Noah cognac: features, types, history
The most famous products of the Ararat enterprise are Noah cognacs, the name of which is intended to emphasize the divine origin of Armenian winemaking.
According to legend, it was Noah who planted the first vine on Mount Ararat after the flood, which gave rise to local viticulture.
Features of Noah cognacs
To create the drinks of the famous brand, the selected fruits of mainly white grape varieties are used: Mshali, Voskeat, Garandmak.
For aging, old oak barrels are used, some of which have been preserved since the time of Shustov.
Such storage provides the drinks with a special bouquet with the presence of spicy, vanilla and oak notes.
The aging period depends on the category of cognac: the minimum is 3 years, the maximum reaches 50 years. Standard strength - 40%.
Depending on the age, the color of the drinks changes: from pale amber to rich copper with golden and reddish spots.
The ancient recipe and production technology, bit by bit restored in modern years, are kept secret and strictly observed.
Types of Noah cognacs
Classic
Combines 4 drinks with different aging periods: 7, 10, 15 and 20 years.
Characteristic notes: walnut, almond, candied fruit, prunes, vanilla, chocolate.
In mature cognacs, accents of coffee, cinnamon, oak and caramel appear.
Consistency - soft, delicate, aftertaste - long, pleasant, enveloping.
Araspel
Ordinary drinks of 3 and 5 years of aging are characterized by an unusual color of ripe chestnut.
The flavor is characterized by floral and fruity shades with a predominance of plum and peach notes.
Traditional
4 cognacs that play with shades of amber and reddish reflections. Aging: from 3 to 10 years.
The bouquet combines nutty, chocolate, fruit notes with hints of coffee, black currant and caramel.
Gift
Drinks aged in barrels for 3, 5, 7 and 10 years improve their characteristics as they mature.
"Young" cognacs are characterized by a slightly sharp, burning taste with floral and oak tones.
In "aged" drinks, accents of orange, almonds, dried fruits, vanilla and caramel appear.
Aftertaste - long, warming.
Gucci
A line of 2 ordinary cognacs created with the participation of the grandson of the famous Italian fashion designer.
The drinks are characterized by the predominance of floral notes with a long harmonious fruity aftertaste.
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Collector's items
Dedicated to the anniversaries of the factory ("Noah 140" and "Noah 135"), exclusive long-aged drinks: "Noah 30 years", "Noah 50 years", "Noah the Lord 25".
How to drink Noah cognac
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Taste Armenian brandy at a temperature of +20 °C.
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Young - as an aperitif, mature - as a digestif.
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Served both neat and paired with desserts, fruits, tea, coffee, cigars.
The history of the brand
The first mention of the manufacturer dates back to the end of the XIX century, when a prosperous merchant Nerses Tayryan acquired the territory of the Yerevan fortress to build a winery. The date of foundation of the plant is considered to be 1877.
Initially, the company was exclusively engaged in the production of artisanal wines. Over time, the assortment also included spirits, which made the company famous all over the world.
Vasyl Tairov, a cousin of the merchant Tairian, who was educated in France and was a relative of the famous artist Aivazovsky, took an active part in the work of the factory.
A serious contribution to the organization of cognac production was made by a young master craftsman Mkrtich Musinjants, who graduated with honors from the French school of winemaking.
Thanks to him, the plant introduced innovative Charente-type stills for distilling alcohols, and created optimal conditions for aging and storage of cognacs.
However, despite the advanced system of beverage production, in 1899 Nerses Tayryan was forced to sell the company to the Moscow merchant Shustov.
The change of ownership was beneficial for the company: the assortment expanded, sales figures improved, and the products began to receive awards at international competitions.
The most significant achievement was the awarding of the Grand Prix at the French exhibition to one of the "Shustov drinks", for which the local alcoholic beverage was awarded the right to be called "cognac", not "brandy"...
In 1912, the plant was awarded the title of "official supplier of the Imperial Court" for the high quality of its products. With the advent of Soviet power, the company was nationalized and renamed Ararat, after the collapse of the USSR it went through difficult times of stagnation, and in 2002 became part of the Multi Group concern, which resumed the plant's work.
Update: 03.03.2019
Category: Brandy and Cognac