F stands for FINE
V stands for VERY (very good)
O stands for OLD
S stands for SUPERIOR
P stands for PALE and old
X stands for EXTRA.
XO is a kind of grade representation of grape distilled liquor (brandy), which is the abbreviation of Extra Old, meaning "extremely old".
Brandy can be roughly divided into three grades:
The first grade is V.S, that is, three stars. According to relevant French laws, the minimum age of the original wine when cognac is blended is at least 1.5 years.
The second grade is V. The minimum age of the original wine at the time of blending is at least 4-4.5 years.
The third grade, X.O, Napoleon, Exatra, etc., are very old brandies, which are called fine or best, and the minimum age at the time of blending is over 6 years.
Therefore, X.O is different from vintage wine, which refers to non-distilled wine brewed from grapes harvested in a certain year.
It depends on how long the wine is stored in oak barrels. XO is the longest storage time, XO is the English abbreviation of aged wine, followed by XOP and VS, and Napoleon is the shortest storage time.
X.O. and V.S.O.P are the grades of brandy storage year, but they are not the grades of red wine year, which is easily confused by many people!
Distilled wine
1. Brandy
The origin of brandy
There are many theories about the origin of brandy. The most credible one is that the clever Dutch businessman came up with a good way to transport wine and reduce the transport volume in the war: distil the wine and transport it, and then mix it with water at the destination, which greatly reduced the volume. When they reached the other shore, the merchants opened the lid of the wine and found that it was stronger and more fragrant than before, so they sold it directly in the market, which 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 still others say that brandy is the soul of wine. If wine (fermented wine) is an elegant and tender lady, then brandy is undoubtedly a passionate gentleman. I was lucky enough to meet four such French romantic men the other day.
the first place is Martell. Founder of the oldest cognac factory. Martell was born in 1694. His father is a navigator and businessman. After working in Guernsey for seven years, Martell decided to come to Cognac to fight for his own world. Cognac is a small town in southwest France, which is the best place to produce brandy. Only the brandy here can be called cognac. Today Martell has 7 hectares of vineyards, and 98% of the grapes are Ugni Blanc. They use fine-grained Torrance oak barrels, which evaporate less than limousin oak and last longer. At present, the main operation of the company is still controlled by the family, and Patrick Martell, the eighth generation, is the general manager.
the second Hennessy. His characteristic is the family emblem-the arm and the tomahawk. This may have something to do with Richard Hennessy being the battalion commander under the French emperor Louis XV. When Maurice Hennessy arrived, he invented the grading system, and in 1865, he used stars to mark the quality of wine. This system was quickly adopted by others. Hennessy only uses limousin oak in the forest of central France to make barrels. In order to ensure that there is no shortage of wood in the future, they bought 1112 hectares of forests that will mature in 22. Hennessy also has his own barrel factory. Each board should be baked with fire for 12-14 minutes to obtain a strong smell of roasted wood.
The next two are brothers of Remy Martin. One is V·S·O·P (4-5 years in storage), and the other is XO(8-12 years). Brandy will not change itself after bottling, and the storage only refers to the time in oak barrels. The French government has strict requirements on the brewing and quality of wine, especially in the cognac area. According to the quality, it is divided into six areas, the best is the center of cognac, which is called "big champagne area", followed by "small champagne area". The half-brewed wine in the two regions is called "special champagne cognac" according to government regulations. At present, only Remy Martin can be crowned with this title. This is also one of the expensive capitals of Remy Martin. Today, its quality grades are: VSOP, Napoleon (the target is the Japanese market), XO, Extra and Louis XIII. Among them, Louis XIII, the most expensive, has been brewed for more than 5 years, and it is bottled in Bacara crystal.
remy Martin has a special barrel factory, and the raw material must be oak trees that have been growing in the neighboring limousin area for more than 1 years. After oak is sawn into strips of different sizes, it needs to be air-dried outdoors for more than 3 years to give off the bitter taste in oak wood. When making barrels, nails and glue are never used, only white rattan can be used, and its capacity is smaller than that of ordinary barrels, so as to increase the contact area between wine and barrel wall. After being stored in barrels for several years, colorless shochu becomes golden amber. Greatly increased the fragrance of wine
classic brandy
RemyMartin Special
Remy Martin XO
Grade: Premium Champagne Cognac
Description: The longest XO brewed is mellow and full of fragrance. Due to long-term storage, the strong fragrance of oak barrels and the floral fragrance of Premium Champagne Cognac can cooperate with each other to achieve a perfect effect. It will take the master of wine cellar a lifetime to achieve this perfect cooperation.
