Cognac, regardless of its origin in the European tradition, is always a digestif. This word is used to designate all drinks that are served after a meal. Drinks of this type are believed to aid in the digestion of food.
Traditions of using cognac
Unfortunately, Russians and Americans often violate this European rule. Americans often drink this drink as an aperitif, diluted with tonic or vermouth. Fortunately, young cognacs are usually the victims of this treatment.
In Russia, for almost two hundred years, cognac has traditionally been eaten with lemon. It is believed that this tradition arose thanks to Nicholas I, who considered the French cognac too strong and wanted to bite it, unfortunately, it was a lemon that fell into the hands of the emperor. Nicholas I liked the resulting combination, and this is how the tradition spread throughout the country. However, it did not go beyond its limits. In the European tradition, cognac is not eaten at all, so as not to interrupt the delicate aroma and aftertaste, but it should be noted that lemon completely kills the taste and smell of cognac.
Cognac is a very leisurely drink. It cannot be drunk in one gulp, usually the brandy is pulled in small sips during an interesting conversation. The glass is warmed in the hands, which allows the aroma of the drink to unfold to the fullest. When serving, cognac should be slightly warmer than room temperature.
Correct glasses
Cognac is not drunk from small glasses or "glasses", this method is suitable only for people who want to drink cognac, but do not like its taste. There are two types of cognac glasses. The more traditional one is called a snifter (from the verb to sniff, which means "to sniff"). The snifter can hold up to 840 ml of drink, but smaller glasses are most common. The snifter shape is very characteristic, almost spherical, the drink is poured into it to the widest part. The tapering upper part of the snifter allows you to fully enjoy the rich aroma of cognac, and thanks to its spherical shape, such a glass fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
A tulip-shaped glass is a more modern option. It also tapers towards the top, concentrating the aroma of the drink. "Tulips" are distinguished by long legs, which allows them to be held like wine. So you can rotate the glass, saturating the cognac with oxygen and distributing it along the walls. The choice of a cognac glass depends solely on personal preference.
A bottle of cognac must be stored upright so that it does not come into contact with the cork. If you haven't drunk the cognac, it is better to pour it into a glass container with a smaller volume, but always with a lid, since prolonged contact with air damages the taste of the drink.
There is a rule of three Cs (coffee, cognac, cigare), according to which you first need to drink coffee, then cognac, and only after that smoke a cigar. Smoking a cigarette or cigar while consuming cognac is considered bad form.
