The best Armenian cognacs: the names. The most famous cognac of Armenia

The Theme of our article - the Armenian cognacs. The names of these drinks for more than a century familiar to people. Today we will talk not only about specific brands, but about the history and technology of the production of this nectar.

In addition, after reading the article, you will learn some tricks that will help you to distinguish between true Mature masterpiece from a fake.

Origin of the drink

The History of Armenian wine-making goes back thousands of years. So, archaeologists found barrels, aged about twenty - seven centuries. About the wine cellars on the territory of Armenia was mentioned by Herodotus and Tacitus. The Armenian king, when he went to Nero, along with many donated gifts and sample the national liqueur.

The Modern history begins in 1887 when a merchant has established a cognac factory in the territory of the ancient fortress. But more details about it we will talk further.

Types of brandies

Armenian Brandy production share, depending on the duration of exposure, collectible, ordinary and vintage. In principle, this classification was inherent in the Soviet period. In France, for example, cognacs, which are more than six years, is not separately allocated. They go in the category H. O.

Armenian vintage brandies are classified as follows.

• Aged Brandy (KV) – the period of ripening six or seven years.
• Cognac sustained, high quality (KVVK) – eight-ten years.
• Old (CS) – from ten to twenty years of aging.
• Very old (OS) – more than twenty years.

Brandy share.

• Three years – the youngest alcohol blend aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. Usually designated with three asterisks.
• Four-year. All the same, but the shutter speed – four years and four stars on the label.
• Five-year, respectively, aged five years, his label is decorated with five stars.

Collector of Armenian brandy, the names of which coincide generally with the vintage, produced from the latter. But they are aged three-five years longer than vintage cognac of the corresponding class.

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This division is unique to cognacs of the former socialist republics. European cognac and Armagnac have a completely different classification and labelling.

Yerevan factory

This production begins with the entire history of Armenian brandy. In 1887 the merchant of the first Guild Nerses, Tyrants, established the plant. But after ten years he first leases it, and later sells the merchant Nikolay Shustov.

Since that time, radically changed the situation. Shustov displays the plant's products at the world level, winning first prize at the exhibition in Paris, and then gets the right to write the word "cognac" on the labels. The best drink of the Yerevan plant of the time is brand of cognac “Selective”.

After the nationalization slowed down production. However, the Soviets did not destroy the image built by the company «Shustov and sons». To the credit of the new government, they took to develop this profitable direction. During Soviet time this factory have worked seventy graduates with scientific degrees.

Now to the manufacture of brandy approached from the point of view of science and calculations. The drink became, perhaps, a little tastier, but the soul of it was gone. This precious gift has become a standard.

From 1953 until the collapse of the Soviet Union Yerevan brandy company had a monopoly on the production of these beverages.

And Later began to produce the products with customer orientation and marketing calculations. An example is Armenian brandy “cooked” in a souvenir bottle.

In 1998, the factory was bought by the French company "Pernod Ricard” over thirty million dollars. And the following year introduced a new standard called "Armenian cognac”.

Production Technology

Modern production of Armenian brandy is built according to the standard adopted in 1999. Let's look at some of its provisions.

So the drinks are made only from grapes grown in the Ararat valley. These include varieties Mskhali, Kangun, Kakhet, Chilar, Voskehat, Mahali and Garandmak.

In addition, an important condition is the collection of berries in a slightly immature state so the sugar content was above 20 percent.

The production Process is practically identical to French. That is, after the vinification, for about ten days, the raw material is sent for distillation. For this purpose CC unit distillation Charentais type or system of Tarabana. The first refers to the systems of double loss, and the latter – straight.

Next, the raw material is split. Ordinary brandies matured in enameled barrels oak staves, and vintage and collection – in oak barrels.

Due to the natural temperature, which is present in storage (winter frost, summer heat), these drinks are quite soft and harmonious.

Next comes the blending, which add color, water, syrup, and some other components, which are described in the recipe. By the way, unlike French brandies, Armenian contains spring water.

After blending the drink “rest” from six months to several years. Then hetreated with cold, filtered twice and bottled.

How to distinguish a fake

Now we know how to distinguish the real Armenian cognac. There are seven rules which govern experts.

First, we need a little bit more prepared. If you really want to become a person who understands these drinks have to remember a few factories producing Armenian brandy. Their names are easy to find in open sources. Now you will not mislead address unknown production.

The Second point is price and packaging. If the value does not match the rest in the range or label is not all right, most likely, before you fake.

Next, you should learn how to identify aging of the beverage in a closed bottle. Turn it upside down. Dripping should leave grooves that will last at least five seconds. If the marks will disappear faster, so the product is less than six years.

When you have already opened the bottle and poured the contents into a glass, do not rush to drink. First, look through the brandy on your thumb, pressed against the vessel wall. If you can clearly see, that is the fluid clean, uncomplicated, so the drink is of good quality.

And the last. If you have a little chat brandy in the glass, it will flow down the walls. Grooves, lasted five seconds, shows his endurance of six years. Fifteen seconds indicate a twenty product, twenty – at least half a century.

Pasha

Armenian names get from well-known figures and places. Especially, it spins a legend of Noah and the first vine. Nevertheless, it is believed that the Golden age of Armenian brandy started only once in 1899 by merchant Tirana was sold to Nikolay Shustov the first Armenian brandy factory.

