What is the difference between whiskey and cognac: short and sweet
What is the difference?
This question can only be answered comprehensively. Whiskey and cognac are produced from different raw materials, aged in barrels made of different types of wood, have different strengths, and have different geographical requirements.
Shake it up analyzed the differences point by point so that there are no questions left:
Raw materials used
Whiskey is made from cereals such as barley, rye, corn, wheat, and even buckwheat and rice.
Cognac - produced from grapes of white varieties allowed for this purpose, such as Uni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard.
Aging in barrels
For whiskey, there are no clear ageing requirements. Old and new barrels, barrels of different types of wood are used. This and the aging period are determined by the traditions of a particular country.
Cognac is aged in French oak barrels, while there are requirements for the age of the oak and the duration of aging, which is at least 2 years.
Strength
The strength of whiskey varies widely - from 35% by volume. up to 60% by volume. There are samples even stronger.
The strength of cognac should be no more and no less than 40% by volume., exceeding this level is allowed only with the permission of the National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac, each case is considered individually.
Geography
Whiskey is not subject to the law of any country. It is produced in many territories, while the debate about who invented it - the Scots or the Irish - still rages on.
Cognac is a protected designation of origin. This means that only the drink produced in France, in the Cognac region, in compliance with certain requirements can be called cognac. Any similar drink made in another region or country is called brandy.
Scotch whiskey
In Scotland, there is a widespread tradition of smoking malt with peat smoke, which gives whiskey strong notes of iodine and the sea.
Production technologies
Whiskey can be distilled in various types and designs of apparatus, in particular on distillation columns. There are no requirements for the number of cycles - it can be one distillation (for example, in the USA), two (for example, in Scotland), and three (for example, in Ireland).
The cognac is distilled exactly twice in a Charenteau still. In case of deviation from this rule, the drink is classified as brandy.
The nuances of aging in barrels
The variety of whiskey styles is primarily due to the fact that barrels of different types of wood are allowed for aging, as well as barrels that have previously been used for aging other drinks.
For example, it can be a new barrel made of American white oak, which will give the whiskey a characteristic aroma of exotic fruits, freshly cut grass and vanilla.
Or an oak sherry barrel - will give the taste of wilted berries, dried fruits and spices.
In addition, manufacturers often use such a technique as "finishing aging". In this case, after a long aging in the main cask, the whiskey is poured for a relatively short time into another type of cask, for example, from under Oloroso or Sauternes. This adds even more flavor and aroma nuances to the profile of the drink.
In the case of cognac, the story is different. Only certain barrels described above are allowed to be aged, and it is extremely rare for producers to carry out finishing aging, more often for the sake of experimentation. Because of this, the range of styles of this drink is much narrower. However, due to a large number of strict requirements, cognac is always a quality product, the characteristics of which are often predictable and unchanged from year to year.
What is better?
This question is impossible to answer because of the great differences between the drinks.
Whiskey - a versatile drink that will be appropriate in many occasions.
Cognac - is a more conservative and noble drink, which is better to drink in the appropriate setting.
The content of harmful impurities in whiskey and cognac is about the same, but the former contains more fusel oil, which can worsen a hangover if consumed excessively. There is no need to talk about the well-known beneficial properties of cognac, as the high alcohol content reduces them to nothing.
Choose a drink to your liking and remember - there are no rules. Drink what and how you like it.
Update: 23.06.2021
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon