Characterized by its amber color and intense aroma, throughout history cognac has been associated with luxury and distinction. However, it is a versatile spirit that can be mixed to create a wide variety of cocktails, making it more accessible to all types of people.
Cognac is a type of brandy made from wine that is distilled and then left to rest in a barrel. To qualify as a cognac it must be made according to specific guidelines and with grapes from the Cognac region, a sub-prefecture in southwestern France.
This drink is made from three specific varieties of white grape: Collombard, Folle blanche and Ugni blanc (also known as St. Emilion), and the most appreciated type is the one that contains the largest amount of this last variety.
Cognac to accompany a meal
On some occasions you can replace the wine with cognac to accompany your lunch or dinner, since it has so many aromatic components that it can combine perfectly with many varieties of dishes.
Cognac is classified by age statement:
- Very Special Cognac: Aged for 2 years.
- Very Special Old Pale Cognac: Aged for at least 4 years.
- Napoleon Cognac: requires 6 years of aging.
- Extra Old Cognac: Aged for 10 years.
The older the cognac is, the richer, fruitier and more nutty it will be. Younger cognacs pair well with cheeses, seafood, or caviar, while older ones work perfectly with chocolate, mushrooms, and meats.. However, there are no written rules and its versatility allows you to try and choose your own pairings.
cocktails with cognac
Some experts believe that cognac may have the best spirit for cocktails, as different mixers, citrus fruits, or fresh herbs will bring out the flavors of each cognac.
A very popular drink in France arises from the mixture of cognac and must (grape juice used to make wine). According to legend, this concoction was discovered by a winegrower by mistake in 1589, but the result was so popular that it is still consumed today. It is drunk cold, like an aperitif wine.
An alternative cocktail that can be prepared with cognac is called Cognac Summit, which has lime zest, ginger, cognac, ice, lemonade and cucumber peel. Here you can see a video of how it is made.
straight cognac
If you bought one of the more expensive varieties of cognac, you don’t want to use it to make cocktails; that you should enjoy alone.
As for the glass to serve it, it is recommended that it be of a suitable size so that it fits well in the hand and that it has a wide base, so that the palm of the hand covers it and its heat helps to gradually release the aromas. of the drink
On the other hand, the mouth of the glass must be narrower than the base, so that the aroma does not evaporate quickly.
Finally, cognac can be taken as an aperitif, as a digestive or to accompany dinner. Experts recommend not using ice when drinking alone, although there is nothing written about tastes and if you feel like trying it with ice, you can do it to experiment and decide for yourself if you like it or not.
Or, if you want to try it cold without adding ice, an alternative is to freeze some grapes and add them to the glass instead of ice, so they cool the drink without losing its texture.
With information from Vine Pair and Huffington Post