The range of these products on store shelves is large, and customers often do not know what to prefer. Which cognac is the best - the most precious, or a famous brand, but at a reasonable price? What to buy as a present, an Armenian one, a familiar brand, or an imported one? Will you “run into” a fake?
It’s worth trying to understand the abundance of cognac products.
What do you need to know in order to make the right choice?
Before you decide which cool cognac to give as a gift or what to buy for your table, you should know what a “cool” drink means?
The bottle labels contain letters that are incomprehensible to many:
- V.S. Selection, de Luxe, Trois Etoiles – Very Special (score 2) - this means that the manufacturer presents an authentic product with an aging period of at least 2 years - with a shorter aging period it does not have the right to a prestigious name;
- Superior or score 3 – definitely 3 years;
- Very Superior Old Pale or VSOP, as well as Vieux, Very Old, Reserve – at least 4 years – score 4;
- V VSOP (account 5) Grande Reserve – from 5 years;
- Account 6 – X.O – Tres Vieux, Napoleon, Extra, Royal, Vieille Reserve – from 6 years.
These are the products that can be found on store shelves. Highly aged drinks already have their own names and are blended individually.
When choosing which cognac is the best, you should definitely know that “Napoleon” or, say, “Extra” is not a brand or mark, but each is only an indication of technological parameters.
When choosing a product, you should pay attention to the following factors.
You are allowed to experiment if you buy something for yourself. When you take an inexpensive brand as a gift, it is better to go for a VSOP of a famous brand. The price will be relatively cheap, and the likelihood of “running into” a fake will be reduced.
Exclusive varieties V VSOP or XO are now sold in a special design - often in tubes or barrels. Often the set also includes wine glasses. Such a gift is wonderful both to give and to receive.
Armenian cognac
This is the most famous brand, the one that can be seen on the shelves of our stores.
They are classified as follows:
- KV – ripening period 6-7 years;
- KVVK - a higher quality drink - from 8 to 10 years;
- KS – old cognac – aged up to 20 years.
Elite, very old Armenian cognac – aged for more than 20 years.
Simpler products from Armenian factories are sold with asterisks on the labels. The whole year is one star. Collectible Armenian cognacs are vintage - and each of them has its own unique name.
Which Armenian brand should you prefer in order to be able to enjoy the taste and aroma?
- of course, “Ararat” - this Yerevan plant also produces the brands “Armenia”, “Dvin”, “Three Stars”, “Five Stars”;
- line of the Armenian elite “Noah” - “Araspel”, “Ruler” and “Typical”.
These drinks are higher than the VSOP class, but in order not to make a mistake with the choice, it is advisable to know the secret of determining aging.
- If you turn the bottle upside down, the flowing drops should leave traces of grooves on the glass that do not drain immediately. The longer they hold on, the higher the endurance.
- When the liquid is already in the glass, you should pay attention to its transparency - it should be free of impurities and suspensions.
Good drinks with 3-5 stars are not bottled in ordinary bottles similar to vodka. To purchase such Armenian cognac is to deliberately lie to yourself.
What is the best Russian cognac?
If you want to support “your” manufacturer, you should pay attention to Dagestan cognac. The manufacturer of prestigious products is the cognac factory in Kizlyar.
Its markings are the same as the Armenian ones - that is, labels with stars. VSOP varieties - from 5 stars.
The most famous brands of Kizlyar:
- “Kizlyar” with a resinous vanilla bouquet of flavor – a blend from 10 years;
- “Dagestan” - KS - aging period of at least 13 years - vanilla-chocolate taste;
- “Kizlyar solemn” – from 17 years old.
Stamps made in Moscow are also valued.
- “Russia” with a subtle delicate aftertaste of honey – KS from 15 years; clear and transparent;
- “Bagration” - KS - very soft, dark amber color.
“Moscow Yubileiny” is recognized as one of the best Russian varieties with a decent aging of 25 years. The taste is oily, soft, the color resembles liquid dark amber.
Review of some varieties of decent drinks
Georgian varieties corresponding to the French VSOP and V VSOP categories: “Egrisi”, “Armazi”, “Gelata”, “Vartsikhe”. These are cool, decent drinks, aged from 6 to 10 years.
If we consider the products of KS and OS, then a well-deserved place among the world's manufacturers is occupied by:
- “Eniseli” - he was once even awarded the Stalin Prize;
- “Tbilisi” – aged for at least 18 years, tastes slightly astringent;
- “Gremi” has a very complex, brilliant taste – ether, vanilla, spices.
It is impossible not to notice the “Yubileiny” brand - it is included in the list of the best varieties both in Georgia itself and beyond its borders. Many, comparing it with Courvoisier, give it preference. This is a true masterpiece of manufacturers of decent drinks and it is very difficult to describe it; you can only evaluate it by trying it.
What is this, “Courvoisier”, with which “Yubileiny” is sometimes compared? Finally, real connoisseurs do not act this way - connoisseurs have completely different tastes. For non-experts, the cost is more indicative. VSOP “Courvoisier” is aged for at least 10 years, and VSOP – from 12. Its flavor bouquet includes cinnamon, meadow herbs, cardamom, vanilla, dried apricots, and dried apples. The cost of V VSOP starts from 2500 rubles per 0.5 l, VSOP from 2000 rubles.
The history of Hennessy is already more than 250 years old. This drink is considered the most popular in the world. Prestigious varieties are offered to customers in a bottle resembling a bunch of grapes, while ordinary varieties, say Hennessy Very Special, are offered in an ordinary pot-bellied container.
This manufacturer produces prestigious varieties starting from 3,000 rubles of the highest class and an easily excellent drink - aged for 2 years or more.
How to avoid falling for a counterfeiter when receiving Hennessy?
No matter how excellent and appetizing the drink in the bottle may be, in the absence of just one detail of the labeling, one can conclude that this is not Hennessey.
The nuances of meetings with a decent drink
In order to appreciate cognac for its superiority, it is necessary not only to learn how to choose it positively, but also to use it competently.
So, the basis for choosing a great drink:
- grooves on the bottle or even on the walls of the wine glass when it is carefully tilted, examining the clear liquid, which do not disappear within 5-12 seconds - it all depends on the shutter speed;
- transparency;
- absence of suspension and sediment - even if sellers claim that expensive old drinks must contain oak sawdust in the bottle, you should not believe it;
- hermetically sealed plug;
- an evenly pasted label under the excise stamp;
- The markings are indicated on the label and on the stopper.
If you still have doubts about the quality of the purchased cognac, then you need to pour a little onto the bottom of the wine glass and leave for 30-40 minutes. If during this time the original smell has not changed, no alcohol or chemical notes have appeared in the bouquet, you can safely drink.
The drink is usually poured into wide glasses called snifters. They are a wide glass on a stem.
They take the glass itself in their palm, warm it in their hands and slowly drink the contents, enjoying the aroma. The French are accustomed to “snack” cognac with a cigar, but in the CIS they choose lemon or chocolate.
Cognac rightfully occupies the honorary title of royal among others. Its exquisite taste and ideal strength will not leave almost anyone indifferent. Many people use this drink to express appreciation or gratitude. It is, in fact, a universal barter coin that will always come in handy.
Good cognac is a frequent guest at feasts and feasts. But all the positive qualities of this noble drink directly affect its cost. The price for one bottle can range from and end somewhere around $1000. Here his endurance, pedigree and elitism play a special role. Therefore, many consumers ask a completely logical question: “What is the best inexpensive cognac?” and in general, whether such a price concept is compatible with this drink in principle.
First, let's look at the features of cognac as such in order to narrow the range and cut off all kinds of legal “counterfeits” made from powder and other impurities, which some unscrupulous manufacturers do not disdain.
Features of the drink
Cognac is obtained through the secondary distillation of grape must. Then the resulting distillate is thoroughly cleaned and sent to special barrels (usually made of oak). Each type or subtype of drink is made from certain grape varieties. Moreover, the latter must have high acidity.
In order to determine which cognac is the best, including inexpensive ones, you need to carefully read the markings on the label. The specific quality, as well as the age of the drink, is indicated by specific abbreviations.
Cognac aging (symbol on the label):
- V.S (Special) - 2 years.
- S (Superior) - 3 years.
- V.O (Very Old) - 4 years.
- V.S.O.P (Special Old) - 5 years.
- V.V.S.O.P (Extra exposure) - 6 years.
- X.O (Very old) - more than 6 years.
