Without a doubt, cognac is a noble drink. The name of this drink was given in honor of the French city of Cognac, with this city it is connected by the historical past of creation. Cognac is a strong drink (40-60% alcohol), made from cognac alcohol by distilling dry white wines and aged in oak barrels for about three years.
In Russia, it has become a tradition to snack on cognac with lemon (the founder was Nicholas II). In other countries, apples, grapes, chocolate and dried fruits are served with it. The color of cognac is amber-golden and it is rightfully considered one of the most refined and elite of the many brandies. It is not customary to drink cognac like vodka, it is sipped, enjoying its exquisite and delicate aroma.
What are the ways to distinguish real cognac from fake?
Here are some useful tips that will help protect yourself from low-quality cognac, but will help you enjoy the harmony of taste and aroma of this noble drink.
Instructions
Step 1
Price is responsible for quality
Indeed, real cognac will not be cheap. It is expensive or very expensive. It depends on how old the cognac is, from which province the cognac spirits, how many are involved in a particular blend. If we talk about real cognac, then it is made exclusively in the province of Cognac. The specified manufacturer, who has a contract with the cognac houses of France, removes all the slightest doubts that this cognac is a fake. This does not include cognacs from Georgia, Armenia or Crimea, since most often it is brandy.
On the palate, high quality cognac should be aromatic with hints of vanilla. The distinctive taste is acquired through storage in oak barrels.
Step 2
What the label will tell you
The obligatory attribute of the label is the word "Cognac".
A neatly glued label should contain all the necessary information: manufacturer's address, office contacts, bottle capacity, GOST, bottling date and strength, number of stars. The entire text should be written in the language corresponding to the country of the manufacturer, or in English, this indicates the high quality of cognac.
What does the neatness of the sticker tell you? Most cognac houses producing good quality cognac stick labels using special rollers with glue, but not self-adhesive. Determining how the label is applied is easy. The bottle is turned on its side and the back of the sticker is assessed, there should be uneven beads of glue with some stains on it.
Step 3
Thickness of the drink
Another way to check the quality of cognac is its density. After turning the bottle upside down, one heavy drop should fall from the bottom, which will indicate the desired consistency of the drink. If you pour a small amount of cognac into a glass and turn the glass around its axis, and then return it to an upright position, then a good drink will leave a "crown" from the dripping legs. The remains of cognac will leave a mark on the walls of the glass for some time.
Cognac can be attributed to those noble drinks that, when consumed in moderation, bring only benefits to human health. However, unfortunately, today there is a huge number of counterfeits of this drink. Perhaps the above signs and methods of checking brandy for quality will help you make the right choice and not be disappointed in the purchase.
