Category: Life>> Food/Cooking
Problem description:
In terms of color, taste, age?
Analysis :
X0 is a classification of cognac, not all brandy. According to the length of time the original wine has been stored in oak barrels, cognac is divided into many levels. From low to high, there are VS level (ie three-star), VSOP level, XO level, EXTRA level, etc. The VS grade refers to those Cognacs whose original wine is less than 4 and a half years old. The VSOP grade refers to the Cognacs whose original wine is between 4 and a half to 6 and a half years old. The XO grade refers to those Cognacs whose original wine is at least 6 and a half years old. Above (note the "above"). The longer the cognac is stored in oak barrels, the better the quality and the higher the price.
All brandy distilleries use letters to distinguish quality. For example: E stands for ESPECIAL (special)
F stands for FINE (good)
V stands for VERY (very good)
O stands for OLD (old)
S stands for SUPERIOR (superior)
P stands for PALE (light and old)
X stands for EXTRA (extra)
XO stands for the year of sprinkling, like China Ten years of brewing, twenty years of brewing and so on.
XO is a grade representation of grape distilled liquor (brandy). It is the abbreviation of Extra Old, which means "extremely aged".
Brandy is generally divided into three grades:
The first level is V.S, which is three stars. French laws stipulate that the minimum age of the original wine when blending Cognac is at least 1.5 years.
The second level, V.O, V.O.P, V.S.O.P, etc., the minimum age of the original wine when blending is at least 4-4.5 years.
The third level, X.O, Napoleon, Exatra, etc., are very old aged brandies, called For high-quality or top-quality products, the minimum wine age when blending is more than 6 years.
Therefore, there is a difference between X.O and vintage wine. Vintage wine refers to non-distilled wine made from grapes harvested in a certain year
XO is not a brand, it is a grade for cognac and other strong wines made from grapes. It is based on the length of time the wine is stored in oak barrels. XO has the longest storage time, XO is the English abbreviation for aged wine, followed by XOP, VS, and the shortest storage time is Napoleon.
X.O. and V.S.O.P are all levels of brandy storage years. They are not levels of red wine years. This is easily confused by many people!
Distilled Liquor
1． Brandy
The Origin of Brandy
There are many theories about the origin of brandy. The most credible one is that smart Dutch merchants transported wine and reduced the volume of transportation during the war. So I came up with a good idea: distill the wine before transporting it, and then add water to it when it reaches the destination, which greatly reduces the volume. When they reached the other side, the merchant opened the lid of the wine and found that it was more intense and fragrant than before. He sold it directly on the market and was loved by most people, thus officially starting the production of brandy.
Some people say that brandy is the water of life, others say that brandy is burning wine, and others say that brandy is the soul of wine. If wine (fermented wine) is an elegant and tender lady, then brandy is undoubtedly a gentleman full of ***. I was lucky enough to meet four such French romantic men a few days ago.
The first is Martell. Founder of the oldest cognac house. Martell was born in 1694. His father was a navigator and businessman. After seven years of working in Guernsey, Martell decided to come to Cognac to make his own career. Cognac is a small town in southwest France, the best place to produce brandy. Only the brandy here can be called Cognac. Today, Martell has 700 hectares of vineyards, and 98% of its grapes are Ugni Blanc. They use fine-grained Torrance oak barrels. Limousin oak evaporates less and the wine lasts longer. At present, the main operations of the company are still controlled by the family, with Patrick Martell, the eighth generation, as general manager.
The second Hennessy. He is distinguished by the family emblems - arms and battle axe. This may be related to the fact that Richard Hennessy was the commander of the battalion under the French Emperor Louis XV. When it came to Maurice Hennessy, he invented the grading system and used stars to mark the quality of the wine in 1865. This system was quickly adopted by others. Hennessy only uses Limousin oak barrels from the forests of central France. In order to ensure that there is no shortage of wood in the future, they purchased 1,112 hectares of woods that will mature in 2020. Hennessy also has its own barrel factory. Each board should be roasted for 12-14 minutes to obtain a stronger roasted wood aroma.
The next two are the brothers of Remy Martin. One is V·S·O·P (4-5 years old), the other is XO (8-12 years old). Brandy will not change on its own after bottling, and brewing only refers to the time in oak barrels. France *** has very strict requirements on wine brewing and quality, especially in the Cognac region. It is divided into six areas according to the quality. The best is the center of Cognac, called "Grand Champagne", followed by "Petite Champagne". The wine mixed with half of the two regions is called "Special Champagne Cognac". Currently only Remy Martin can hold this title. This is also one of Remy Martin’s most expensive assets. Today its quality grades include: VSOP, Napoleon (targeting the Japanese market), XO, Extra, and Louis XIII. The most expensive among them is Louis XIII, which has been stored for more than 50 years and is bottled in Baccarat crystal.