The longer the drink is in the barrel, the brighter and richer its taste will be. Naturally, prices for two-year and six-year cognac vary greatly.
On store shelves you can see a fairly large assortment of this drink. The cost of some brands is sometimes prohibitive for domestic consumers; brands from Martell, Rémy Martin and Hennessy alone cost as much as flagship smartphones of famous brands.
As an alternative, people often choose inexpensive brands of cognac from local or lesser-known producers, fearing that they will run into a fake. In our realities, poisoning with ordinary colored ethyl alcohol is as easy as shelling pears, so it is better to give preference to large stores and specialized points of sale, where the seller cares about his reputation and values \u200b\u200bcustomers.
So, let's try to make a small rating of inexpensive cognacs (in Russia), where each drink has received awards at some exhibitions more than once and has a lot of positive reviews from consumers. In general, the concept of “inexpensive” for each individual person has its own financial equivalent, so we will take the average value - up to 1000 rubles.
- "Arcadia".
- "Tetroni".
- "Blades."
- "Lezginka".
- "Ararat".
- "White stork".
- Jatone X.O. Extra.
Let's take a closer look at each participant.
Jatone X.O. Extra
This inexpensive cognac is produced on the territory of Ukraine on the premises of the Tavria brand enterprise. The cost per unit (250 ml) does not exceed 200 rubles. The drink is aged for about six years, which is noticeable by its specific amber color and velvety taste.
It is also worth noting that the presence of milk and vanilla notes in the taste range makes the drink especially desirable among the fair half of humanity. In light of recent political events, this inexpensive cognac is rarely found on Russian territory, but large retail chains sell it.
"White stork"
The drink of Moldavian origin is distinguished by its light taste and specific color. The aging period of this inexpensive and high-quality cognac varies within five years. For a half-liter bottle of the famous drink you will have to pay about 500 rubles.
Such expenses more than pay for themselves at any feast, because you get a truly high-quality product that has proven its worth over the years. A special production technology, which uses unique varieties of light grapes, has made this inexpensive cognac the pride of Moldovan winemakers.
"Ararat"
Excellent Armenian and inexpensive cognac costing 400 rubles per 250 ml. The CIS countries have been drinking this drink for decades, and it can easily compete with Hennessy in quality thanks to the excellent combination of heady aromas of black currant and selected grapes.
Many ladies prefer to add this exquisite drink to coffee, where it begins to play with other aromas, revealing new tastes and emphasizing its individuality. So you don’t have to spend tens of thousands of rubles to taste elite, highly aged cognacs.
"Lezginka"
This drink from the Kizlyar enterprise has a distinct chocolate flavor, which is why ladies especially like it. The container has several degrees of protection, and it is reliable, which excludes counterfeiting and falsification. The last point is especially beneficial for sellers, which is why this cognac is very common in the assortment of domestic stores.
The cost of a half-liter bottle ranges from 600 rubles, which is quite acceptable for a domestic consumer and a drink of this level. Cognac is perfect for dessert or as a digestif.
"Blades"
This is five years old and one of the best among other representatives of this segment. The price for a half-liter bottle starts from 900 rubles and ends at around one and a half thousand, and the difference depends on the chosen flavor.
The drink has a distinct and chic taste that will not leave any man indifferent, and the bright and soft aroma will easily attract beautiful ladies to the table.
"Tetroni"
"Tetroni" is an excellent drink aged for five years. The cost of one bottle with a capacity of 0.5 liters does not exceed 1000 rubles. The tart taste of cognac and rich aroma stimulates the appetite and makes the body invigorate, so as a digestif it has no equal in its segment.
Most often it is served as an aperitif and it retains its admirers with the exquisite flavors of nutmeg and smoked plum. If you look at the sales statistics of large supermarkets and specialty stores, Tetroni looks like a clear leader.
"Arcadia"
This is the best inexpensive cognac that can be bought for 1000 rubles (250 ml). The drink is bottled at production facilities in Odessa. The distinctive features of Arcadia and its main feature are unique bouquets of flavors mixed in special proportions.
The drink is made from 10 types of alcohol, where each gram undergoes high-quality processing. “Arcadia” is especially popular among women, because it feels great in the company of dark chocolate and desserts.
