First Off What Is Brandy
In this instance, brandy is not a 90s female pop singer arguing with Monica over to whom exactly the boy belongs. Its a traditional spirit made from distilling any type of fermented fruit juice or fruit mash. For a sweet tasting liquor, its fairly strong, usually hovering between 90 and 100 proof, and was traditionally served as an after-dinner digestif. Usually dark brown in color, brandy is often mistaken for being a type of whiskey .
To fully dive into the dense, lengthy history of brandy, wed probably need more text-space than . As soon as distillation began being applied to beverages, around the mid-1500s, people all over the world began distilling wine and fruit juice, thus creating brandy. The word itself is a modification of the Dutch word, brandywine, which basically means burned wine.
A lot of modern brandy is subsequently aged in oak barrels after distillation. But, as youll see below, brandy refers to many, many different subsets, each with their own specifications. This is where it gets tricky.
Before we go on, just remember this one big thing: brandy = distilled fruit juice. Thats it.
To Lees Or Not To Lees
One major difference in cognac distillation styles arises from the incorporation of lees to distillation wines. Lees are a solid layer of yeast particles naturally forming once the fermentation process is achieved at the bottom of wine vats.
In Cognac distillation, lees are proving tricky to handle first because they do not conserve well and need to be carefully kept from air contact. Lees also cannot be distilled on their own in Charentais pot stills and must be incorporated in small quantities to clear wines wines stripped from their lees to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If done wrong, this could result in the forming of a burnt layer, greatly compromising the spirits taste and quality, and potentially damaging the pot still itself. If handled correctly however, distilling on lees brings great fullness and complexity to cognac eaux-de-vie because of their natural richness in esters and aromatic components think fruity, tangy, candy like notes. Moreover, eaux-de-vie distilled on lees prove to have great maturation potential as fatty acids are instrumental in the development of the charentais rancio for instance.
How Should You Drink Them
Sipping a glass of cognacâespecially a V.S.O.P. or X.O.âby the fire on a cold winter night is the stereotypical image of the liquor, but it belies its versatility and suitability for mixed drinks. The Sidecar, for example, is a classic cocktail that uses cognac as its primary ingredient.
Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients.75 oz Cointreau/triple secInstructionsCombine ingredients in a cocktail shake. Fill with ice. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass with a sugared rim.
Brandy, of course, can also be sipped neat or in cocktails .
Sipping cognac and brandy straight might give flavors of fruits like apricots, oranges, and lemons. Aged cognacs typically add notes of flowers and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.
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What Is Cognac Made Of
The main ingredient in cognac is white grapes, but not just any grapes of the white variety. There are only three main kinds of white grapes that can be used. These are the Folle Blanche, Colobard, and Ugni Blancalso known as Trebbiano.
This is another similarity to Champagne since this sparkling wine is also made with only three main Champagne grapes, albeit different ones from cognac.
The Ugni Blanc is the predominant grape variety in the entire Cognac region. Approximately 98% of the grape-growing regions in Cognac are cultivated with the Ugni Blanc grape.
This is because its much easier to cultivate and maintain. Plus, it yields large quantities compared to other grape varieties. However, one downside of this grape is its sensitivity to winter frosts. It thrives the best in mild climates.
The second grape variety is Folle Blanche, which is famously known for being one of the main grape ingredients for Armagnac .
It used to be the most famous grape variety used in making Cognacs until the Ugni Blanc overshadowed it. Although, both grape varieties produce wine with acidity, lightness, and freshness.
The third variety is the Colombard grape, which has been around for quite some time. In fact, it is one of the oldest grapes from Charente that still thrives today. Originally, this was made as a cross-product between the grapes varieties Gouais and Chenin Blanc.
What Is The Distillation Process For Cognac
Cognac undergoes a DOUBLE DISTILLATION process, giving it its unique taste.
The first distillation takes place traditionally in stills known as Alembic Charentais . The wine used is low in alcohol favoring aromas concentration. The wine is heated and distilled into a first cloudy distillate with a 30% abv.
Copper alembic
The second distillation creates a bright eau de vie of about 70% abv. Only the best cut or coupe de chauffe is kept containing delicate aromas and fragances, which is then filled into barrels for ageing. This will be Cognac, as we know it.
Best cut of distillation
At Domaine Drouet, DISTILLING REACHES THE HEIGHT OF CRAFTMANSHIP. Owner Patrick Drouet is an exceptionally talented distiller and artisan. Passionate about all he does, his true labour of love is distilling. You might find Patrick during the height of the distilling season tending his stills during ungodly hours, resting occasionally on an appointed cot nearby…
Drouet cot in Still house
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Then We Begin The Distillation
Cognac is distilled twice in onion-shaped copper pot stills , but unlike whisky, there is a strict timetable enforced. In the Cognac region, distillation begins towards the end of November, and must be finished by 31 March the following year. Another difference is that in Cognac, there is a boiler where the wine is heated, with the vapour passing up through the still head into a condensing cooler. The spirit, known as brouillis, now has an ABV of approximately 30% and is returned to the boiler for a second distillation. The middle cut, or heart of the second distillation is then transferred to oak barrels for ageing.
