How to choose cognac, and not a fake? If you are not an expert in this field, follow these guidelines.
At your disposal - marking on the label, a bottle and appearance cognac. Relying only on these signs, you can avoid buying obvious counterfeit goods.
You may be interested What you need to know about cognac
Manufacturer
In Russia, you should look only at French, Dagestan and Armenian cognacs. Everything else with a high degree of probability does not apply not only to cognac, but even to grape brandy. Cognac production requires grape distillation (cognac spirit) and at least two years of aging in wine oak barrels. And if cognac alcohol can be purchased in Dagestan (cognac spirit of excellent quality is produced in Kizlyar), then it is rather difficult with oak barrels in the country. Each such barrel is a fortune, and producers of pseudo-cognacs are trying to replace this part of the process by infusing cognac alcohol for oak chips. And this is at best.
In the worst case, dyes and flavors are added to ethyl alcohol or vodka, bottled - and voila, silvuple. This is how unscrupulous bartenders deceive already “merry” customers who wished for a courtesy for the road: vodka is added to strong tea leaves or coffee, a drunk person no longer feels the difference.
Please note that even cognacs of French, Dagestan and Armenian brands may be counterfeit. Therefore, do not be too lazy to ask the seller for a quality certificate, and buy only in elite alcohol stores with a good reputation.
Excerpt
Everything that has an exposure of less than two years does not apply to cognac. The time record does not start from the moment of distillation, but from the first of April of the year following the harvest: the distillation process for cognac producers is strictly regulated, cognac spirit is distilled from November to early April.
Price
To get 1 liter of cognac spirit, you need 10 liters of white wine of at least table quality. And after that, there are still years of aging in oak barrels, decoupage, bottling (and good cognac even has designer bottles). Can half a liter of cognac cost as much as a bottle of vodka? Of course no.
Dagestan and Armenian cognacs, for obvious reasons, are cheaper than French ones, often not inferior in quality
Appearance
- There shouldn't be any sediment. Even a certain amount of crumbs at the bottom of the bottle is a reason to be wary. Favorite explanation “Cognac in wooden barrels is infused, these are chips” is nonsense. There are no chips in aged oak barrels, chips at the bottom appear if the infusion on chips was used. And if, when shaking, whole flakes of garbage rise from the bottom, drinking such a “blend” is clearly dangerous to health.
- Color - shades of amber.
- The consistency of cognac is oily, rather dense. And of course, it must be transparent, no turbidity or suspension is allowed.
- Cork cognac can not be either plastic or metal. Wooden corks are traditionally used, nowadays silicone is also used. The top cover, which is not in contact with cognac, is usually made of metal. The shrink wrap over the lid should sit flat and tight.
What cognac to use for making tinctures and desserts
Yachtsmen have their preferences
For tinctures and desserts, oddly enough, it is better to take cognac of low quality, two to three years old. The taste and aroma of such cognac is coarser than that of aged cognac. French cognacs are not suitable for a number of reasons:
- they are too expensive;
- it is a standalone and complete product, you cannot improve it;
- the qualities for which cognac is valued will be lost in the process of infusion. No need to hammer nails with a microscope.
How to store cognac. Expiration date of cognac
The shelf life of cognac is determined by several factors.
- The bottle should stand upright so that the cork does not come into contact with the cognac. When the bottle is stored horizontally, alcohol corrodes the cork, the drink is saturated with third-party and unnecessary substances.
- The shelf life of an opened bottle is reduced. Air accelerates the oxidation process, the saturation of the aroma decreases. If you opened the bottle, tasted it and want to save the leftovers for the future, pour the cognac into a smaller bottle. The less air in a bottle of cognac, the longer it will retain its properties and qualities.
- Store the bottle in a dark place, avoiding overheating and temperature fluctuations. Cognac should not be stored in the refrigerator: the optimum temperature is 6-10 degrees Celsius.
- In no case should cognac be stored in plastic containers. This will not only spoil the taste and aroma of a noble drink, but also make it unsafe for long-term storage. Plastic will generously share harmful impurities with cognac, which obviously will not benefit you.
How long does cognac last in an opened bottle?
If you open a tasting bottle, try to drink the rest within 3-6 months. During this period, cognac will still retain all the necessary properties, the richness of the bouquet, and the composition. Over time, upon contact with air in the bottle, some of the properties will inevitably be lost.
Some people are sure that by buying a bottle of five-year-old cognac and keeping it in the closet for another five years, they get ten-year-old cognac. No, because storage in a bottle and aging in an oak cognac barrel are completely different things. Bottled cognac remains exactly the same as it was at the time of the spill, and no longer acquires any additional properties.