Summarizing
The production of such a noble drink takes a lot of time and production effort, and also requires a lot of skills. Its cost simply by definition cannot be low. Yes, you can find really high-quality and inexpensive cognac, but the price of 100 rubles per bottle should definitely alert you.
It would also be a good idea to carefully examine not only the label, but also the container itself. The latter, as a rule, is specific to each manufacturer, so it is quite difficult to fake it. As for the rest, buy cognac only in trusted stores and retail outlets.
Cognac is one of the most popular strong drinks in Russia (after vodka, of course, it is difficult to compete with it in our country). And the fact is that cognac in Russia is represented by a very wide range: for every taste and every budget.
The trouble is that with so much cognac you can get confused. Therefore, today we will talk about how to choose cognac so that it does not disappoint you.
Origin
This is the first thing you should pay attention to. In general, many people do just that. But not many people know that cognac is a drink prepared only in France and only in the province of Cognac. Everything else that we see in our windows (Armenian, Georgian, Russian cognacs) is, by and large, brandy.
And if in the case of cognacs, those from France, you should have no doubt about their quality.
In all other cases, you will need to pay attention to the points that we list below, and you can also rely on the advice of friends/acquaintances/colleagues/anyone.
But you should know that the quality of brandy (everything that is not cognac) is poorly controlled. So the manufacturer has the right to use any raw materials and apply any technologies. And, as you understand, he is not responsible for the result. Some, for example, may not age the drink in a barrel, but simply add oak shavings for aroma and color.
Price
This is such a fairly simple indicator that in most cases you can safely rely on (by the way, not only when buying cognac). Real cognac cannot be cheap. As well as high quality brandy. Still, this is a costly production, good raw materials also cost money, and oak barrels are worth their weight in gold.
So suspiciously cheap cognacs of unknown production are taboo. Of course, you can take a chance and you may even find a good drink, but our advice to you is to be careful when choosing.
But this does not mean that expensive cognac will be of excellent quality. Especially if it is cognac from a well-known brand, but with a price higher than the market average. Unfortunately, in our country there are a lot of counterfeit products, so it is best to buy expensive elite cognacs in specialized stores, such as these. Where they can provide you with quality certificates.
Excerpt
Aging is everything about cognac. Aging determines the age of the cognac. The older the cognac, the tastier, more aromatic and generally more interesting it is.
With Russian, Armenian, Georgian “cognacs” everything is simple: the number of years is indicated by stars. The most common are 3 stars, 5 stars, 7 stars (three years, 5 years, 7 years, respectively).
French cognacs undergo strict qualifications that can probably be remembered
- V.S. (Very Special) - at least 2 years;
- Superior - 3 years;
- V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) - 4 years;
- V.V.S.O.P. (Very Very Superior Old Pale) - 5 years;
- X.O. (Extra Old) - 6 years and older.
But cognacs older than 6 years, if we are talking about French ones, and 10 years, if we are talking about other brandies, are usually not marked - they are simply marked with age. But, as practice shows, it is difficult to prove that this cognac is 40 years old (or any other age) by tasting.
If we talk about vintage cognacs from the post-Soviet space, they are labeled as follows:
- KV (Cognac Aged) - minimum 6 years;
- KVVK (Aged Cognac of the Highest Quality) - 8 years or more;
- KS (Cognac Old) - minimum 10 years;
- OS (Very Old) - 12 years or more.
Age is something that definitely shouldn’t be ignored, but you shouldn’t assume that only aged cognacs are good. Here, rather, you need to proceed from your personal wishes. Let's say, if you need an aromatic cognac that you can drink with dinner, then 3-5 year old cognac is quite suitable. But aged cognacs are more often chosen by connoisseurs. For those who are only casually familiar with cognacs, it will be difficult to understand why they overpaid.
Appearance
It’s strange to say this, but real cognac and brandy are sold only in glass bottles: no plastic.
Pay attention to the label: it should be glued evenly, no traces of glue - this is an indicator that this is a fake.
The cork can be made of wood, silicone or pressed sawdust. Just metal should make you doubt it.
There cannot be any precipitation in cognac. No haze: pure amber and brown shades. There must be light playing in it.
There is a small test of cognac: turn the bottle upside down: if a large drop falls from the bottom or oily traces appear, the cognac is good. Also, when turning over, large bubbles should rise first, and then small ones.
