Features of creating cognac. Cognac distillates

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

Modern wine industry reveals all the secrets of producing the most noble drink. Many factories use distillates in cognac production technology, but not every buyer knows what it is. How they are useful or dangerous to humans and what they are used for, will become known from this article.

Features of cognac production

Cognac is the oldest alcoholic drink, which is famous as the "tear of the gods", it is made exclusively from grapes. A skillful drink was born in the homeland of wine production in the Charente region, France. Over time, it began to spread throughout the world and gained tremendous fame in every corner of the globe. Cognac is classified by:

• The number of stars that indicate exposure: 3 stars - at least 3 years of exposure, 4 stars - at least 4 years, 5 stars - at least 5 years). As you know, if this procedure takes a long time, then the quality of the product only improves during this time, provided thatstorage.
• Brand (Bolgrad, Hennessy, Remy Martin, Aradis, Tavria, Ararat, Shabo and others).
• Place of production: France, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, England, USA, Russia.

The production technology of an alcoholic beverage is a very delicate thing, requiring compliance with many norms and rules for the manufacture of this product, which is based on cognac distillates. So, let's consider why they are used in modern production.

Cognac distillates - what is it?

The concept of "distillation" in Latin means distillation, compression of the product and removal of condensate vapor from it, which appears during the evaporation process. For the first time this concept was mentioned in Egypt in the 1st century AD. e. In the modern world they are used:

• when removing gasoline from oil;
• in the process of making kerosene and diesel fuel;
• for the purchase of essential oils in the perfume industry;
• in the process of refining medical alcohol, ethyl alcohol, etc.

Based on this concept, one can easily make a definition of distillates used in the wine industry. Cognac distillates are raw materials that are used for the manufacture of an alcoholic product and, in essence, are natural alcohol. They give a special strength to the drink.

More about distillates in cognac

Distillates for spirits are obtained from wine of certain grape varieties. They contain a fraction of ethyl alcohol, whichranges from 55% to 70%. In winemaking they are divided into two types:

• Primary. This raw material reaches the level of 35% ethanol content. It is usually used for cognac with 3 stars V. S. The distillate is not filtered and is the raw material that will transmit the taste and aroma of the drink in the future.
• Secondary. It is considered the base for high quality product alcohol. Contains from 35-70% ethyl alcohol. The best distillate is considered to be aged for more than 5 years in oak barrels. Thanks to the latter, alcohol acquires a fragrant note of oak. This type contains 55-70% ethyl alcohol.

Cognac production in Russia

In the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, it is necessary to distinguish between cognac distillates and cognac spirits: the distillate is obtained from a certain type of wine, and alcohol in its definition does not indicate the grape variety used. The proportion, rules and stages of production are set out in the regulations on the production of winemaking.

In Russia cognac distillates (GOST) are used in accordance with the norms. These regulations state:

• scope;
• normative references;
• requirements and definitions;
• technical specifications;
• rules for acceptance, control, transportation and storage.

Features of the use of cognac distillates in modern production

In order to determine their significance, it is necessary to trace the entire production process of a noble drink according tosteps:

1. Harvest. To create cognac, special grape varieties are grown: Lydia, Dove, Isabella. It is better to avoid Muscat varieties, they are only suitable for making wine.
2. Getting mass. After harvesting, all grapes are thoroughly washed and the best one is selected, which subsequently goes under a special press, from which juice is obtained. But it is important that under the pressure the grapes are not completely crushed, but only squeezed, otherwise the seeds will not give the best taste.
3. The fermentation process. The product, which consists of grapes and juice, is sent to special containers for the fermentation process with the complete absence of sugar in the fermentation mass. Cognac production technology allows you to add antiseptic preparations for winemaking. The quality of the drink depends on this stage. The result should be a dry, unfiltered wine.
4. Next comes the most important stage - distillation. The process occurs in two stages: primary and secondary. At a ratio of 10:1, 10 kg of grapes yields 1 liter of cognac distiller. In time, this process takes from 18 to 26 hours.
5. The aging process ranges from 34 months to 150 years. The main condition of this process is that aging takes place in oak barrels, thanks to which the drink has a special, unique aroma. In the process of aging for each year, the drink loses about 0.4-0.6% alcohol.
6. Bottling. Only after a minimum aging period will the cognac be ready for packaging in glass containers with wooden flasks.

Feature of the use of wood in the process of making cognac

Wood favors the gradual evaporation of alcohol in an alcoholic drink based on grapes. Cognac production technology suggests the presence of a tart aroma and taste of oak bark.

The secondary distiller, being in oak barrels, only improves its taste, and the low-percentage evaporation of alcohol is replaced by oak aroma, which is a sign of the best quality cognac.