taste: deep golden yellow, amber, with a reddish hue, transparent as crystal. It exudes subtle scents of narcissus and jasmine, and has multiple scents of bowl wine and fresh walnuts. Light and elegant oak aromas mixed with vanilla and chocolate. There are also sweet hard-shelled fruits like apricots and figs, and spices like crocus. The entrance is very mellow. Years of aging make it rich in connotation and reach the realm of perfection and harmony. The aftertaste lasts for more than ten minutes.
Hennessy X.O
hennessy X O
Grade: Grand Champagne Cognac
Description: It is made from the [Water of Life] in the center of Cognac District, and the aging time is calculated in decades, and it is blended with thousands of selected [Water of Life], so it can be called the best cognac. This cognac gives off a unique fragrance, and the aftertaste in the mouth can last for a very long time.
taste: deep golden yellow, lux, reddish brown, clear and flawless. It exudes a strong aroma, like the aroma of pot wine, walnuts, daffodils and jasmine, with faint fruit aromas of passion fruit and litchi. Its oak fragrance is mixed with vanilla and cigar box fragrance. It is not difficult for drinkers to detect the elegant fragrance and light resin fragrance of tail flowers, violets and roses. The mellow Lin Maoshan oak makes the taste of wine persist in the mouth and turn into the taste of sandalwood. The aroma and wine taste are extremely detailed, and the aftertaste can last for an hour.
Martell, King of Gold
Martell, King of Gold
Legend has it that in ancient times there was a god who turned into gold and descended to earth to pursue his yearning love. Beautiful legends symbolize the eternal and precious dreams of mankind. Gold, on the other hand, is a legendary and highly praised metal.
Just because of the unchanging faithfulness of gold, the greedy soul refuses the temptations of honor and wealth one by one.
cognac is the crystallization of patient pursuit of perfection, and it is the representative of wealth and honor. Only because of its stunning and proud cognac can brandy be immortal.
Nowadays, in order to share a beautiful dream with you, the Martell family has specially combined the perfect cognac with the eternal gold, just like persistent gold diggers and slow-witted bartenders, who use their actions to compose the legendary history of mankind. Martell Winery is also an ideal and lofty desire, creating a world-renowned cognac-Martell, King of Gold.
Louis XIII of Remy Martin
Louis XIII of Remy Martin
Grade: Grand Champagne Cognac
Description: It is made from the "Water of Life" in the central area of Cognac District, and the aging time is calculated in decades, and it is the best cognac with thousands of selected "Water of Life". Famous wine bottles complement each other. Louis XIII, Remy Martin, is not only an excellent treasure that wine connoisseurs dream of, but also a rare art whose crystal glass bottle is hand-made by BACCARAT glass factory in France. This cognac exudes a unique fragrance and its aftertaste can last for a long time.
taste: deep golden yellow, fiery red, reddish brown, clear and flawless. It exudes a strong aroma, like the aroma of wine, walnuts, daffodils and jasmine, with faint fruit aromas of passion fruit and litchi. Its oak fragrance is mixed with vanilla and cigar box fragrance. It is not difficult for drinkers to detect the elegant fragrance and light resin fragrance of iris, violet and rose. The mellow Lin Maoshan oak makes the taste of wine persist in the mouth and turn into the taste of sandalwood. The aroma and wine taste are extremely detailed, and the aftertaste can last for more than 1 hour.
Hennessy Paradis
Hennessy Cup Don't Stop
In the harvest year of grapes, Hennessy family usually collects several barrels of the best dry brandy, thus establishing a precious wine cellar with a history of nearly 2 years. In 1979, the Hennessy family decided to use these precious resources to make the most fragrant dry brandy-Hennessy Cup. The "water of life" selected to make a glass of Mopting varies from 5 to 1 years, and then it is stored in oak barrels. This process makes the glass of Mopting have a unique refreshing fragrance
How to distinguish the authenticity of cognac? The most serious counterfeit foreign wine in Chinese mainland is cognac, and the counterfeiting of cognac is concentrated in three brands, namely Hennessy, Remy Martin and Martell. This is because these three brands have the highest popularity, good quality and relatively high price. These brands are divided into many grades according to their years of storage in oak barrels. For example, Hennessy has ICHARD, XO, SOV, VSOP, etc., Remy Martin has LOUIS X Ill, XO, Remy Martin Super CLUB, VSOP, Samsung VS, etc., and Martell has XO, CORDON BLEU, NOBLIGE and VSOP, etc. The price of these grades. In the first quarter of 21, the counterfeit of famous liquor and foreign wine was found in different grades of shopping malls, hotels and restaurants in Beijing. Relatively speaking, there were more counterfeit cases in hotels and restaurants.