The shelf life of this noble drink will largely depend on where to store cognac at home. The provided conditions must take into account all the requirements, under which it will be possible to preserve the bouquet of aroma and taste created by distillers for the maximum time.
In more detail, the factors that you need to pay attention to when storing cognac at home, we will consider in the article below.
The most important thing about cognac storage
Cognac bottles should only be stored upright.
Cold worsens taste qualities drink. Even if you have stored cognac in the refrigerator, get it out of there in advance.
If a factory cork is filled with sealing wax, the shelf life will increase by 5-6 times.
How to store cognac at home
The main factor influencing how long cognac can be stored in a bottle will be the correct observance of the conditions for keeping this drink. Qualitatively made cognac, in a well-corked container, can be stored for a very long time.
In more detail about the conditions for storing cognac in a bottle at home, you can present it in the following form:
- bottle position
Like any alcoholic drink Cognac has the ability to absorb the taste and smell of the materials it comes into contact with. Regardless of the type of cork material, if cognac touches it during storage, it will spoil its aroma. Therefore, you can store cognac in a glass bottle, closed with a cork, only in an upright position.
- tightness
It is worth knowing that, regardless of the container in which this drink is sold, the manufacturer does not provide absolute tightness. Therefore, if you want to repeatedly increase the shelf life of cognac in a bottle, it is advisable to carefully fill the cork with sealing wax. This will exclude the penetration of air with bacteria to the drink and significantly increase its shelf life.
- Storage conditions
It is immediately necessary to clarify that in no case should cognac be stored in the light. Impact sun rays has a detrimental effect on the taste of the drink, and after a short time it will be unusable.
The duration of cognac suitability also depends on the temperature at which it will be kept. Excessively high or too low temperatures also adversely affect this drink.
The most optimal temperature for storing cognac is the range from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius.
Humidity in the room where this drink is stored, while ensuring the tightness of the bottle and using a cork resistant to external manifestations, will not play a role. At the same time, it is undesirable to keep stocks of cognac in an excessively damp room.
When all the above conditions are provided, the storage period of good cognac is virtually unlimited, that is, it can be several decades.
This applies exclusively to a drink bottled at the factory, in compliance with antiseptic standards. After uncorking the bottle, the shelf life of the drink is significantly reduced. This happens even if after drinking a certain amount of the drink the bottle is tightly corked again.
In order to store cognac after opening, separate conditions are provided.
How to store open cognac
The only difference will be the requirement as to what to store such cognac in.
It is worth knowing that the presence of a significant amount of air in the bottle will accelerate the oxidation of the drink and worsen its taste. Therefore, after opening the bottle and drinking a certain amount of cognac, it is advisable to pour the rest into a glass container of a smaller volume, which will be filled with the remaining drink as much as possible.
It is necessary to cork such a bottle with a cork that provides the best tightness.
How to store draft cognac
It is worth knowing that basically draft cognac is significantly inferior in quality to bottled cognac. For this reason, its shelf life, until the loss of aromatic and taste qualities, will be much less.
Since such a drink is poured from a large container into the bottles available to the buyer during the sale, there is no need to talk about compliance with sanitary standards. To a certain extent, the type of container used for this also affects the storage period.
For example, due to the availability and ease of transporting a drink in plastic containers, many are interested in the question of whether cognac can be stored in a plastic bottle.
There is no single answer to this question. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that cognac is a strong alcoholic drink, and the alcohol that is part of it reacts quite actively with various substances, including the materials from which polyvinyl chloride containers are made. Moreover, even outwardly identical plastic bottles can be made from different types of materials, optionally resistant to reaction with alcohol.
Therefore, to prevent negative consequences, it is better to store cognac in glass containers.
If desired, you can keep draft cognac in the refrigerator. Since this drink does not imply long-term storage in any case, being in a common chamber with its temperature fluctuations is unlikely to harm it. The main thing is to control that the temperature does not fall below + 5 ° C.
Is it possible to store cognac in a flask
There is also the option of storing draft cognac in a metal flask. In the presence of high-quality containers, the metal of which will not oxidize and spoil the taste of the drink, the period of storage of draft cognac will actually not be inferior to the duration of storage in glass containers.
Is it possible to store cognac in a baginbox
Another option for storing draft cognac is the so-called Bag-in-box, which is a soft container made of dense polyethylene film placed in a box made of rigid material. Such a container is usually equipped with a drain valve, which makes it comfortable to pour cognac.