Rémy Martin has a specialized wine barrel manufacturing plant, and the raw materials must be oak trees that have grown for more than a hundred years in the neighboring Limousin area. After the oak is sawn into strips of varying sizes, it needs to be air-dried outdoors for more than three years to release the bitter smell in the oak. Nails and glue are never used when making barrels, only white rattan hoops are used. The capacity is smaller than that of ordinary wine barrels to increase the contact area between the wine and the barrel wall. After being stored in the barrel for several years, the colorless shochu becomes Golden amber color, greatly increasing the fragrance of the wine
Classic Brandy
RemyMartin Special
Remy Martin X O
Level: Premium Champagne Cognac
Description: It is brewed in its longest XO, mellow and rich aroma. Due to long-term storage, the strong aroma of oak barrels and the floral aroma of premium champagne cognac can cooperate with each other to achieve the perfect effect. . It takes a cellar master a lifetime to achieve this perfect combination.
Tasting: Deep golden, amber, flushed hue, as clear as crystal. It has subtle notes of narcissus and jasmine, mixed with aromas of wine and fresh walnuts. Light and elegant oak aroma with hints of vanilla and chocolate. There are also luscious hard-shell fruits like apricot and fig, and the spice of saffron. The taste is very fragrant. Years of aging make it rich in content and achieve a state of perfect harmony. The lingering aftertaste can last for more than ten minutes.
Hennessy X.O
Hennessy The Cognac is made from [Eaux-de-vie] from the region, and the aging time is measured in decades. It is blended with thousands of carefully selected [Eaux-de-vie]. It can be called the finest Cognac. This cognac exudes a unique aroma and lingers in the mouth for a very long time.
Tasting: Deep golden yellow, fiery red, reddish brown, clear and flawless. It has a strong aroma of wine, walnut, narcissus and jasmine, with hints of passion fruit and lychee. It has oak notes mixed with vanilla and cigar box notes. It is also easy for drinkers to detect the elegant aromas of tailflower, violet and rose, as well as the light resinous aroma. The mellow Linmaoshan oak makes the wine linger in the mouth and transforms into the taste of sandalwood. The aroma and wine taste are extremely delicate, and the aftertaste can last for an hour.
Golden King Martell
Golden King Martell
Legend has it that in ancient times there was a god who turned into gold and came to earth to pursue the love he longed for. . Beautiful legends symbolize the eternal and precious dreams of mankind. Gold is a legendary and highly praised metal.
Just because of the eternal steadfastness of gold, the greedy soul will reject the temptation of nobility and wealth one by one.
Cognac is the crystallization of the patient pursuit of perfection. It is a symbol of wealth and honor. Only because of the amazing cognac can brandy be immortal.
Today, in order to share a beautiful dream with you, the Martell family specially combines the perfect Cognac with eternal gold, just like the persevering gold diggers and the slow tasting bartenders , using actions to compose the legendary history of mankind. The Martell Distillery also created a cognac that is treasured in the world-Golden King Martell for its ideals and lofty aspirations.
Rémy Martin Louis XIII
Rémy Martin Louis XIII
Level: Grande Champagne Cognac
Description: Pure Cognac It is made from [Eau-de-vie] from the center of the region [Grand Champagne]. The aging time is measured in decades. It is blended with thousands of selected [Eau-de-vie]. It can be called the finest Cognac. Fine wines and famous bottles complement each other. Rémy Martin Louis The aroma and aftertaste in the mouth last for a very long time.
Tasting: deep golden yellow, fiery red, reddish brown, clear and flawless. It has a strong aroma of port wine, walnut, narcissus and jasmine, with hints of passion fruit and lychee. It has oak notes mixed with vanilla and cigar box notes. It is also easy for drinkers to detect the elegant aromas of iris, violets and roses as well as the light resinous notes. The mellow Linmaoshan oak makes the wine linger in the mouth and transforms into the taste of sandalwood. The aroma and wine taste are extremely delicate, and the aftertaste can last for more than an hour.
Hennessy Paradis
The Hennessy Cup is always there
In years of good grape harvest, the Hennessy family usually collects several barrels of the finest dry brandy, thus establishing a A precious wine cellar with a history of nearly two hundred years. In 1979, the Hennessy family decided to use these precious resources to create the most fragrant cognac - Hennessy Cup Moting. The "water of life" selected from Bei Moting is aged from 50 to 100 years, and then stored in oak barrels. This process gives Bei Moting a unique refreshing aroma.