What Is Cognac Used For
Use Cognac to enrich luxurious sauces and pair in meat recipes, or to add complex flavor to both sweet and savory dishes involving rich ingredients such as cheeses, nuts, figs, apples, pears, brown sugar and olives. Cognac also compliments chocolate desserts very well.
Is cognac good for health?
Cognac is rich in polyphenols which occur naturally in grapes but the concentrations are helped by the fact that Cognac undergoes a very long ageing process in oak barrels, he claimed, citing research which showed that some of the constituents found in oak wood, in particular ellagic acid, can have a significant
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Where Does Cognac Get Its Name
By the next century, double distillation came about, and the makers realized Brandy is much better if it rests in oak barrels for a while, and soon, Brandy from Cognac took its regions name. Despite being born in France only 3% of Cognac is sold there. Almost all of it is exported, mostly to the United States, Singapore, and China.
Xo: Extra Old Aged A Minimum Of 10 Years
The Napoleon category used to be an unofficial label for extra-old Cognac, generally those that qualify as X.O., but also many aged much longer. Since the reclassification of X.O., Napoleon has adopted the categorys former requirements, and now signifies a blend with a minimum age of six years.
Worth noting is that these designations dont always show up on a bottle, and most quality producers will exceed their minimum listed age significantly.
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Cognac can also be labeled with one of the six appellations of the region: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires . The two Champagne regions, like the famed sparkling wine region, are named for the high composition of chalk in the soil. If a bottle of Cognac is labeled Fine Champagne, its a blend of Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne brandies. However, to earn this designation, at least 50% of the blend must be Grande Champagne Cognac.
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What Other Types Of Brandy Are There
You’ve probably heard of grappa, another grape-based brandy made from leftover wine that’s generally associated with Italy, and pisco, a clear brandy that hails from Peru. But there’s also calvados, an apple brandy from France, and armagnac, another grape brandy from France. Long live the French and their dedication to the art of fermented fruit juices!
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How Is The Quality Of Cognac Is Determined
Its quality is largely determined by the raw material used and the production process, both of which must comply with strict regulations. An olfactometric map of freshly distilled Cognac has been drawn up, bringing together the main aroma compounds generated at succeeding stages of the production process.
Whats the difference between Champagne and cognac wine?
The cognac-producing regions called Champagne should not be confused with the northeastern region of Champagne, a wine region that produces sparkling wine by that name, although they do share a common etymology . Close to 200 cognac producers exist.
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How Is Brandy Made
The process may vary according to the distillery that makes it, but there are 4 basic steps to obtain it.
What Is Cognac Made From
Last Updated on August 18, 2022 by Lydia Martin
If youre a whiskey fan and want to try a new liquor, you should get acquainted with a type of brandy called Cognac. Next to wine and whiskey, many drinkers prefer cognac due to its elegance and unique spice.
But what is cognac made from? Lets find out.
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What Grape Varieties Go Into Cognac
There are six permitted grape varieties in Cognac:
- Ugni Blanc: Covering 98% of Cognacs vineyards, and prized for its resistance to disease, its high acidity and low sugar levels. Produces a light, neutral and acidic wine , ideally suited to distillation and ageing.
- Folle Blanche: Historically Cognacs dominant variety, it has fallen from favour because of its sensitivity to rot when grafted. Now covers less than 1% of the vineyard, producing aromatic and well-balanced Cognacs.
- Folignan: A new cross of Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche, with an aromatic character. Can only make up 10% of a blend.
- The other varieties Colombard, Montils and Sémillon are insignificant.
The Charente Double Distillation
Originally, the wine produced around the Cognac region was distilled only once just to preserved it. The result wasnt so great. This first try was mostly used as blending. The production of cognac we know today requires a double distillation. This method called distillation à la Charentaise is realised in a copper still with a standardised capacity according to the traditions of the region. The distillation heats the wine and separates it from the dregs. The distillate is then distilled a second time, this is called la bonne chauffe. During the Bonne chauffe the distiller will sperate heads , the heart and the tails to keep only the heart, an eau-de-vie between 70 and 72% alcohol. The heart will be then stored in oak barrels.