And further
Real, good cognac should have a pleasant aroma, without unnecessary impurities or foreign aromas. In this case, when heated, the aroma should change. There should be no alcohol or other aromas.
Rich color: from light amber to golden brown.
We hope that you will only come across good cognacs, and you can buy them at the WineStreet store.
It is believed that drinking expensive, aged cognac is a sign of luxury and prosperity.
Sometimes you want to treat yourself to this elite drink, but you don’t always have the means: in this case, you can buy inexpensive cognac.
To choose a drink for yourself or as a gift for a man, use the suggested tips and recommendations.
They will help you not make a mistake in your choice, and the result will bring true pleasure, especially if you know the rules of serving and consumption.
A good cognac will always help to lighten up a conversation with friends, but you should drink it in slow sips, gently swirling the glass in your hand.
This provides additional warmth, warming it up to room temperature.
In moderate doses, it is beneficial for blood vessels, so it is worth considering the detailed characteristics of the drink:
- The drink benefits the human body, but it is worth choosing a quality manufacturer so as not to stumble upon a fake.
Even budget cognacs can be good if you choose correctly.
- The bottle label always indicates the main characteristics: strength, number of stars, bottling date, GOST conditions, as well as age - for the best branded cognacs.
- The color is golden with a slightly amber tint. There should be no cloudiness in the bottle. It is unlikely that you will be able to check the quality in a store, but you can determine this at home.
To do this, pour it into a glass and put your fingerprint. On the other side of the glass, the imprint will be fully visible.
The strength varies from 38 to 40%, while a high-quality drink will not differ from a cheap analogue in strength.
When choosing products, you should also pay attention to the name - the list of manufacturers will be discussed further.
Popular cognac brands in Russia
Once in a liquor store, a person is immediately overwhelmed by the large number of brands and names.
- Drinks from inexpensive options from producers in the post-Soviet space.
This includes the Armenian Sargis - it can be five or three star, as well as Ararat - you will have to pay around 1000 rubles for a bottle.
Connoisseurs also highlight Noah Araspel from Armenia, Churchill from Russia.
- Aged. This includes options with an aging period of at least 6 years. Among the delicious ones, it is worth highlighting Noy Classic and Lezginka - from the Dagestan manufacturer Kizlyar Cognac Factory.
- Seasoned, high quality. Armenian cognac Ararat Akhtamar is highly valued by lovers of the elite drink.
Price per bottle starts from 1000 rubles, aging period is at least 8 years. Cognac from Crimea of the Ai-Petri brand has also proven itself well.
Azerbaijani and Georgian drinks in this category are also of high quality.
- Cognacs from France. Particular attention of connoisseurs is attracted by Hennessy - a sign of luxury and prosperity, belonging to the VSOP category.
Courvoisier is noted as a high quality variant and is classified in the VS category. French cognac Martel is considered one of the best in the world.
Moldavian cognacs are not usually called this way; they are classified as brandy.
Important! Before you buy a drink, be sure to check whether the excise stamp on the cork has been broken.
High-quality, but inexpensive cognac will bring more spiritual pleasure than vodka - after all, it is designed to show all the diversity of the taste of grapes.
How to choose?
It is very easy for trained specialists to choose a product in a store, but what about those people whose knowledge about the drink ends with the name? Then you should be guided by the presented criteria.
Note! Buy cognac only in trusted places - do not take products “from hand” or from stores that are not trustworthy.
Below are several main criteria for making a smart choice: they should be followed, especially if the drink is being chosen as a gift:
| Criterion | Description |
| Place of purchase | Trusted supermarkets or specialty stores |
| Price | A good drink cannot be cheap: special discounts can be found for holidays, such as New Year |
| Bottle | The cap must be well fixed - this is evidence of factory production |
| Label | The composition should not contain distilled alcohol and flavorings |
| Age | A good cognac will be aged for at least 6 years |
| Smell | The smell should be free of solvents and kerosene. |
| Taste | The drink can be sharp and soft, hot and woody - it all depends on the manufacturer and method of production. |
Submission rules
When serving, it is necessary to use special glasses - snifters. They have a wide base and sharply taper towards the top. Whiskey and rum are often served in such glasses. It is not advisable to drink cognac from glasses.
Here are the basic submission rules:
- The drink is poured just below the level of the widest part of the glass.
