do you think?