"Bastion": cognac from France from a Russian manufacturer

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

In Russia, at the national competition for professional winemakers "Absolute Quality", "Bastion" (cognac) won a gold medal of quality. Even the most demanding sommeliers unconditionally recognize this drink as worthy of its 5 stars.

French roots of Russian cognac

The Bastion brand belongs to the Moscow Inter-Republican Winery (MMVZ). This cognac has been familiar to Russians for more than 15 years. In 2000, the Russian Wine Company (RVVK) was the first in Russia to organize a unique marketing strategy to introduce French-made Russian cognac to the market.

Cognac "Bastion" is made from high-quality French spirits from the vicinity of the city of Cognac, which is the ancestor of the entire cognac industry. After distillation, the distillates are aged in barrels for 5 years and then imported to Russia in tanks.

Following is the Russian "assembly" of this drink. It consists in the fact that masters of assemblage mix distillates to achieve a characteristic taste and aroma. Having received a product that meets organoleptic requirements, "Bastion"(cognac) is bottled at MVVZ. Then they stick labels on them and send them to distributors.

Premium quality at an affordable price

As a result, the Russian consumer receives a low-premium-class product, referred to in Russia as Bastion cognac. The price of this drink is significantly lower than that of competitors. The cost of a five-year-old cognac in a 0.5-liter bottle is offered to connoisseurs at an average of 700 rubles. The same "Bastion", but three-year exposure costs about 200 rubles cheaper. The four-year-old takes an intermediate position in terms of cost, which is kept in the region of 550-600 rubles. Thus, cognac produced in France in compliance with all the requirements of French winemakers costs Russian consumers several times cheaper than its famous counterparts. This is possible thanks to these tricks:

• The duties imposed on alcoholic products imported into the Russian Federation depend on the container: it is much cheaper to import alcohol in tanks.
• When transporting alcoholic beverages in tanks, the duty does not depend on the strength of the drink, while the import of strong alcoholic beverages in bottles is subject to the highest duties.
• Russian assemblage is much cheaper than the French one.
• At least 60% of the cost of eminent cognacs is paid for the brand, while Bastion (cognac) is not subject to such pathos.

Production technology

French alcohol is made from high-quality raw materials using a special technology that providesdouble distillation in traditional copper alambicas. By the way, Russian high-strength alcoholic products are often subject to single distillation from raw materials of poor quality. After this procedure, the alcohol is aged for several years in oak barrels made from the wood of the Limousin forests in southern France. Each barrel is fired from the inside using a special technology. It is thanks to this that the Russian "Bastion" has a recognizable French taste. Cognac is aged in barrels for 3-5 years and only after that it is imported into the territory of the Russian Federation. The aging period corresponds to the stars of the drink: 3-year-old cognac has 3 stars, 4-year-old and 5-year-old - 4 and 5 stars, respectively. The most sought after is Bastion with 5 stars.

Taste characteristics

Cognac "Bastion", reviews of which are generally quite good, is preferred by lovers for its taste, aroma and even for the performance of the bottle. An important role in the choice is played by the cost of this drink.

The bottle for Bastion is really worthy of attention: it is molded from thick transparent glass, colorless or tinted, framed with a cork cap and a stylish label.

Connoisseurs describe the taste of cognac almost lovingly, especially noting that it leaves the imprint of a very masculine drink with a long aftertaste of cinnamon, oak and chocolate notes.

Fans of strong liquor are not indifferent to the color of "Bastion". This cognac has a noble amber overflow with a golden hue. The color is very deep and rich.

The structure of the drinkvery dense, well distinguishable by greasy traces on the walls of the glass, if you tilt it. Density is indicative of long aging in the appropriate microclimate.

The smell of cognac evokes thoughts of green apples, flower meadows and honey beehives. There is also a slight bitterness in the aroma.