How to choose the right cognac in the store: how not to buy a fake?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Cognac is considered the most sophisticated strong drink in the world. This noble alcohol has a multifaceted taste and aroma. Judging by the reviews, many lovers of strong alcohol are interested in the question of what brandy to buy. And it is not surprising, since these alcoholic products are presented in a very wide range on store shelves. In addition, the market is flooded with counterfeit goods. How to choose the right cognac in the store? What to consider in order not to become the owner of a fake? Only in this case, the drink will bring the expected pleasure. You will learn how to choose a real cognac in a store and what nuances you should pay attention to in this article.

Production country

If you do not know how to choose the right cognac in the store, first read the label. It should indicate where the alcohol was produced. If this is France, then without a doubt you have real cognac in your hands. Casein that, under international law, alcoholic beverages produced in other states cannot be called cognac. For aged grape distillates, another name is provided, namely brandy. Nevertheless, most manufacturing companies ignore such formalities. This is especially observed for alcohol produced in Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Abkhazia and Russia. However, judging by the numerous consumer reviews, good cognac products are made not only within France. For example, good Armenian cognac has a lot of positive reviews. Be that as it may, French-made grape brandy is a guarantee of quality. If the drink is made in another state, then there is a risk that its taste and aroma will be worse.

About the price

Those who are interested in how to choose high-quality cognac in a store can be recommended to pay attention to its price. A good alcoholic drink will not cost you cheap. According to experts, the cost of cognac is determined by the technology of its manufacture. For example, to produce a grape distillate of 0.5 liters, you need young wine (5 liters). This also includes aging in oak barrels. The result is a rather impressive amount, which is considered fair both for French cognacs and for grape brandies from other countries. If you do not know how to choose the right cognac in a store, you should focus on the price, which is considered average for alcoholic products of the same age on the market. By choosing cheap alcohol, youknowingly put yourself at risk.

Where to buy alcohol?

According to professional tasters, the high price of cognac does not guarantee its high quality. Thanks to modern technology, scammers can fake a lot of cognac brands that have reliable protection. Manufacturers of counterfeit products skillfully imitate the consistency, aroma and color of alcohol. To do this, it is enough to fill a cheap distillate with certain dyes and flavors. How to be in such a case? First of all, questionable outlets should be excluded. For example, stalls and small shops. The risk of acquiring a fake will be minimal if you go to a supermarket or a specialized store for cognac.

Bottle design

How to choose the right cognac in the store? What else should you pay attention to? As experts recommend, you need to examine the appearance of the container that contains the drink. Real cognac, without exception, is always bottled in glass bottles. They come in a wide variety of forms. It all depends on what the particular manufacturer prefers. Some cognac brands can be in simple and ascetic bottles. Some are characterized by complex architecture, a large number of markings and faces. The original shape of the container is an additional protection, since it will not be easy for scammers to fake it.

Label

On a bottle of real cognac labelsalways glued neatly. On the container, they are located evenly, there are no glue streaks. Expensive paper is used to make labels. It is pleasant to the touch and slightly corrugated. Similar paper is used in the manufacture of banknotes. The label must contain detailed information about alcoholic products. For example, the manufacturer of cognac, the composition of the alcoholic beverage, the aging period and the date of bottling are indicated. In Russia, glass containers are still affixed with an excise stamp with a specific barcode, thanks to which alcohol is identified in the EGAIS system.

Cork

Before you choose cognac in the store, look at the quality of the cork on the bottle. It must be hermetically sealed. This will be possible if the alcohol is actually produced at the enterprise. The neck is always sealed with a special polylaminate cap. Corks are mostly made from the bark of the cork oak. If cognac is inexpensive, then instead of cork, in most cases, agglomerated or synthetic plugs are used. The cork should be T-shaped. Its upper part is covered with ceramic plastic, glass or some other material.

About line-up

It is not difficult to familiarize yourself with the contents of cognac by looking at its label. The basis of this alcohol is represented by cognac spirits. Traditionally, white grape varieties are used for their production, namely Montil, Calombard, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc, Folignan and Select. Cognac can contain one or several varieties. In addition, these alcoholic products are alwaysseasoned with tannins, ethyl esters, organic acids and tannins. Manufacturers use water, sugar and caramel as additives.

The above ingredients are considered a classic standard and are required for cognacs produced in France. Grape brandies produced outside of France may have a slightly different composition. How to choose the right Armenian cognac in the store? You can do this visually. A quality drink should be crystal clear. If there is cloudiness or sediment, then it is most likely a fake. According to experts, cognacs can change their color depending on how long they have been aged in barrels. For example, a light yellow color is typical for young cognacs. It will turn dark brown over time.

About shutter speed

It is considered the main factor that determines the cost of products. The longer the cognac is aged in oak barrels, the better it is. Therefore, this will be reflected in its price. If you want to choose a really high-quality cognac, take the distillate with the longest exposure. You can determine how long alcohol has been in a barrel by looking at the label. One of the following symbols must be present:

• V. S. Indicates that the cognac is two years old.
• Superior. Duration of stay in the barrel is not less than three years.
• V. S. O. P. Five-year-old product.
• X. O. Cognac has been in barrel for more than six years.

Grape brandies produced outside of France are single or regular, vintage and collectible. Single stand up to 5 years. The aging of the distillate is indicated on the label by means of stars. Each asterisk represents a year spent in the barrel. Vintage labels are labeled as KV (6 years of exposure), KVVK (8 years), KS (10) and OS (12 years of exposure).

Collectibles are considered special drinks. At least this cognac is aged for 23 years. Despite the fact that products with a long exposure are more expensive, they do not always have amazing organoleptic properties. It may be that cognacs with a 10-year period are characterized by an original bouquet and a rather mediocre taste. If you are not an expert in this area, then you do not need to overpay for the age of alcohol. Judging by consumer reviews, very good cognacs are often found, the aging period of which does not exceed 5 years.

How to choose a good brandy in the store?

Before you make a purchase, rate the products according to the following parameters:

• Consider which bottle is shaped. There should be no chips or any other damage in the container.
• Real cognac has a thick, viscous and oily texture without sediment and impurities.
• It is undesirable to buy cognac, the cost of which is below 500 rubles.

To make sure of the quality of cognac, experts recommend quickly turning the container upside down. If the drink is good, then it will drain in oily streaks alongwall, and one big drop will fall from the bottom. It may be that the container is filled with alcohol to the very top. In this case, you also need to turn it upside down. In high-quality alcohol, large bubbles should rise first, and then small ones.

What do experts advise?

Those consumers who have difficulty choosing cognac can recommend the following brands. Martell, Remy, Martin, Hennessy and Courvoisier brands of French cognac are considered very popular.

Among the Armenian ones: "Noy", "Ararat", "Akhtamar", "Vaspurakan", "Dvin" and "Sargis". Eniseli, Egrisi, Batumi, Askaneli are produced in Georgia, and Lezginka, Old Koenigsberg and Derbent are produced in Russia. Among the cognac brands of Moldovan production, "Doina", "Sunny Calarasi" and "White Stork" are very popular.