Several common methods for identifying cognac wine are as follows:
(1) According to relevant regulations, foreign wine labels should have Chinese logo and health inspection and quarantine stamp, so foreign wine without Chinese logo and health inspection and quarantine stamp may be fake wine.
(2) The genuine label is legible and has a good outline; The label of fake wine is illegible and irregular.
(3) The genuine liquid is golden yellow and transparent; The liquid of fake wine is dim and has poor luster.
(4) The metal anti-counterfeiting cover on the genuine bottle cap is integrated with the bottle cap, while the anti-counterfeiting cover on the fake wine is adhered.
(5) The genuine anti-counterfeiting mark can have different pattern changes at different angles, and the anti-counterfeiting line can be torn off; The anti-counterfeiting mark of fake wine is dull, the pattern transformation is not obvious, and the anti-counterfeiting line is sometimes printed.
(6) The genuine metal anti-counterfeiting cover has strict workmanship, neat plastic package and good luster; The fake wine bottle cap is rough in workmanship, poor in plastic sealing material, thick, poor in luster, fuzzy in trademark and poor in stereoscopic impression.
2. Whisky from the United States and Canada
■ Bourbon Whisky from the United States
Bourbon whiskey originated in Bourbon Town, Kentucky, USA. Since the ancestors of Bourbon Town were mostly French immigrants who immigrated to the United States in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was named in memory of the Bourbon Dynasty in its old country. In the United States, the production of whisky with corn as raw material began in 1789, which was created by Pastor Jeriga in Goth Town, Kentucky, USA. The early corn whisky gradually evolved into bourbon through continuous research and improvement by later generations.
in p>1964, the federal law strictly stipulated that Bos whisky should be distilled from fermented corn paste, rye and barley malt, in which the corn content should be more than 51% (generally, the corn content of Bourbon whisky is 65% ~ 8%). In addition, the distilled alcohol must be aged for more than two years in the externally roasted white oak barrel-the mellow alcohol obtained through the above process can meet the national legal standard of American bourbon.
■ Kimbin Bourbon Whiskey
Founded in 1795, Kimbin Winery is one of the oldest existing enterprises in Kentucky. The unique secret recipe of American Kimbin Bourbon whisky has been handed down from father to son for six generations, and it is the oldest member of the few well-known brands of American Bourbon whisky. Kimbin Bourbon whisky (packaged on a white background) has a long aging period of four years, and its wine quality is smooth and mellow. It is a representative brand of American Bourbon whisky, and its wine concentration is 4%, which belongs to the gentle taste family of Bourbon whisky.
■ Canadian whisky
The development of Canadian whisky is closely related to the United States. On average, about 7% of Canadian whisky production is exported to the United States every year. In the mid-18th century, Canada's first distillery was established in Quebec to produce whisky. In the early days, rye was the main raw material of Canadian whiskey, so the wine showed a heavy grain flavor. The production of whiskey with corn as the main raw material began in the 19th century, with a soft taste.
during the prohibition of alcohol in the United States, the American market was greatly expanded by smuggling large quantities of whisky. Even today, the United States is still the largest export region of Canadian whisky. The mild taste of Canadian whisky is different from that of American bourbon whisky, and it is an excellent choice for non-strong whisky lovers.
3. GIN
gin was first produced in Holland in the 16th century. It is a kind of spirits distilled from fermented grain juice. The cereals used are corn, barley, wheat and rye. Its main flavoring substance is gin, so it is also called gin. There are also some other flavored plants, including coriander, blackcurrant, calamus (root), sweet orange peel, Artemisia, cardamom, almond, angelica, fennel, lemon peel and so on. Traditionally, we refer to the collection of nuts, spices, berries, roots and bark for flavoring as "the collection of plant medicinal materials".
the alcohol content of gin is 34% to 47%. Its main producing countries are England, Netherlands, Canada, USA, Brazil, Japan and India.
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