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The Pleasant Surprise After The 80
In the 12th century, the Dutch started to burn at sea with white wine mostly from the Charente region. They burned out the alcohol and then added it to the drinking water of the sea-going vessels so that it remained drinkable for longer and the transport became cheaper. They also realised this in the Charente region and over time distilleries settled here and shipped their wine spirits to Holland in casks. During the Eighty Years War, trade stagnated in the early 17th century the distillate remained in store waiting for transport.
When this distillate was finally tasted in the Netherlands after the war around 1640, it was discovered that the oak casks had had an exceptional effect on the distillate and Cognac was born.
What About Blending And Aging
After distillation, the liquid is blended and aged, which is what really makes cognac special. At Hennessy, for example, a tasting committee of 7 people meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to taste about 40 different samples of “eaux de vie,” as the individual distilled spirits are known before blending. It takes 10 years of training before one can join the committee, according to the brand’s ambassador Jordan Bushell.
Cognac must be aged for at least 2 years in French oak, at which point it’s labeled “V.S. .” After that, these distinctions that break down a bottle’s age and quality:
- V.S.O.P. : the youngest brandy in the blend must be aged at least four years in oak
- X.O. : the youngest brandy in the blend must be aged at least six years in oak
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What Makes Cognac Special
Cognac is considered the most refined and sophisticated out of all the spirits. You can identify this exquisite spirit for its incredible bouquet and harmonious combination with power, warmth, and subtlety.
In a way, it exhibits some characteristics of other fantastic liquors, mainly wine and whiskey, but it still manages to provide unique qualities that define it as it is.
What Is Cognac A Quick Guide To The Classic French Spirit
Cognac is somewhat simpler than its name suggests. The best way to understand the French spirit is to treat it like its closest cousin: Wine. In short, Cognac is a type of brandy made in its namesake commune in western France.
Similar to the best wine, it is tied to a specific place on the map and must be made from a select list of grapes in a particular style. There are aging and blending requirements tied to Cognac, much like a Chianti Italian wine or Bordeaux. Further, Cognac is best enjoyed in a particular kind of Cognac glass that allows you to drink Cognac the right way. Get in there and sniff and savor the stuff.
Many would argue that Cognac is a luxury item, as it has been elevated to celebrity status courtesy of brands by the likes of Jay-Z , Ludacris , and more. Nevertheless, its a spirit enjoyed by all types of drinkers, born out of a simple desire from traveling European merchants to have some quality hooch on trips. In a nutshell, the best way to describe Cognac is a polished version of brandy smoother and often more complex. Theres more to it, of course. Ahead is our entry-level guide on Cognac , which includes its history, stylistic variations, and more.
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How Does Cognac Taste
Depending on the way cognac is blended and aged, it can offer you an endless variety of flavours. Generally speaking, cognac has a somewhat vinous flavour given that it is a product of distilling wine.
However, this characteristic is often subdued due to the prolonged ageing process. Indeed, the oak barrels play an important factor and the wood greatly influences the eau-de-vies resulting flavour.
A cognac that is well-aged will express the way it was produced with a complex tableau of rich flavours. Typically, cognac reveals candied fruit and citrus flavour on the nose, which are often accompanied by spices. Meanwhile, the cognacs taste may consist of spices, leather, caramelised fruit, and citrus.
Finally, high-quality cognac is usually quite dry as the beverage can only be sweetened with no more than 1.5 grams per litre of sugar. Combined with the tannins, an old cognac often has a smooth mouthfeel with a velvety texture.
However, younger cognacs can be a little more lively with a robust character and a spicy primary taste.
The Flavors Are Diverse And Delightful
The versatility of cognac is what makes it such a special spirit. I love cognac for so many different reasons, says Erick Castro of Polite Provisions and Raised by Wolves in San Diego and Boilermaker, NY. While I tend to drink it mixed in cocktails, sipped neat after a nice meal has got to be one of the most pleasurable ways to enjoy it. Particularly, a nice X.O., as the flavors can be so expansive and unlike any other spirit. You can find every aroma from dried peach to black tea to shiitake mushrooms all in the same glass, and all in perfect harmony. There is truly nothing like it.
Image: Benoit Linero
Cognac Educator Kellie Thorn of Atlantas Empire State South adds, Cognac displays a myriad of flavors on the palate. Younger expressions are often vibrant and fruity with notes of fresh pressed grapes, daisy, and oak spice. As they age the fruit becomes more developed, the oak characteristics more integrated, and the florality more complex. Nutty notes appear as well as cocoa and earthier flavors and aroma like forest floor and mushroom. Depending on the age range and the desire of the blender, it can be fruity and bright with tropical fruits and jasmine notes, or chocolatey, earthy, and show notes of tobacco, and everywhere in between. Cognac is truly a journey of the senses which is what makes it such a special spirit.
Ophelias Drift cocktail by Kellie Thorn
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