Brandy, also known as cognac, is a distilled spirit made from high-quality wine. Most brandies have an alcohol content of around 40%. Brandy production came about because people wanted to find a way to make their wine last longer. In the beginning, the production of brandy hasn’t success, until it turned out that the drink could mature well in oak. This brandy has become an indispensable part of the world of spirits and many countries have their own traditions and produce brandy in a unique way. Although France and Spain both make good brandies, Armenia really stands out. Yerevan Brandy Company, which has recently become a part of Pernod Ricard, is by far the most famous brandy producer in Armenia.
The History of Ararat Brandy
The Ararat brandy has now developed various types of brandy. Ararat has been making Armenia’s best brandy since 1887. Ararat refers to the Ararat mountain, the national symbol. For the production of their brandies, they use the best quality indigenous white grapes, supplemented with nuts, local fruits and spring water. The Ararat Brandy is characterized by a soft taste and a slightly sharp aftertaste. Therefore you can combine Ararat Brandy excellently with a tasty dish or as a digestif after a meal. In our webshop you will find a beautiful collection of brandy that you can purchase separately or as a gift box including matching glass.
The production process of brandy
True wine connoisseurs will recognize the brandy production process. To make brandy, fermentable sugars are needed, which are contained in the grapes. The skin of the grape contains a lot of yeast. These ingredients already come together during the pressing of the grapes. Wine is made in the same way. During brandy producing, it is important to accurately adhere to the amount of sugars and the fermentation period. This is how the best brandy is created. After the fermentation process is ended, distillation begins. Each country has its own techniques and let the drink ripen in different ways. This gives the brandy its unique flavor. For example, France chooses to age brandy in oak barrels, while Spain has the drink aged in sherry barrels. Armenia produces Ararat brandy in the French cognac way, but this one on Caucasian oak, which gives the alcohol its typical flavor character.
That’s how you drink it!
Brandy is usually served in a wide-bottomed, short-stemmed glass at room temperature. To fully enjoy the brandy, hold your glass in your hands before taking a sip. This will only enhance the taste of the drink. You should drink brandy slowly and keep it in your mouth for a while before swallowing. In this way you can properly take in and taste the flavor.
It is possible to drink brandy pure, also called “neat”. You can also combine brandy with other (non-alcoholic) drinks, make a brandy-based co*cktail. In our previous blog, we described some delicious recipes for brandy co*cktails. Which is your favorite?
Which brandy will you try?
We only offer top quality brandies on our webshop. We have carefully put together our Ararat Brandy offering, so you can enjoy a really good distilled drink. View our range and order easily online.
