There are several versions of the origin of a strong alcoholic drink called cognac. One of them says that in 1641, the French winemaker Jacques de la Croix Maron received cognac alcohol by double distillation of wine. Later, historians agreed that it was this Frenchman who invented a new alcoholic drink. Cognac is a kind of brandy, but, as winemakers say, every good cognac is brandy, but not every brandy can be proudly called cognac. Among a large number of varieties of not the most expensive and affordable brands, we present the best cognacs of the world among not too expensive ones.
1
Hennessy XO (France)
Alcoholic drink originally from France - today one of the most famous brands of cognac in the world and one of the most popular in Russia. Hennessy XO uses the most ancient technologies that have been carefully stored for several centuries.
Owners care about the reputation of the brand, and therefore actively control all stages of production. Hennessy is famous for its high quality, and the price depends on the type and time of exposure. The French product has a pleasant aroma and rich mild flavor.
Bottled in original bottles, recognizable anywhere in the world. It has a long aftertaste and a warming effect. Hennessy XO, although it is one of the most expensive cognacs on the market, it is very popular and the editors of most-beauty.ru could not help but mention it.
2
Rémy Martin VSOP (France)
Another not very budget brand of the French cognac house, founded back in 1724. Still, VSOP bottles are more popular in Russia than XO. We advise you to try any of them. An interesting fact is that the exposure times of Rémy Martin are longer than many other brands. for example, VSOP has an aging time of 4 to 14 years, and XO alcohols can spend up to 37 years in a barrel.
3
Camus VSOP (France)
We conclude our review of French brands with the famous Camus, which has long won the hearts of cognac lovers around the world. Camus has a low tannin content, velvety and bright aroma.
The Camus distillation, which takes place in a 2500-liter copper Charente distillation cube, is also interesting. After that, the master of assembly carefully selects alcohols with the most delicate aroma for blending.
4
Klinkov VSOP (Crimea)
Good value for money. Despite the low cost, cognac bottled in Crimea is included in the premium class rank. The minimum exposure is 6 years.
Klinkov VSOP uses native Crimean grape varieties with the addition of classic French spirits. It has a mild flavor, a bewitching bouquet of aromas and a pleasant aftertaste.
Original taste and aroma are given to it by nutmeg and orange peel. Sometimes there is a sweet smell of tobacco products.
5
Ararat 5 * (Armenia)
Armenian cognacs are known on all continents of the world, namely this brand is exported to 40 countries of the world. Churchill preferred them; he liked to drink a sip or two of Fidel Castro for a cigar.
This is the first Armenian cognac that entered the international market. The line is represented by various exposure periods: 3 stars, 5 stars. The strength of the drink, its taste and a bouquet of aromas depend on aging.
The product of Armenian winemakers under the brand name "Ararat" can be presented as a gift to a man, emphasizing respect in such an act.
6
Tetroni 5 * (Georgia)
A drink originally from sunny Georgia is produced by winemakers in the small village of Okami. They called it the concern for the production of alcoholic beverages.
Masters managed to preserve old recipes, according to which they prepare an original blend with a special aroma, mild taste and a range of heady aroma. The amber hue captivates the eye, and the taste is mesmerizing with a floral taste with chocolate shades.
Tetroni is bottled in original bottles, and you can recognize Georgian cognac by the label, which has not changed for many years. Teteroni is a quality tested by time.
7
Chateau Kakheti (Georgia)
Speaking about cognacs of Georgia, it is worth mentioning the Chateau Kakheti. An exclusive alcoholic drink with a sensual soul of selected white grape varieties from the sunny mountainsides of Kakheti. Noble cognac with a Caucasian temperament falls in love with itself after the first date.
High-quality cognac will amaze with its amber shades, and will also charm you with a pleasant aftertaste of delicate spring notes. The latest technologies are used in the production with the preservation of ancient traditions. The glass reflects the beauty of the Alazani Valley, as well as the soul of Georgian hospitality.