- Shake the bottle slightly before drinking and serving.
- To experience the full aroma and taste, cognac is drunk from a warm container.
- It is customary to drink the drink in its pure form after a feast.
Based on this drink, a large number of liqueurs, brandies and other types of alcohol are made.
Important! You should not abuse alcohol, especially if you have health problems.
Cognac freezes at temperatures from -25 to -28 degrees, provided that its strength is 40%.
What to use with?
As mentioned above, no appetizer is required for this noble drink. The French follow the "three C rule": they drink coffee, then drink cognac and smoke a cigarette.
Many are accustomed to drinking and snacking on cognac, here are some combinations:
- You can drink the drink together with juice, washing it down with main alcohol.
- Some people combine it with Cola.
- Others prefer to drink the drink cold.
- As a snack, use lemon slices, dark chocolate, hard cheese and nuts.
Inexpensive cognac can also be of high quality and tasty: if you follow all the suggested recommendations, you have a chance to enjoy this drink for little money.
Useful video
Cognac is an invention of French winemakers. Its homeland is the province of the same name, where this drink was first created, which today is popular among alcohol lovers around the world. Interestingly, any cognac produced outside this province is required to be called “brandy” on the international market. However, in the USSR there were Armenian, Georgian, and Moldavian cognac, and today these names are in effect in Russia. In this material we will talk about the best expensive cognacs produced directly in its homeland in France.
First place - Henri 4, Cognac Grande Champagne
Henri 4, Cognac Grande Champagne is the best cognac in the world, judging by its price. It was first prepared more than two hundred years ago, in 1776. Henry IV is the famous king of France in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was the direct ancestor of Claudine Daudenin-Boureau, who lived in the province of France's Cognac Grande Champagne. Interestingly, the head of this king was sold at auction several times; during the last sale (in 2008), its cost was approximately equal to a bottle of cognac named after him.
This drink is recorded on the pages of the book of records as the most expensive cognac. One copy was sold several years ago in Dubai for US$2 million.
The elite drink is bottled in decanters made of the highest quality platinum and 24 carat gold. In addition, the bottle is decorated with several thousand different precious stones, including six and a half thousand diamonds. The famous French jeweler Josse Devalos worked on the design of the drink.
Henri IV, Cognac Grande Champagne is based on elite alcohols aged for a century. The mass fraction of ethyl alcohol in the drink is 41%. Cognac is aged for one hundred years in special barrels that have been dried and exposed to oxygen for five years.
Today, one bottle of the drink is valued at 1 million 900 thousand US dollars.
Second place - Hennessy Beaute duSiecle Cognac
Another top class drink. Few other cognacs in the world can boast such a chic design. The drink is sold in crystal decanters specially created by Baccart, which is famous throughout the world for its products made from the highest quality crystal. But besides the outer cover, the drink is also famous for its excellent taste. The father of this cognac is the famous master of one of the most successful cognac houses - Jan Fiyu. Four dozen different alcohols were used in the production, the aging of which varies from 46 years to one century.
The cost of one bottle of this drink is estimated at 180 thousand US dollars. At the same time, there is no mass production; each bottle is made strictly according to individual order.
Third place - Remy Martin Pearl Louis 13
The third place is occupied by Remy Martin Pearl Louis 13 cognac, which is also an elite type of alcohol. This drink was created in a limited edition, where each bottle received its own individual serial number. A total of 358 bottles were produced, all of which have been sold to date. Each bottle has a unique, intricately shaped design called the “Black Pearl,” which is not surprising given the dominance of black in design. The same Baccarat cognac house is responsible for the creation of Remy Martin Cognac Black Pearl Louis XIII. The last copy of the drink was sold last year. It was sold at the airport in the Canadian city of Vancouver. The price of the bottle was 34 thousand US dollars. The buyers turned out to be a Chinese family from China.
Fourth place - Hardy Perfection-140 years
When creating the drink, rare grape varieties grown in an area called Grande Champagne are used. The mass fraction of ethyl alcohol is 41 percent, so this drink is classified as strong. The main distinguishing feature of Hardy Perfection 140 is its refined taste, which will certainly appeal to true connoisseurs of elite alcohol. The taste conveys hints of oak and coffee, and also has a chocolate aftertaste. It is believed that Hardy Perfection 140 is the oldest cognac to date. Each bottle is 140 years old. A total of three hundred of these bottles were produced, each of which has an official certificate stating its age.
