What is the difference between cognac and brandy?
Because many varieties of cognac and brandy look and taste quite similarly, it is no wonder that many people do not know the difference between them. The short answer is that cognac is actually a type of brandy that is produced in a certain region of France. Yet there are more accurate differences between cognac and brandy. The production of cognac is governed by laws stipulated by the French government, which means that all cognacs are made of specified grape varieties and monitor the prescribed production process. Brand production, on the other hand, is not regulated by such strict laws, and therefore the components, production process and the resulting quality of the brand can be very different. Enterprising merchants concluded that distillation wine or its heating until part of its water content has evaporated, reduces the amount of space to reduce transport costs. These merchants originally planned to dilute this concentrated wine with water as soon as they reached their goal. However, after a tasting of concentrated wine, traders found that distillation processes and agingThey changed into a unique drink that could enjoy without adding water. Brandy was born.
The difference between cognac and brandy begins with the fact that according to French law, the name Cognac can only be given to the brands produced in the cognac area of Western France. This geographical requirement is largely due to the fact that the chalk soil in this area sucks the resulting brandy with a unique taste. Furthermore, cognac must be made mainly of three grape varieties: Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Folle Blanc.
During the fermentation of a cognac or process in which the hipper juices become, no fermentation agents can be added to the juice. Cognac must also be distilled in a specific type of copper, called an alleembic. After distillation, cognac must be aged in oak barrels for at least two years, although some cognacs may be aging for 40 years or more.
While cognac and brandy are technIické brandy, the process for the production of non -clothing brandy is not regulated by strict laws that control cognac production. The word brandy means a spirit consisting of distilled wine. In addition to this basic definition, however, the ingredients, production process and brand quality can be very different.
Most brands are made of grapes, but some are made of fermented, distilled juices of other fruits such as peaches or blackberries. Furthermore, many countries do not legally require brandy to age, although in some countries, such as the US, a product that has not been aging must be on its label must bear the word "immature". Despite the insufficiency of the aging, however, many brands are in wooden barrels for several months. In some cases, manufacturers add to Brandy's coloring book, which was not aged to give him a rich golden tone of the product that was after a considerable time at the age of the barrel.