The disadvantages of the "beginbox" include the impossibility of using the entire amount of the drink in the container (the container will have to be turned over to drain the residues), the likelihood of leaks, as well as the difficulty of disinfecting such a container.
How cognac is stored in barrels
Cognac storage in barrels is the most preferable, although difficult to implement, storage option for this drink. It is due to staying in an oak barrel that cognac acquires its unique taste and aroma. When cognac spirits are stored in such containers, under the required conditions, over time, its saturation and flavor will only improve. Basically, elite varieties of cognacs are aged for 15-20 years, and selected varieties - even more.
At the same time, such an option for storing cognac will require the fulfillment of a number of conditions - starting from the type of oak from which such a barrel is made, and ending with the level of humidity and the volume of circulated air in the room.
For these reasons, cognac storage in oak barrels is available only for specialized cognac factories or elite private storage facilities.
Storing bottled cognac at home involves mastering some knowledge and observing a number of simple rules. All of them can fit in several lines. So, let's begin.
Useful information about cognac
Cognac, bottled, can be preserved without harm to its taste and aromatic qualities for an indefinite period. At the same time, in view of the absence of further contact with the oak barrel, none of the parameters of the drink will improve one iota.
When the bottle is depressurized, the cognac will start to evaporate and run out of steam. Yes, and prolonged contact with air will not benefit him.
Cognac spirits are able to easily absorb the smell of objects that come into contact with them.
The drink we are interested in does not tolerate either excessive cold or excessive heat.
Direct sunlight is detrimental to cognac.
Armed with our new knowledge about cognac, we can proceed to the next step, namely, how to store cognac at home.
Cognac storage rules
It makes no sense to store cognac for a long time without need
Unless, we are talking about a particularly valuable drink, reserved for exceptional cases.
Check the tightness of the bottle
If you plan to store the drink for several years, fill the cork with sealing wax to avoid depressurization when it dries naturally. It is better to pour open, but unfinished cognac into a smaller container and cork as tightly as possible; in this case, he will not lose his qualities within 2 or even 3 months.
Store cognac bottles in a strictly upright position
In this case, the contents of the containers will not be able to absorb the cork smell.
Storage temperature matters
Make sure that cognac is stored at a temperature not lower than 5 and not higher than 22 degrees Celsius.
It is best to use a basement or wine cooler, but a regular fridge will also work if it has a zone with the temperature regime indicated earlier.
Keep cognac in a dark place
If the drink was packed in a box, case or tube upon purchase, do not unpack it until the moment of consumption.
Subject to all the above rules, cognac will live without problems until the golden wedding of your great-grandchildren.
Error or something to add?
Many connoisseurs of a noble drink are wondering how to store cognac at home so as not to spoil the expensive taste and aroma. It's quite simple, you just need to follow a few simple rules.
All seasoned lovers of this alcohol probably know how to store cognac, because it is not cheap, and spoiling the multifaceted taste will be an unaffordable luxury. In order to avoid mistakes, you need to know the main features of the drink and create the necessary storage conditions, then it will be able to delight you with its delicate aroma and taste for a long time.
How to store brandy: at what temperature is the taste of the drink preserved
The cognac production technology is such that it acquires richness of taste and strength when infused in barrels made of oak wood for many years. It is believed that the maximum amount of aging time in barrels should be no more than 70 years. With longer storage, the taste will deteriorate. Compared to how to store cognac in a bottle, this type of storage is complex and costly.
The myth that the longer a bottle of alcohol is stored, the better and stronger it is, is actually untrue. This is due to the fact that when stored in a glass container, alcohol cannot be saturated with flavoring substances or aromas, this happens only in a wooden barrel made of oak. With proper storage of the bottle, cognac can only preserve the already existing bouquet of taste.
An equally important factor in proper storage is temperature regime. Cognacs do not tolerate cold, at too low temperatures precipitation begins to form, which spoils not only the appearance, but also the taste. High temperatures are also detrimental, especially when combined with sunlight. That is why alcoholic drinks are sold in dark cases or boxes. When asked how to properly store cognac, and at what temperature, the answer is unequivocal: not lower than 5 and not higher than 15 degrees Celsius, in a dark place, without access to direct sunlight.
How to properly store cognac after opening the bottle?
An equally important question arises about how open cognac should be stored so that its taste is preserved. After all, another destroying factor is the contact of the drink with oxygen. Alcohol as a volatile substance tends to evaporate, therefore, in order to maintain strength after opening the bottle, it must be kept tightly closed. If you do not plan to drink the contents in the next couple of days, then cork the bottle with a wax seal. It will block the access of oxygen to the drink and keep it for several months. This is a great way to store cognac after opening the bottle.