A bottle of “Chateau Kakheti” will become the pearl of your feast, and one sip will cheer you up and help create a festive atmosphere.
8
Abkhazia 5 * (Abkhazia)
Abkhazian alcoholic beverages cannot be ignored, among which “Abkhazia” stands out. It is produced at the legendary factory "Wines and Waters of Abkhazia".
It is made according to traditional recipes with a centuries-old tradition from specially selected grape varieties. The distillate is made from French grapes and varieties growing in the south of the republic. Close the blend in Limousin oak barrels, where the future brandy is aged for five years.
There are several degrees of protection against counterfeiting on the bottle, but any gourmet will easily recognize the classic alcoholic drink of Abkhazia without any degrees of protection.
9
Tahiryan (Armenia)
Another work of art by Armenian masters of spirits. Legend-flavored drink gained fame far beyond the borders of Armenia.
They named the product in honor of the famous merchant of the 1st guild Nerses Tairyan, who was the founder of the cognac production in Armenia. In the production of high-end cognac, only grape varieties grown in domestic vineyards are used. The hot sun and mountain climate give the drink a special charm.
Blends are aged for four years, and then bottled in beautiful bottles. For over 30 years, this brand has been exported to the former republics of the USSR and countries of Western Europe.
10
Elder 5 * (Stavropol)
Choosing good alcohol is a real art, but if you get the Elder brandy, you will not be mistaken. One of the highest quality and most popular cognac drinks produced in Russia.
In the production at all stages old classic technologies are used, which leads to the production of high-quality alcohol. Aged in barrels that are made from French Limousin oak.
The elder is bottled in original bottles, and the cognac itself has a pleasant mild taste with a nut-coffee aftertaste. Among the advantages, it is worth noting the complete absence of preservatives, artificial flavors and colorings.
11
Metaxa 7 * (Greece)
The Greeks know a lot about wine from the time of Antiquity, and today Greek alcoholic beverages are popular on the international market. Among them is a mixture of brandy and wine from special grape varieties.
Grapes are gaining strength on the mountain slopes, basking in the gentle southern sun, and then gives all the heat to a noble alcoholic drink. There are different varieties in the line, depending on the exposure time and additional components.
The brand has been known since the end of the XIX century, and in 1900 the first bottles under the name "Flying Brandy" went from the shores of the Mediterranean to the United States.
12
Huck-Gel (Azerbaijan)
Azerbaijani brandy, which was launched back in 1948. During this time, he captivated connoisseurs of elite alcoholic beverages.
The drink has a light amber saturated color. On the shelves you can find brands of 6 and 8-year exposure. The production uses selected grape varieties, a special blend, and the drink is aged in original barrels.
A recognizable chip was the tall bottles into which the alcoholic beverage is bottled. The aroma recognizes light fruity and chocolate shades. In the aroma there are spices, because what is the east without this ingredient.
13
Jatone VSOP (Crimea)
The brandy house "Tavria" in honor of J. Jaton, one of the founders of the production of alcoholic beverages in the Tavrian province, has released a line of luxury drinks Jatone.
Zhaton together with friends put all his strength and soul into the production of his favorite drink, improving production processes every year. Jaton's secrets are still used to blend cognac spirits, helping to create an exquisite drink that meets the high standards of French cognac.
14
Lezginka (Dagestan)
Kizlyar factory produces cognac under this brand since 1963. Before getting on the table, it is kept in barrels made only from Caucasian oak, cut down high in the mountains.
Traditional grape varieties add notes of hazelnuts, dried fruits, honey. It turns out a bewitching aroma and pleasant taste. Among the popular alcoholic beverages of Dagestan, this is the best-selling cognac.
It features a long finish and lack of taste of alcohols. Lezginka is aged for 6–7 years, and then bottled in volumes of 250 and 500 milliliters.
15
Courvoisier VSOP (France)
The brand is on the list of elite French cognacs. In addition, Courvoisier is in the Top 5 most popular cognac brands in the world.
