How to choose Russian cognac: advice and feedback from specialists

From a long time connoisseurs of cognac are arguing about the traditions of its use and various shades of bouquet. It has always been considered and to this day is considered an elite drink. Cognac was put on the table in the house where they wanted to emphasize the high status of the owner. Recently, the assortment has so expanded that people began to think more often about the taste and quality of their favorite drink.

The history of Russian cognac

At the end of the nineteenth century, a strong grape drink was obtained from Kizlyar for the first time, which was obtained at the local wine and vodka smoking factory . At this time, there were already cognac factories in Yerevan, Kutaisi and Tbilisi, but it is impossible to consider that these factories producing Russian cognac are not, although these cities were part of the Russian Empire and then the USSR. Further development of cognac business took place in two completely different directions. On the one hand, factories were built in Stavropol and the Caucasus (the famous Kizlyar Cognac Factory). In these areas, climatic conditions made it possible to grow grapes, which was necessary for the production of cognac products. On the other hand, enterprises were built in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East in order to process alcohol obtained in the southern regions of the country.

Why is Russian cognac considered to be of low quality?

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, established trade and logistical ties, even within the country, were irretrievably lost and destroyed. Russian cognac plants lost their familiar wine spirits and, accordingly, began to seek them a substitute abroad. Unfortunately, when Russian cognac was produced (five stars or less is not important), first of all, cheap analogs of alcohol of doubtful characteristics were used for its production. It is the low quality of budget Russian cognac that has caused that there is no special trust in it.

Cognac plants in Russia

But, in spite of everything, production companies still exist and still exist in Russia, which use their own raw materials base and produce Russian cognac (five stars) on its basis. Reviews about it are very versatile: neutral, negative and laudatory.

The main cognac factories in Russia:

1. Kizlyarsky.
2. Derbent.
3. Novokubansky.
4. Praskoveisky.

The bulk of drinks account for the share of the first two factories producing cognac.

Excerpt

According to experts, this is the most important stage in the technological process of production. The taste characteristics of such an elite drink, such as Russian five-year cognac, its quality and variety of smells depend on the duration of aging.

Experts in their reviews recommend to evaluate the aging period. The purchase for a low-ranking person in this matter is akin to taking part in a lottery drawing. After all, on the one hand, there are well-known brands, such as Hennessy and others, that have a very impressive value and abound with beautiful inscriptions like VS or VSOP, and on the other hand, are much more modest both in price and appearance. Cognacs with an incomprehensible abbreviation "KV".

Soviet classification

There is a certain classification of elite alcohol, for example, the inscription VS points to a two-year cognac, VSOP - to a four-year old, etc. In Russia, another classification is used that has existed since Soviet times.

The minimum period of cognac aging in the USSR was three years. A drink with an exposure of one year can be easily distinguished by the number of stars on the bottle label. There are three, four or five asterisks. This is how Russian cognac differs - the number of stars shows the aging time of the drink.

Vintage cognacs are more expensive elite Russian alcohol. They are denoted by the letters:

1. KV - cognac, aged for at least six years.
2. KVVK - cognac, aged for at least eight years, of high quality.
3. KS - old cognac with endurance not less than ten years.
4. OS - very old cognac, endurance - not less than twenty years.

Collectible types include drinks with aging over twenty-three years. Now that the abbreviation on the bottle label has become clear, one can draw conclusions about the time of exposure and the validity of the price. And in some ways it will be much easier to choose Russian cognac. Reviews also help you choose a quality drink.

Opinions of experts and the choice of consumers

Cognac spirits of different aging are used for the preparation of cognac. In our country, the drink is prepared according to traditional classical technology.

Cognac is a Russian five-year-old brand especially popular and popular among consumers. Reviews of numerous domestic tasters and experts testify that this is a drink with a rich flavor and with the taste of almonds present in it. In addition, there is a small presence of honey. But not only excellent taste qualities, according to experts, distinguish Russian cognac from others. Elite drink has a wonderful amber color, which can not boast of even the most expensive species.

Cognac production

The technology of cognac production is quite simple, at the heart of the drink is real grape alcohol. In practice, use the usual, as the demand far exceeds the supply. To prepare Russian cognac, it is necessary to conduct ionization of water, that is, thoroughly clean it of impurities. The liquid passes through a special filter. Water changes its ionic composition at this stage and is cleaned several times. Further, brandy spirits are mixed with sugar syrup, color, fragrant spirit and pure waters. Eventually on the shelves of stores appear bottles of Russian beverage of amber color.

The experts' testimonies testify to the worthy taste characteristics of the Russian drink. In their opinion, the domestic cognac can compete with foreign elite alcohol boldly.

Cognac Extract

Cognac alcohol in oak barrels is kept. During the year of this procedure, it evaporates by 0.5%. Oak containers should not have any metal parts that can come into contact with the liquid. After some time, the Russian cognac will be five years old (five stars), but up to this point some manipulation has been carried out with alcohol. In the barrels, there is mixing of lignin, carbohydrates, various tannins and other components found in oak wood. Proper mixing in the future will have a beneficial effect on the quality of the amber drink with a unique range of flavors. After aging, the cognac spirits are filtered. But this happens only after they are treated with cold (temperature -12 degrees) for 10 days. Only after these above procedures cognac is bottled in branded bottles and enters the retail network.

How to check the quality? Advice from professionals

The variety of cognac on the shelves of shops does not surprise anyone. To date, you can choose any country-producer of this original drink, as well as what you can afford. Unfortunately, the best Russian cognac (5 stars), which is in high demand, often becomes the object of numerous fakes. By their appearance, analogues are not much different from the original.

How to check whether a quality cognac or not? Here are some ways that experts advise in this matter:

1. It is necessary to turn the bottle of cognac, which has not yet been opened, upside down. Now you need to look at the bottom inside. A fairly dense and large drop of drink should drop from it. It is believed that in low-grade and low-quality cognac, drops from the bottom simply flow down the walls.
2. Pour a certain amount of cognac into the glass, it is necessary to lean your thumb against one of its sides. Then you need to look at it through the walls of the glass. A fingerprint must be visible through the cognac beverage. This means that brandy has excellent quality.
3. It is necessary to rotate the glass with brandy in your hands and look at this as the trickles of the beverage flow down its walls. Ideally, this should happen slowly with the formation of large drops.

Experts tell how to choose a good cognac

There are several fairly simple ways to choose a wonderful drink. Cognac Russian (five stars) is not cheap. Although sometimes and for decent money you can buy a surrogate of unknown origin. Experts say that it is advisable to buy elite drinks in large supermarkets or specialized stores, where an experienced sommelier will offer and select for every buyer everything he wants. If you have any doubts, be sure to ask the sellers for a quality certificate for this or that cognac brand.

Before you pay for the selected purchase, you need to inspect the bottle. It should be branded with a raised glass. The label should be glued perfectly smoothly, in addition, necessarily on the bottle with cognac should be present excise stamps. Usually there are two: regional and federal. It is advisable not to buy cognac, on the label of which it is indicated that it contains rectifying alcohol and various flavors. The bottle should be covered with a wooden stopper or a cork made of pressed crumbs. This is a prerequisite, these signs can be easily determined whether the fake is in front of you or the original.

Very often cognac is packed in beautiful boxes or special tubes. You need to get a bottle and see what is inside the amber drink. It is important to look at the transparency when examining the cognac liquid. Cognac should be without sediment and turbidity. If after opening the bottle you feel an unusual smell, safely return it to the store and ask for a refund.

Cognac is preferred by many gourmets. Its pleasant soft taste and light aftertaste will be an excellent addition to any holiday or event.