To preserve the authentic refined taste and smell of the amber drink, keep it in a glass container. It will not come into contact with alcohol and will not cause unwanted changes. It is correct to store cognac in both bottles and in a flask, but only if the metal is of high quality for it. Cheap material can cause an oxidation reaction that will ruin a noble drink. The use of plastic containers is not even discussed. This is an option for cheap alcohol, and not for aged elite cognac. Pay special attention to the cork that closes the bottle. It should fit snugly to the neck, be intact, without signs of fungal infections, have a pleasant smell of cork wood with an admixture of alcohol poured into the bottle.
Five rules for storing cognac at home
From all of the above, several conclusions can be drawn about how to store cognac at home. Here is a list of five basic rules with which your noble drink will delight you with its unique taste and aroma:
- The temperature range should be between 5-15 degrees Celsius.
- It is important to prevent direct sunlight from reaching the container.
- Keep the bottle tightly closed, or after opening, seal it with sealing wax.
- Keep the drink in a glass bottle in an upright position to avoid contact with materials that can react and change the taste or smell. In case of contact with the cork, over time, the drink will acquire a foreign smell.
- Once opened, do not store for more than a few days.
If all requirements are met, be sure of the safety of your cognac and all its multifaceted organoleptic properties.
Cognac (one of the types of brandy) is a wonderful fragrant alcoholic drink with a strength of at least 40% and obtained from special grape varieties by fermentation and double distillation of juice, followed by cognac alcohol aging for at least two years. Real cognacs are traditionally produced exclusively in France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, where the city of Cognac that gave the name to the drink is located.
Cognac as an independent alcoholic product appeared only in the 17th century, when the producers of wine distillate in the farms of Poitou-Charentes noticed that it significantly improved its properties while it was stored in barrels awaiting shipment to the buyer and during transportation, which in those days took a considerable time. The very name "cognac" is legally assigned to brandy produced in the corresponding region of France, only in 1939.
The drink gets its original bouquet after many years of aging in special oak barrels. In them, cognac is getting better and better over the years. It is believed that the maximum aging time of alcohol should not exceed 70 years.. With longer storage, it does not get worse, but more and does not improve its qualities.
Unfortunately, usually at home there is no way to preserve cognac in this way. Therefore, if you bought this elite and expensive alcohol, it makes no sense to keep it in the house for a long time in the hope of improving its organoleptic properties. A bottled drink will no longer acquire additional qualities, it will not become stronger and more aromatic.. But it should be remembered that in undisturbed factory packaging, cognac is capable of preserving the already acquired bouquet of taste for a very long, almost unlimited time.
Nevertheless, real connoisseurs do not drink really high-quality cognacs in one evening, but savor them for several days, or even weeks. How to make sure that during this time alcohol does not lose those properties for which it is highly valued? To do this, you need to follow only a few simple rules.
- Cognac does not tolerate too low or high temperatures. Never put it in the refrigerator, as the cold kills flavors and changes the composition, contributing to sedimentation. At high temperatures, alcohol will evaporate intensively, and as a result, a completely different drink will be obtained, since its strength will no longer meet the standards. The most optimal temperature regime for preserving cognacs ranges from + 5 ° С to + 15 ° С.
- For better preservation of the bouquet and the concentration of alcohol, already opened bottles must be kept tightly closed. If, after opening, you plan to store cognac for more than 2 months, fill the neck of the dishes with sealing wax, since the air that has got inside, having reacted with the drink, will quickly worsen its taste. At the same time, it will be better pour alcohol into a smaller container, in such a way that there is as little air as possible.
- Containers with cognac should always placed strictly vertically. This is necessary so that the drink does not come into contact with the cork in any case, since alcohol has one feature - it absorbs any odors well. It is this ability of his that helps to get a fragrant drink, but it can also make it disgusting, additionally “enriching” it with a completely unnecessary cork smell.
- Another indispensable requirement for the proper storage of cognac - complete lack of sunlight, which has an extremely negative effect on the bouquet of the drink. After all, that is why expensive alcohol is sold in special containers or, in extreme cases, in dark glass bottles.
Is it possible for cognac to go bad? In the direct sense of the word, of course not. But if you do not comply with all of the above conditions when storing an already open bottle, then after 3-4 months you will receive an incomprehensible alcohol that does not resemble that noble strong drink from exquisite taste and a delicate bouquet of smells, which is called the word "cognac".
