Sometimes expensive cognac is of poor quality. This is due to the fact that it is often counterfeited. In turn, an inexpensive cognac can be of high quality and pleasant to the taste. It's just important to be able to choose the right one.
Instructions
Step 1
Buy cognac in specialty stores or large supermarkets. The seller of the liquor store will be able to guide you on the quality and price of drinks and choose a cognac that meets your wishes. For complete confidence, you can ask for a certificate of quality for the selected product.
Step 2
Pay attention to the bottle. It should be branded, with a relief pattern. The more interesting the bottle is made, the better. Cognac in such a container is forged less often than in a simple smooth bottle. The name label should be glued perfectly evenly without shifts and bubbles. Cognac with a conventional screw cap is unlikely to be of high quality and taste. The cork should be made of bark or cork shavings and fit tightly to the neck of the bottle.
Step 3
Watch out for the presence of one or two excise stamps on the bottle - regional and federal. They should be on top of the label, as they are applied last. The label should contain information about the age of the cognac spirits, the aging time of the cognac in oak barrels and the place of manufacture of the drink.
Step 4
Estimate the composition of the cognac. It should not contain rectified, ethyl, grain or "extra" alcohol and flavorings. A good, albeit inexpensive, cognac should always contain cognac alcohol. The drink itself should be transparent, of a uniform saturated amber color and without a cloudy sediment. Remember that inexpensive cognac can be aged for no more than 5 years. The number of stars on the cognac label will tell you about the aging time. As a rule, it is 3-5 years.
Step 5
Turn the cognac bottle upside down and see how it behaves. If one viscous heavy drop has fallen from the bottom, the cognac is aged for at least 3 years and, having chosen it, you will not be disappointed. And if the drink quickly flows around the edges of the bottle, put this cognac back on the shelf.
Step 6
After making a purchase, if the cognac was bought for personal consumption, you can check its quality again. Open the bottle and let the drink stand. The aroma of cognac should be subtle and pleasant. The notes present in it depend on the variety and aging. Cognac should not smell like cheap alcohol and its surface should be of an even color, without a light film. Pour a small amount of the drink into a cognac glass and, slightly tilting and twisting, watch how the cognac flows into the glass. High-quality cognac flows down in even volumetric drops, and does not remain on the glass in the form of a film.