For several years the family had made changes in technology and equipment. Younger brother Nikolai, Vasiliy Shustov, went to Europe for the recipe and routings.

All this gave a very powerful impetus to the development of Armenian brandy production. An example is the following story. In the early twentieth century Shustovs family was secretly sent a sample of brandy “Choice” to the exhibition in Paris. There when tasting blind, he won the Grand Prix.

Since that time, only Armenian cognac Shustov could have on the label the word “master”. Everything else that is produced outside of the French province with the appropriate name, can subscribe only as brandy.

That received an international recognition of the Armenian cognac. Shustov then begins to vigorously develop production. Specific, incidentally, was the advertising campaign that merchant. He hired of the citizens, so they came smartly dressed with the ladies in the best restaurants, took the most expensive places, and demanded to bring it Shustov's cognac. Because there it was, the actors had to make a scene and leave, fully paying for the rest of my order. Depressed by restaurant owners literally had to buy his cognac.

In 1920, all the property of this family was nationalized, but they created the technology could resist the proletarian ignorance. According to scientists, modern cognac is practically not inferior to the famous Shustov beginning of the twentieth century.

"Ararat"

In Armenia the name of "Ararat" give only the best. Football club, a fashionable and expensive restaurant... Even children are sometimes called by that name.
"Ararat" – the famous Armenian cognac, the best cognac in the Soviet times, and today he will give odds to many other brands.

There is an interesting legend connected with this mountain and grapes. According to the Bible, when after the flood water began to recede, Noah released a dove and it returned with a twig of olive. Later, the ark landed on the bare piece of land. It was mount Ararat in Armenia.

From here, as Christian researchers, and the Armenians in every possible way promote this idea, and went not only the contemporary humanity, but also winemaking.

Archaeologists findings confirmed that treatment of grapes in this area began in the fifteenth century BC.

So, "Ararat" cognac today is one of the oldest brands. Its production is already more than one hundred and twenty years. It is noteworthy that the technology has not changed since that time, however, equipment upgrading, keeping pace with progress.
Cognac "Ararat" made at the Yerevan factory. He is represented by such species as “Three stars”, “Five stars”, “of”, “Akhtamar", "Armenia" and others. It is noteworthy that most of the elite varieties are aged for thirty years, and brandy, as “Noah's ark" - for half a century!

Noah

In this case again exploited the biblical legend of the flood, the ark, and the miraculous salvation. The fact that, according to legend, Noah founded the first vineyards in the new place, he deserved it, according to the Armenians, to have his name immortalized in a stunning drink.

In the crosswords common question: “the Armenian cognac, the name. 3letters”. Possible answers may be "Ani", "IKE" and "Noah". The latter easily gives odds to the first two, so now we are talking about.

So, in the line of the Yerevan cognac this product is represented by three types – “Araspel”, “Classical” and “Lord”.

They are different shades, but all of these beverages are inherent in a light almond flavor with hints of ripe fruit. “classic” is aged from seven to twenty years. “Lord” also Matures for a quarter of a century, it has a nutmeg finish and light notes of old port.

Brandy in the USSR

Fans of the drink still remember old Soviet times, when everything was better, GOST and standards were no match for modern.

By the Way, on the forums you can often find the offended cries of lovers of this drink. It turns out that the French word "cognac" was patented around 1920. By the time Shustov cognacs already being sold in Europe. In addition, in the Soviet Union on development of technologies for the production of cognac worked for many scientists. In particular, in the Yerevan factory employed more than seventy scientific staff.

The oldest cognac in the Soviet Union was considered a drink called “Sixty years”. This miracle is valid for six decades aged in barrels.

Many of the names popular Armenian brandy has been preserved to our days. However, people of older generations, the taste has changed significantly. As in the case with “Final” sausage, product often remains only the name.

Brandy “Choice” in the early twentieth century. He was secretly sent to Paris, where he won the Grand Prix. Due to this today on products Shustova officially allowed to write the word “master”. Aged in barrels for six years, for its production uses water from Katnaghbyur spring. Awarded three gold medals.

Many brands have already been mentioned earlier, for example, the legendary Armenian brandy called "Ararat". It is believed that nowadays, real drinks in this category can only try in their homeland.

Thus, in the USSR, the cognac was a valuable gift because its quality is constantly rising. No wonder “Pernod Ricard”, buying the Yerevan plant, very quickly recoup their investment. Because the reputation of the production, earned in Soviet times, known and appreciated all over the world.

Legends associated with the drink

The Most famous story of the appearance of this drink is cognac, that is. In the sixteenth century, as a result of the recession and the economic crisis reduced the volume of exports of wines from the region of Poitou-Charentes.

At the same time the Dutch begin to develop distillation. In the town of Cognac in southwest France have used this idea, but improved it by double distillation. Product is stored in oak barrels. The result is a completely new drink.

The Name “master” was only patented in 1936.

In the Soviet Union, however, went the other legend of the Armenian brandy production. But it is not supported by historical facts. Its essence is as follows.

Churchill was very fond of Armenian cognac “difficult”, but one day, opening the next bottle, he was amazed at the taste of the product. It turned out that the master is involved in its blend, was in exile in Siberia. At the urging of the First Lord of the Admiralty the man was released, after which the production has recovered.

These are interesting stories circulating about Armenian cognac. No wonder, because this drink really tasty and enjoyable.

Good Luck to you, dear readers! Try to enjoy life more often.