One of the few French companies that does not have its own vineyards, and therefore purchases raw materials from famous vineyards in the south of France. The line includes drinks of different aging and prices.
The drink from special grape varieties and blend has a balanced taste, a long-lasting aftertaste and a heart-scenting aroma. Manufacturers did not puzzle over the design of the bottle, but the contents deserve the highest rating.
16
Agrav (North Ossetia)
Russian three-year-old cognac, the so-called southern type, is made according to classical recipes from the best grape varieties grown with the careful hands of Russian winegrowers.
It is obtained by blending with the use of high-quality distillers 3-4 years old. For the manufacture of barrels, oak from the Caucasus is used, and as expected, barrels are knocked down without a single nail.
Golden amber color caresses the eye, and a balanced taste pleasantly burns, leaves a pleasant aftertaste. The aroma contains fruity notes, shrouded in piquant bitterness. Stylish men's drink is well sold out within Russia and sold abroad.
17
White Stork (Moldova)
The legendary inexpensive Moldavian cognac, known since the days of the USSR. Now on the international market, most gins from Moldova are represented by this famous brand.
Various types of aging are produced using the best grape varieties growing in the sunny fields of Moldova. Masters have kept the secrets of preparing high-quality five-year and three-year-old cognac with a mild taste and pleasant aroma.
The brand has many national and international awards, and a small independent state thanks to the "White Stork" became famous in Europe and the New World.
18
Koktebel 5 * (Crimea)
Since 1958, a magnificent alcoholic beverage has been produced at the eponymous factory in the Crimean town, which has received excellent reviews from true connoisseurs of cognac.
For the double distillation of the wine product, special devices were created, and then the distiller obtained is kept in original barrels under the supervision of winemakers. Only Crimean grapes grown on the mountain slopes of the peninsula are used in production.
The first sip immerses you in the enchanting world of floral-fruit flavors, and the aftertaste intoxicates with chocolate notes. Koktebel has a mild taste, it is easy to drink, and a small price and quality become the hallmark of a drink from the Crimea.
19
Hayk (Armenia)
A young Armenian brandy brand that quickly occupied its niche in a number of inexpensive, but high-quality brands. They learned about the brand in 2001, when the plant introduced a new type of alcoholic beverage.
The lineup presents three types: with a five-year, seven-year and eleven-year exposure. The strength of a single brand and branded drinks does not exceed 400C. The softness of the drink and its pleasant taste made it popular among a female audience.
The taste is soft, and a noble bouquet of aroma immediately conquers even a sophisticated connoisseur. The aroma guesses nutty notes, original citrus and vanilla shades.
20
Kizlyar (Dagestan)
To complete our list is another alcoholic masterpiece of Dagestan winemakers. The gold-bearing drink first came off the assembly line in 1959, and 10 years later it gained worldwide popularity.
The collection of vintage cognac has 11 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals. This is an absolute record among all Russian cognacs. It was named after the city where it is made, glorifying the sunny region of southern Russia.
It is a fact that it was here that cognac was first produced in the modern territory of Russia. Kizlyar has a brownish amber-dark shade, a pleasant taste in which fruit shades are clearly felt.
In conclusion
Cognac is a drink with a character that requires special treatment in all details, from grape varieties to traditions of use. The aging period of cognac, subject to storage conditions, can reach more than 80 years, although there is a blend in the world that contains a few drops of 1800. On the planet, 80% of the population uses cognac in cocktails. So it is considered one of the most popular alcoholic drinks, but, as with any alcohol, it is necessary to remember a sense of proportion.
In our article, we wrote only about a few brands of a noble drink. It's almost impossible to write about everyone. There are many popular brands of American brandy, there is good Cypriot cognac, Italian and Spanish brands, but it is quite difficult to find them in the CIS. The editors of most-beauty.ru asks to write in the comments which in your opinion the best cognac in the world.