If you go to any store, you will see a wide range of alcoholic beverages on the shelves. All kinds of cognacs take an essential place in it. Beautiful bottles, full of labels. How not to get lost with such a choice, find and distinguish a real good cognac? Real gourmets distinguish real high-quality aged cognac according to several criteria. Even if you don't have the relevant experience, you can do it too.
It is necessary
Cognac bottle, cognac glass
Instructions
Step 1
Take a clean, dry glass. The so-called cognac glasses are best suited. They are tulip-shaped, slightly tapered upwards. Pour a few drops of cognac into a cognac glass. Place your finger on the outside of the glass. If you see your fingerprint, then the cognac is of excellent quality.
Step 2
Let the cognac spread along the walls, rotate the glass so that the cognac "runs" along the walls.
Pay attention to what traces the drink leaves inside the glass. If traces are visible for at least 5 seconds, then the age of such cognac is 5-8 years, if you see traces of drops within 15 seconds, then this cognac is aged for 20 years. If the drops leave quite distinguishable traces in the form of tracks, which you see for 17 or more seconds, then this is a good mature cognac, which is more than 50 years old.
Step 3
Now smell the brandy. Real cognac has a unique unfolding aroma. Smells should replace each other. You should be able to smell three main waves of fragrances.
Step 4
The first wave is light volatile aromas, they are felt at a distance of 5 cm from the glass. These are the smells of vanilla, chocolate, light spices.
Step 5
Next comes the wave that can be felt directly at the edge of the glass. Breathe in and you will feel the aromas of fruits and flowers such as prunes, apricots, pears, ripe jam and violets, lindens and roses.
Step 6
Rotate the glass again and appreciate the third and final wave of scents. To do this, inhale the aroma directly in the glass itself. You should smell the woody scent of oak bark and the scent of port wine. This is the smell of aging. Real cognac should not contain the smell of alcohol.
Step 7
What if you can't open the bottle? For example, if you are in a store? In this case, the following will help to check the quality of cognac. Slowly turn the bottle of cognac upside down. Now watch what happens to the drink. If the cognac quickly ran down without leaving a trace, it is unrestrained and very young. It will taste sharp and alcoholic.
If cognac in an inverted bottle leaves visible traces and drops fall hard from the bottom of the bottle, as if they are oily, such cognac is mature, high-quality, fragrant and will meet your expectations.
