Though the word "cognac" also has the right to be called only the drink given in the French province of the same name, but in shops still so call all drinks made on cognac technology. The grape spirit sustained in oak casks – cognac, drink rather refined and expensive – it often bring in the form of a gift that already speaks about its statusnost, but also often forge. Cognacs, quite good and available at the price, are manufactured in Armenia, but also they upon purchase in shop often are a counterfeit.
What the Armenian cognacs are
Unlike the French cognacs which aging are designated by obscure letters: V.S., V.S.O.P., V.O., V.V.S.O.P., X.O. and so forth, the Armenian cognacs are subdivided in this parameter only into three categories: ordinary, branded and collection.
The aging of ordinary cognacs is designated by a stars: 1 year – 1 asterisk. The minimum term of aging of cognacs of this "age category" - 3 years, the maximum not less than 5 years. The age of branded cognacs is designated by letters. If on a bottle it is written to "KV" - the cognac matured it means that before pouring on bottles he pined in an oak cask not less than 6 years. When its "conclusion" proceeded not less than 8 years, on a bottle "KVVK" - the cognac matured the superior quality will be written. The letters "KS" - cognac old – say that drink is matured within not less than 10 years, and "OS" - very old – not less than 20 years. Cognacs belong to collection 20 years which passed additional endurance in barrels or already in bottles within not less than 3 years are more senior.
As in shop to distinguish the real Armenian cognac from a fake
Unfortunately, the main part of the well-known cognac brands is on sale in quantities several times exceeding what is specified in reports of producers. Also the Armenian cognacs aren't an exception. Choosing drink in shop where there is no opportunity to estimate its gustatory qualities, at first pay attention to a bottle. Made of glass, it, nevertheless, has to look enough "щеголевато", without chips and cracks. Signature bottles with branded and collection cognac are decorated by a glass logo press of the producer.
Publication quality of the label has to be faultless – paper of good quality, paints bright, letters accurate. The label has to be pasted on all surface, through it glue shouldn't appear. Examine a stopper – it has to sit densely and damages on it are excluded. As indirect confirmation of authenticity coincidence specified on the label or a box of places where cognac was made and poured can serve. The cognac which is especially matured has rather high density. Therefore if you take a bottle in a hand and you will sharply turn it upside down, liquid shouldn't flow down on walls, and dense weight to separate of bottle day. At the same time at first large air bubbles have to rise up, and then and smaller are an indicator of density of drink.