Fifth place - Johnnie Walker: LeVoyage de Delamain
Johnnie Walker: LeVoyage de Delamain is another representative of elite cognacs. The price for one copy of this drink is seven and a half thousand dollars. Cognac is a combination of two well-known types of cognac spirits - Delamain and LeVoyage. This drink is sold in crystal decanters of 0.5 liters each. Almost all produced copies were bought up by collectors. Only a few have tasted it. According to their reviews, this Johnnie Walker: Le Voyage de Delamain has a very specific taste, containing hints of tobacco, coffee and spice.
The bottle has the shape of a round vessel, which is placed in an interesting shaped package, reminiscent of an accordion. The recipe for Johnnie Walker: LeVoyage de Delamain was created in the middle of the last century.
Sixth place - Martell Creation Cognac In Handcarved Baccarat Decanter
Martell Creation Cognac In Handcarved Baccarat Decanter starts the second top five in our ranking. The price for one bottle is seven thousand euros. This type of cognac is considered very rare, despite the fact that its recipe was created two hundred years ago, in the 9th century. To date, all copies have been bought up, mostly by collectors. The drink bottle has a round shape with a corrugated surface. The volume of one copy is 500 milliliters. Cognac is quite mild in taste, has a fruity, nutty hue, as well as a marmalade aftertaste.
Seventh place - Frapin Cuvée 1888
The seventh place in our ranking goes to Frapin 1888, which is also a very rare drink. It was created as a sign of respect to the famous Pierre Frapin, who at one time created an amazing cognac that was awarded gold at the Paris exhibition at the end of the 19th century. Frapin 1888 consists of cognac spirits aged a hundred years. It is based on rare grape varieties. Cognac is poured into decanters made of crystal. In addition, there is a spiral around the bottle made of pure gold of the highest standard. Decanters are placed in special boxes that resemble chests. The set also includes a pocket watch and a bottle of unique perfume. The price of all this happiness is six thousand US dollars. One bottle contains 700 milliliters of an excellent drink.
Eighth place - Hine Triomphe Talent De Thomas Hine Crystal Decanter
Eighth place belongs to the elite cognac Hine Triomphe Talent De Thomas Hine Crystal Decanter. At first glance, the appearance of the decanter, which is beautifully painted, catches your eye. Just above the middle there is a deer - a symbol of this drink. The bottle is housed in a unique box, which is also suitable for storing cigars. It is made of precious ebony with mahogany inserts.
Talent de Thomas Hine was made by two famous winemakers - the Hine brothers. In 1991, their house, which had already become famous for the production of elite alcohol, celebrated its bicentenary. In honor of this, Talent de Thomas Hine was created.
The drink comes with four tulip-shaped glasses made of high-quality crystal. Each bottle has its own number. As is the case with other elite alcohol, most of the copies were sold out in the collection, but those who have tried cognac note that it is an unusually tasty drink.
Ninth place - Jenssen Arcana
Jenssen Arcana takes ninth place in the ranking of the most expensive cognacs. It was created by the Jenssen cognac enterprise in southern France. Each bottle is aged for about a hundred years. The mass fraction of ethyl alcohol is 43 percent. The price of one copy is five thousand American dollars.
The name of the drink translates as “Secret”. In total, several hundred copies were created. Each package contains a heart-shaped decanter made of sapphire glass. There is a platinum coating on top.
The alcohol itself, which has a red tint, resembles the blood that fills the heart itself, which makes the Jenssen Arcana design even more attractive. The packaging is a handmade box made from mahogany. Each bottle is numbered, and its owner is provided with a certificate confirming quality.
Tenth place - Courvoisier L’Esprit Decanter
This is the cheapest cognac on this list, but even it is thousands of times more expensive than any Armenian, Georgian or Moldavian cognac that you can find on the shelf of a liquor store near your home. Its price is four thousand US dollars. The mass fraction of alcohol is 42 percent. The drink is aged for at least 75 years.
Connoisseurs note the rich taste of Courvoisier L’Esprit Decanter. It contains notes of hazelnuts and coffee, as well as a hint of tobacco smoke. In addition, Courvoisier L’Esprit Decanter has a fairly long aftertaste.