How to identify the authenticity of Cognac. The most counterfeited foreign wine in mainland China is Cognac, and the counterfeiting of Cognac is concentrated in three brands: Hennessy, Remy Martin and Martell. This is because these three brands are the most well-known, have good quality and relatively high prices. These brands are divided into many grades according to the number of years they have been stored in oak barrels. For example, Hennessy has ICHARD, XO, SOV, VSOP, etc., and Remy Martin has LOUIS X Ill, XO, and Rémy Martin Premium CLUB. , VSOP, Samsung VS, etc. Martell has XO, CORDON BLEU, Baume & Mercier NOBLIGE, VSOP, etc. The prices of these grades are also from high to low. In the first quarter of 2001, during the national supervision and inspection of famous liquors and foreign wines, counterfeit foreign wines were found in shopping malls, hotels and restaurants of different grades in Beijing. Relatively speaking, there were more counterfeit cases in hotels and restaurants.
Several common methods for identifying cognac include:
(1) According to relevant regulations, foreign wine labels must have Chinese logos and health inspection and quarantine stamps, so there is no Chinese Foreign wines with labels and health inspection and quarantine stamps may be fake wines.
(2) The authentic label has clear handwriting and good outlines; the fake wine label has blurred and irregular handwriting.
(3) The genuine liquid is golden yellow and translucent; the fake liquid is dark and has poor luster.
(4) The metal anti-counterfeiting cap on the genuine bottle cap is integrated with the bottle cap, while the anti-counterfeiting cap on the fake wine is glued on.
(5) The anti-counterfeiting marks of genuine products can change in different patterns at different angles, and the anti-counterfeiting threads can be torn off; the anti-counterfeiting marks of fake wines are dull, the pattern change is not obvious, and the anti-counterfeiting threads are sometimes printed on of.
(6) Genuine metal anti-counterfeiting caps have strict workmanship, clean plastic sealing and good gloss; while fake wine bottle caps have rough workmanship, poor plastic sealing material, are thicker, have poor gloss, blurred trademarks and poor three-dimensionality.
2. American and Canadian Whiskey
■ American Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon whiskey originated from the town of Bourbon in Kentucky, USA. Most of the ancestors of the residents of Bourbon immigrated to the United States in the 16th and 17th centuries AD. French immigrant, named in memory of his native Bourbon dynasty. The production of whiskey using corn as raw material in the United States began in 1789, founded by Pastor Jeriga in Galt Town, Kentucky, USA. The early corn whiskey gradually evolved into bourbon whiskey through continuous research and improvement by later generations.
In 1964, federal regulations strictly stipulated that bourbon whiskey must be distilled from fermented corn paste, rye, and barley malt, of which the corn content must reach more than 51% (generally, bourbon whiskey must have a corn content of 51% or more). 65%～80%). In addition, the distilled alcohol must be aged in externally barbecued white oak barrels for more than two years - the aromatic quality obtained through the above process can meet the national legal standards for American bourbon whiskey.
■ Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey
Founded in 1795, Jim Beam Distillery is one of the oldest companies in Kentucky. The unique family brewing recipe of American Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey has been passed down from father to son for six generations. It is one of the oldest remaining famous brands of American Bourbon Whiskey. Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey (packaged on white background) has a aging period of up to four years, and its quality is extremely smooth and mellow. It is a representative brand of American bourbon whiskey. The 40% strength of the whiskey is among the softer tasting types of bourbon whiskey.
■ Canadian Whiskey
The development of Canadian whiskey is closely related to the United States. On average, about 70% of Canadian whiskey production is exported to the United States every year. In the mid-18th century, Canada's first distillery was established in Quebec to produce whiskey. In the early days of Canadian whiskey, rye was used as the main raw material, so the wine showed a heavier grain flavor. The production of whiskey using corn as the main raw material began in the 19th century, and the taste was softer.
During the U.S. Prohibition Act, Canadian whiskey greatly expanded the U.S. market through smuggling. Even today, the United States is still the largest exporter of Canadian whiskey. The mild taste of Canadian whiskey is different from the strong taste of American bourbon, making it an excellent choice for non-hard whiskey lovers.
3. Gin
Gin was first produced in the Netherlands in the 16th century. It is a spirit distilled from fermented grain juice. The cereals used are corn, barley, wheat and rye. Its main flavoring substance is juniper berries, so it is also called gin. There are also other flavored plants including coriander, black currant, calamus (root), sweet orange peel, mugwort, cardamom, almond, angelica, fennel, lemon peel, etc. Traditionally, we collectively refer to the collection of nuts, spices, berries, roots and bark used for flavoring as "the collection of botanical medicines".
The alcohol content of gin is 34% to 47%. Its main producing countries are England, the Netherlands, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Japan and India.
Main production processes:
1. Pulping
(1) The grains are mashed, soaked in hot water and pressure cooked.
