How and with what to drink cognac: rules and tips
How to drink cognac? This question is asked by almost every connoisseur of alcohol. We will answer right away that there are no strict rules, postulates and prohibitions regarding this topic.
Classification of cognac
Before talking about the peculiarities of drinking cognac, it is worth dividing it into categories, because the method of drinking and other subtleties depend on them.
In its homeland, cognac is divided into two groups:
Ordinary cognac
3-5 years of aging.
Collectible cognac
From 6 years and above.
They differ among themselves both in the richness of the flavor bouquet and the sophistication of the aroma, and in color.
In addition, there are countless varieties of brandy made using cognac technology, but not considered real cognac, which can be produced only in the vicinity of the city of the same name in the Charente province.
Tips for connoisseurs
Everyone knows what cognac is and where it comes from. But not everyone knows how to drink cognac correctly. Let's take a look at the main mistakes and misconceptions when drinking this wonderful drink:
A slice of lemon
The notorious slice of lemon, which is invariably associated with a glass of cognac in the minds of the average inhabitant of the post-Soviet space.
At the same time, lemon, which dulls the taste perception, cannot be used as a cognac snack.
The wrong glass
Very often, the French drink is drunk in ordinary glasses or glasses that are "at hand," but for aged cognac and for any cognac that costs more than 50 euros, this is a real blasphemy.
For drinking cognac, there is a special glass called a snifter, which is also known as a cognac glass.
It is worth noting that this is not just a "fad", but a truly effective tool that allows you to reveal the entire bouquet of the drink.
And do not forget that cognac is poured into them no more than a quarter.
The older the cognac, the darker it is
Tricks like tinting cognac with caramel are not uncommon or a completely unknown dye is not uncommon among cheap cognac brands.
All this is done with one goal in mind - to mislead you and sell low-quality goods.
It is worth remembering that such cognac is produced exclusively by famous brands, which are mostly located in France, from which you can conclude what kind of product you are looking at.
Learn all about popular brands cognac.
How to determine the quality of a drink by eye
First of all, pay attention to the presence or absence of caramel coloring in the composition. Color is an acceptable ingredient, but such cognac cannot claim to be elite.
If it is not in the composition, but there are doubts, leave a fingerprint on the outer wall of the glass, which, in the absence of foreign ingredients, will be visible through the drink. But that's not all.
When you slowly rotate a glass of cognac around its axis, traces called "legs" form on the walls. If the "legs" remain for five seconds after the procedure is stopped, it means that the drink is 5-8 years old. If the effect does not disappear within fifteen seconds, then you can safely take off your virtual hat to a cognac of at least 20 years of age.
Fake or not
To understand this issue, Zbovtai wrote whole article.
How to drink collectible cognac
Cognac, especially collectible, does not tolerate fuss and profanation. His element is the afternoon digestif. Following the example of the French, it is best to start drinking it after a cup of good black coffee, drunk at the end of the meal.
Basic rules
The temperature of the cognac
It is important that the cognac is at the right temperature: not lower than 20, but not higher than 25°C. This will allow him to reveal the fullness of his virtues.
Enjoying the aroma
The smell emitted by cognac seems to be stratified into three waves.
The first one, which has a slight hint of vanilla, is caught at a distance of 5-10 centimeters from the edge of the glass.
The second - floral and fruity - is felt at the very edge of the glass. It may contain violet, linden, apricot notes, as well as a delicate rose scent.
The third wave with a complex bouquet associated with good port can only be felt directly inside the container.
If you want to slightly enhance the flavor of the drink, you can warm it slightly by wrapping your hand around the glass.
Drink in small sips
Savor every drop of the precious drink and fully enjoy its aftertaste. However, the first sip, which allows your taste buds to adjust to the desired flavor, should be smaller than the rest.
No appetizer
Of course, collectible cognac does not accept any snacks. However, harder varieties of this drink go well with good cigars.
How to drink ordinary cognac
Any ordinary cognac feels very good not only in the role of digestifs, but also during a feast. The main thing is the right choice of appetizers.
As a starter, hard cheeses, pates, olives, seafood, salmon slices or caviar canapes are well suited here.
It is worth serving lean white meat (veal or poultry) cooked without spices.
The best desserts are dark chocolate, ice cream, whipped cream and temperate fruits (apples, pears, grapes), and, of course, strong black coffee is a must.
It is also allowed to serve carefully selected soft drinks to such a feast. They can be: juice from white grape varieties and non-carbonated mineral water.
Ordinary cognac varieties are allowed to be used in cocktails.
But it is still better to do this with brandies made using cognac technology with an aging period of up to five years. Among these, mostly dessert cocktails, we can mention the following: Champagne Cocktail, Coarnado, Alba, White Delight, Honeymoon, Chocolate Dream and many others.
There is also an American tradition of drinking cognac with cola or tonic, but in this case, there is only one thing to say: "there is no arguing about tastes".
Update: 02.07.2015
Category: Brandy and Cognac