How to distinguish real cognac from fake: 6 recommendations

Of course, when buying alcohol, no one is safe from buying a fake. And cognac in this case is by no means an exception. But, at the same time, there are some rules, tricks and wisdom that can significantly reduce the likelihood of running into fake cognac. Producers of "burnt" alcohol are able to imitate this or that parameter of cognac, but the use of all these skills in relation to one batch of drinks will cost them quite a lot.

We are talking about authentic French drinks, not grape brandy made using cognac technology. In the latter case, the risk is much higher, and the quality of the original drinks is usually lower.

Place and cost

In order to minimize the risk when buying cognac, use the services of large, trustworthy supermarkets or reputable specialty stores that sell elite alcohol. On the one hand, such stores are more responsible for choosing suppliers, on the other hand, you can always ask for a certificate certifying the authenticity of the goods you are buying.

You should also pay special attention to the price of the drink. You should not grab bottles from the cognac rack that are 25 percent or more less than the bulk of a similar product. The cost of a bottle of ordinary cognac, not burdened by a significant age, should correspond to about ten to fifteen US dollars. You must admit that a bottle of wine, which took several years and about five liters of young grape wine to produce, cannot be cheaper.

Packaging and design

When buying cognac, pay special attention to the packaging and design of the drink.

As a rule, good cognac is from world-famous manufacturers (Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Rémy Martin, Camus, etc.).) poured into simple classic bottles that do not sin with excessive pretentiousness. In addition to the container itself, special attention should be paid to the cork. It should be made of cork and tightly seal the bottle. If the latter is crowned with a hollow, and even loosely fixed metal cap, you can be sure that you are looking at a one hundred percent fake.

In addition, carefully examine all the labels. They should be glued symmetrically and not contain any external defects. Moreover, genuine cognac labels are usually made on high-quality, slightly embossed paper, reminiscent of the samples used to print banknotes. In fact, the quality of the print itself compares favorably with the dull and smeared labels that adorn most fakes. And of course, the excise stamp on the bottle should be pasted over the label, and not vice versa.

The label itself must include the following parameters: age and type of beverage, as well as the country of origin, place of production and list of ingredients used. By the way, if the above list contains any flavors or rectified alcohol, it is better to avoid the drink containing them.

Checking cognac by eye

First of all, a real cognac should organically combine the amber color inherent in the drink and the obligatory light transmission. It should be free of any turbidity or sediment.

Next, the drink should have some viscosity. To make sure that the cognac you are interested in has this quality, turn the bottle upside down. If the container really contains cognac, then after moving its contents to the neck, a thick, oily drop will fall from the bottom, and the remnants of the drink will flow down the walls for several seconds. Also, watch for air bubbles. If you have a real cognac in front of you, then large bubbles will rise to its surface first, and then small ones.

Determining a fake by smell

When you bring home the drink you bought, you can determine its authenticity by the smell. To do this, pour a few drops of cognac into a snifter and disperse them throughout the glass. If after a few seconds you catch the characteristic smell of acetone or kerosene, then, unfortunately, you are still out of luck.

But that's not all. Real cognac, unlike flavored and colored alcohol solution, changes its smell as it is opened. When dealing with a real drink, you will first smell the characteristic smell of oak, then, after warming the snifter a little in your hand, you will alternately catch the tobacco, fruit, floral and other aromas of this real product of beautiful France...

Of course, after an olfactory test, you are unlikely to be able to return the detected fake to the store. But in any case, you will be spared the danger associated with consuming a drink of unknown origin, and you will not be embarrassed in front of your guests.

Update: 24.09.2015

Category: Brandy and Cognac