(2) Add barley malt.
2. Fermentation
Add artificial cultured yeast.
3. Distillation
Using a patented still process, a high-quality neutral spirit (96% alcohol content) is obtained.
4. Distillation and flavoring
Some processes involve distilling juniper berries and other botanical medicinal materials together with the distilled spirits once or several times. An additional step is to distill the botanicals and then add the distillate to the rectified spirit.
5. Add water
Add soft water to reduce its alcohol content to achieve the concentration people require.
6. Filtration and bottling
Special matters
1. Category
(1) London dry gin. It is a colorless dry gin that is lightly flavored and the base spirit is absolutely pure (90% alcohol by volume) as it has been distilled three times.
(2) Dutch gin.
It is a strongly flavored and very aromatic gin with an alcohol content of 35%. This is due to the fact that, subject to its legal constraints, the aging process is also carried out in oak barrels under state supervision.
(3) Old Tom Gin. Gin is sweetened with syrup.
(4) Wild plum gin. It is a spirit based on gin and flavored with wild plum.
2. Special attention
Distillation refers to the process of removing impurities still left in alcohol after distillation.
Light-body gin
Light-body gin was first used by manufacturers near London. They printed LONDON DRY GIN on the bottle label, but now the United States or other countries< /p>
The country’s wine makers also use the latter two English words. All gin wines on the market use the word DRY, and the bottle label says DRY
CIN, EXTRA DRY GIN, VERY DRY GIN, LONDON DRY GIN, etc. are actually the same property, indicating that this The wine is not
sweet and does not have the original taste.
Plymouth Gin
In addition to London Gin, Plymouth Gin in England also produces Gin, which is thicker and more fragrant than London Gin.
Old Tom Gin
Old Tom is a sweet gin made in London. There are several legends about this wine. Among them, what LORD KINROSS recorded in his book is more logical. He believed that Old Tom was originally a spy for the British government. He rented a house in London and put up a cat-shaped sign to sell wine. There were two pipes connecting his house. When passers-by want to buy wine, they can throw money into the thick tube in the upper cat's mouth and mutter something, and then he will pour the wine out from the thin tube below, and the buyer will drink into the tube. This may also be automatic. The ancestor of the vending machine.
American Gin
American Gin is slightly different from London Gin, but both wines can be made into good mixed drinks.
Dutch Gin
The taste of Dutch Gin (HOLLAND) or (DUTCH GIN) is sweet with a hint of sweetness. It is very refreshing whether you drink it neat or with ice cubes. It's basically made from barley malt and gets its flavor from juniper berries. The Netherlands is the only country with a specialty liquor store. It has been chilled or added with ice cubes and a slice of lemon. It is the best substitute for spicy martini (DRY MARTINI).
Gin does not need to be aged. Its delicious taste is distilled from a variety of spices. However, some gin in the United States will be aged for a period of time and will become light golden after aging
The color is called GOLDEN GIN. Although it has been aged, it is not indicated on the trademark. If it is a light yellow gin made in the Netherlands, it is dyed with caramel
. The most popular gin cocktail is the martini, but it is just one of hundreds of gin cocktail recipes.
Classic Gin
GORDON'SGIN
Gordon's Gold
The pioneers of gin in the 16th century would Gin was introduced to England from the Netherlands and became the British national drink two hundred years later. In 1769, Alexander Gordon founded his felt distillery in London. Gordon's gin is an alcohol that has been re-distilled and blended with juniper berries and a variety of herbs. Today, Gordon Gin has become the best-selling gin in the world, with sales of up to four bottles per second per day.
Gordon Gin and Tonic: G O R D O N ‘S G I N A N D T O N I C
One part Gordon Gin, six parts tonic water, pour into a tall glass, add ice and a slice of lemon.
TANQUERAY
Tanqueray
In 1898, Gordon Company merged with Charles Tanqueray Company to form Tanqueray Gordon Company. Tantric gin is the most famous gin among gins. It is thick and dry, with a unique aroma of gin and other vanilla ingredients. It is now one of the most famous imported gins in the United States and is widely praised by people from all over the world.
Dry Martini: D R Y M A R I N I
Two ounces of Gordon or Tanqueray gin, one-eighth of extra dry Martini whiskey, ***infused Stir in a glass with half a cup of crushed ice and garnish with olives.
Beefeater Gin
British Guard
British Guard is the representative brand of British gin. Its pure taste makes it an ideal choice for gin lovers. , it is suitable for drinking neat and as a base for making various cocktails. Add a few slices of lemon and a few ice cubes to the clean drink and the feeling is indescribable. It is suitable for mixing any cocktail with gin as the base liquor. This may be the reason why people have always loved the British Guards very much. Have you tried it?