Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Attention:this article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Cognac is a brandy produced in the vicinity of the French city of the same name. It is created in the process of double distillation of white wine, resulting in a product containing about 40% alcohol. Cognacs are known for their rich structure and rich taste and aroma, therefore they are usually considered an after-dinner drink. To learn how to drink cognac, follow these tips.

Steps

1. 1 Choose the cognac to drink. Cognacs are divided into categories depending on aging:
   • A VS (Very Special) cognac is a brandy that has been aged for at least 2 years.
   • Cognac class VSOP (Very Special Old Pale - "Very special old light"). Its aging is at least 4 years.
   • Cognac category XO (Extra Old - "Extremely old"). The age of such cognac is 6 and more years. Some luxury blends of XO cognac have a shelf life of 20 years or more.
2. 2 Find the right glass. Traditionally, connoisseurs of cognac prefer a tulip-shaped glass, but low spherical glasses will also work.
3. 3 Pour about 25 milliliters of brandy into a glass.
4. 4 Let the cognac warm with the warmth of your hand.
   • Hold a glass of cognac in your hand for about 10 minutes. Grasp it from below so that it is in contact with your palm. This will help warm the drink to room temperature - approximately 21ºC.
5. 5 Take a look at the color reflected by the cognac. By it you can find out the age of the drink.
   • The straw yellow color means young cognac.
   • Gold, amber or reddish brown hues are the hallmarks of older cognacs.
6. 6 Enjoy the aroma of cognac. Slowly inhale its scent, known as "montant odor" - "upward fragrance." Depending on the blend, it will range from floral to fruity. Floral scents can remind you of violets or roses, while fruity scents can evoke associations with grapefruit or plums.
7. 7 Smoothly swirl the cognac in the glass. This will help release a variety of flavors.
8. 8 Breathe in the cognac scent again. You can hear some new notes after mixing the layers of this drink.
9. 9 Take a small sip of cognac. He will give you the opportunity to reveal all the flavors that this cognac has to offer. Let it flow slowly across the sky and envelop it so you can enjoy its intricate structure.

Tips

• Cognac goes well with coffee, cigars and chocolate.
• Cognac can be mixed with a variety of cocktail ingredients.
• Check out the terminology associated with cognac tasting. For example, "aftertaste" is the taste that remains on the palate after a sip of cognac.

Warnings

• Drink cognac in moderation. Drinking it too hard can lead to alcohol poisoning and possibly death.

What do you need

• Cognac
• Wineglass