Elite cognac - a drink with a long history

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

The name of this noble strong alcoholic drink was given by the city of the same name - Cognac, Charente region. A drink produced in another region, even according to absolutely correct classical technology, has no right to be called cognac. This is already brandy, which does not make the contents of the bottle worse. The history of the drink goes back centuries. The production technology has been mastered in many countries, but real elite cognac can only be French.

Drink history

This region was famous for its vineyards as far back as the 12th century. The Dutch began to distill wine in the 16th century, so that it could be transported by sea over long distances, followed by dilution with water. The wine distillate had a very rich taste and aroma, and double distillation subsequently made it even better. Gradually, they begin to drink distillate undiluted, but only by the middle of the 19th century it began to be sold not in barrels, but in bottles as a self-sufficient drink,ready to use. Elite cognac today is made mainly from Ugni Blanc grapes.

Cognac classification

Depending on the exposure, there is the following classification of cognacs:

• VS - over 2 years.
• VSOP - over 4 years.
• VVSOP - over 5 years.
• XO - over 6 years.

In addition, there is a division of ordinary cognacs into classes:

• Three stars. Alcohol aging for more than 3 years, and the strength of the drink is 40%.
• Four stars. Alcohol aging for more than 4 years, and the strength of the drink is 41%.
• Five stars. Alcohol aging for more than 5 years, and the strength of the drink is 42%.

There is a classification for vintage cognacs:

• SQ. Alcohol aging is 6-7 years, and the strength of the drink is from 42%.
• KVVK. Alcohol aging is 8-10 years, and the strength of the drink is 43-45%.
• KS. Alcohol aging for more than 10 years, and the strength of the drink is 40-57%.

In the first place - elite French cognac collection, which was aged in oak barrels for an additional five years.

Production technology

Elite cognac in France is made from grapes harvested in one of the six zones around the city of Cognac. The most expensive drink is obtained from grapes grown in Grande Champagne and Petit Champagne. The price of raw materials decreases as you move away from these two zones. In total, the vineyards of the Charente region cover about 90 thousand hectares.

Elitecognac, whose brands are known all over the world, is produced in four stages:

• production of wine material from grapes;
• distillation of wine material, production of cognac spirit;
• cognac spirit aged in oak barrels;
• cognac blend.

Elite cognacs of France

The world leader, producer of great cognacs with more than two hundred years of history - Hennessy Cognac House. Its history began in the 18th century. Today, the whole world enjoys this drink. The Hennessy house produces about 50 million bottles a year. This is really an elite cognac (photo below).

The second largest, but even older cognac house of France - Rémy Martin. It was founded in the 17th century. But the oldest in the world is Augier.

The world-famous Camus cognac brand is still owned by members of the Jean-Baptiste Camus family. The vineyards of this venerable family occupy 125 hectares of French land. This drink is often counterfeited. You can buy the original elite cognac Camus only in expensive specialized stores.

Even Napoleon preferred to drink Courvoisier. The special production technology is kept secret. For we althy connoisseurs of the drink, the Maison Courvoisier can offer cognac aged over 200 years.

Davidoff is especially popular. This is a very young brand founded in 1964. Initially, it was a brand of cigarettes and cigars, and cognac under this name appeared later, as an addition to good cigars. However, this drink is verysoon became popular with we althy people. Davidoff cognac is made from Hennessy spirits.

Using culture

Cognac is a classic digestif, that is, it should be drunk after a meal. Combine it with coffee, chocolate and cigars. It is added to many desserts. The taste and aroma of the drink is well revealed in combination with olives, grapes, cheeses.

It is customary to drink cognac from wide glasses, narrowed at the top. The glass is about one-eighth filled and warmed by the warmth of the hands - this will maximize the aroma of the drink.

Snacking cognac with lemon or diluting it with Coca-Cola is almost blasphemy. However, this is how people often drink it in Russia. In the US, the drink is diluted with tonic or water, in the UK - with soda. In Germany, cognac is drunk both after and before meals.

Cognac based cocktails

They also make a variety of cocktails that include this drink. Probably the most popular of them, especially in the cold season, is cognac punch. The easiest way to prepare: just mix 1 liter of apple juice with 125 g of cognac. Punch is also prepared with the addition of vodka, lemons, oranges, water and sugar. For 400 ml of cognac, 500 ml of vodka, 2 liters of water, 10 lemons, 3 oranges, 1 kg of sugar are taken. Sliced fruits are mixed with sugar and infused in boiling water for several hours. Then you should add vodka and cognac and strain the punch. A very tasty cocktail is made on the basis of coffee and cognac. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 2:1, thenadd sugar syrup and orange zest to taste.

There are many interesting cognac-based cocktail recipes. For their preparation, various strong liquors, vodka, champagne, and fruit juices are used. This is a great field for experimenting with flavors and aromas. But if we are talking about elite vintage or collectible French cognacs, then it is better to enjoy a pure drink, its color and aroma, aftertaste and play of light in a glass, warmth spreading through the body, and a feeling of peace and bliss.