Courvoisier cognac: history, overview of taste and types + how to distinguish a fake
Courvoisier is a reputable and one of the most famous cognacs in the world, whose history dates back to the 19th century.
The brand was founded by Emmanuel Courvoisier in France and remains one of the leaders in its niche to this day.
The history of Courvoisier
Since 1828, the firm of Courvoisier and Gallois, which at that time was headed by the sons of the creators - Felix and Jules, began to be recognized as the Courvoisier Cognac House. At the same time, the company moves to a new location in Jarnac, where Courvoisier's headquarters are still located today.
In 1866, Felix Courvoisier died, and the management of the company was transferred to his nephews, the Curlier brothers, who managed to bring their high-value product to the British market. And by 1869, Courvoisier was being served at the royal palaces of countries such as Denmark and Sweden.
In 1909, the company was bought by brothers Alfred and George Simon. The first thing they had a hand in was the creation of the iconic logo, which features the silhouette of Napoleon.
The 1980s were a period of major changes in the production process for the House of Courvoisier. The use of microdistillation technology begins, the company switches to a new storage system for cognac barrels - vertical.
Facts about Courvoisier
Napoleon Bonaparte personally visited the cognac warehouses located in the city of Bercy.
Charles Dickens' collection of alcoholic beverages included 216 bottles of Courvoisier cognac.
Alcohol became a highlight at the opening ceremony of the Eiffel Tower in 1889. Isn't this an indicator of the high level of Courvoisier?!
Types of Courvoisier cognac
Courvoisier V.S.
Cognac with a pleasant golden color.
The taste is delicate, with a distinctly perceptible fruity background. It is dominated by a bouquet woven with ripe fruit and complemented by a floral hue.
The rich aroma of the drink is light, clean and fresh: oak tones are harmoniously intertwined here, loudly declaring the energy and youthfulness of the drink.
Courvoisier V.S.O.P.
A drink with an amber color. Light red and golden reflections can also be seen.
The delicate flavor of the drink is characterized by a balance of oak motifs and touches of exotic fruits.
The aroma gives you the tenderness of vanilla and pleasant nuances of roasted almonds.
Courvoisier X.O.
Cognac of a beautiful amber color, there is a golden hue.
The taste is somewhat complex and at the same time soft. It is characterized by a velvety structure, where you can catch the motifs of ripe pear, candied orange, fragrant apricot and spicy spices.
The aromatic palette is quite rich and a bit exotic: you can feel the presence of creme brulee, chocolate and delicate vanilla, shades of cocoa and cinnamon aromas, wrapped in floral motifs of iris and violets.
Courvoisier Napoleon
A drink with a deep amber-golden color.
The taste is elegant, its maturity is confirmed by a charming long aftertaste.
The aromatic composition is woven with accents of prunes and liquorice, touches of hazelnuts and aged port, as well as cigars and orange blossom.
Courvoisier 12 Years Old
The cognac has a deep amber color with golden-red hues.
The palate immediately reveals hints of dried fruits, including apple, pear and raisins, which combine with the sweetness of orange jam and almond notes. Long aftertaste gives warmth.
The fragrant bouquet of the drink is intertwined with violet and anise touches, which smoothly flow into spicy motifs of ginger, delicate vanilla and raisins.
Courvoisier 21 Years Old
Cognac with a mahogany color.
A distinctive feature of the taste is softness. It is created by tones of candied orange interspersed with shades of fig, cocoa nuances, honey sweetness and notes of spicy spices: coriander and white pepper.
The persistent finish is woven with notes of cigars and leather.
The sweet aroma is saturated with accents of figs and hints of dried apricots, and the presence of sugar cookies and hazelnuts is also felt.
L`Essence de Courvoisier
Alcohol is dark amber in color with a reddish tint.
The rich and delicate taste is characterized by smoothness and silky texture.
The bouquet is full of dried fruit motifs - prunes and dried apricots, which are complemented by licorice tones, touches of pine nuts, sweetness of honey, caramel and freshness of citrus accents.
The aroma is intertwined with notes of sandalwood and cigar leaves, accompanied by hints of chocolate, crème brûlée, marzipan, sweetness of mountain honey and spice of hawthorn.
Courvoisier Initiale Extra
Walnut-colored cognac. Explosive taste ends with a long perfect aftertaste.
The complex aromatic composition reveals notes of refreshing forest air and truffles, followed by aromas of cedar and port, which soon give way to spicy motifs of cinnamon, dried apricots, orange peel and a hint of fruitcake.
Courvoisier Succession
The drink has an amber color with a red tint.
Powerful flavor is characterized by a long, elegant aftertaste, created by the nuances of hot fruitcake.
The aroma has cedar accents, tones of old sherry and crème brûlée, smells of Havana cigar leaves, coffee, hot honey and spicy liquorice.
How to distinguish a fake Courvoisier cognac
The label of the original Courvoisier is glued on exactly, any bevels, stains and other inaccuracies are unacceptable. In addition, the label of a real drink is embossed. If you run your finger over the letters and images, you should feel them. If there is no relief, you are looking at a fake.
The label on a bottle of authentic Courvoisier cannot contain Russian words. An additional sticker is attached on top of the original label, where the importer of the cognac provides basic information about the drink in Russian.
The original bottle bears the company logo in embossed type, which depicts the silhouette of Napoleon.
On the bottom of the bottle there is an embossed inscription "Courvoisier" and the bottle capacity is indicated, but in no case in Russian letters.
The cork of a real Courvoisier has the brand's emblem at the very top, and this is also an image of Napoleon. The cork itself must be made of cork wood.
It is mandatory to have an excise stamp on the bottle of the original beverage, since the product is imported. The volume indicated on the label must be identical to the actual volume of the container.
Courvoisier cognacs are elite drinks, so the price is appropriate.
Remember that real alcohol, including Courvoisier cognacs, can only be purchased in specialized liquor stores or in large supermarkets.
Update: 14.06.2018
Category: Brandy and Cognac