Most people hardly see the difference between drinks such as cognac and whiskey. They are similar in color and strength. In fact, everything is not so, and the difference between them is enormous. There are differences both in the raw materials used and in the production. So, the pride of America is undeniably the Jack Daniels whiskey. Cognac was invented in France; it was born, as you know, from a province of the same name. But the differences do not end there. Further in the article we will discuss all the nuances. In the meantime ...
A bit of history
A man who was very faithful to God, but who had an equally strong love for alcohol - Dann Call - was a priest and had his own distillery, which he subsequently hired the boy Jasper Daniel. The kid was no older than seven years, but, seeing his quick wit and diligence, the holy father began to teach him everything that he knew. The boy grew up and soon became a real partner of the old clergyman. Already at the age of thirteen, he inherited a distillery and showed that he copes well with such a thing as a hard alcohol business. It was Jasper who became the creator of the world famous product under the brand name Jack Daniels. Cognac is in demand all over the world, but producing it as a whole is somewhat more difficult. This requires a careful selection of the right ingredients. With the same aging in barrels, a French drink is more expensive, but this rule does not work, when compared with Jack Daniels whiskey. Cognac with the same time exposure and even the most famous manufacturer will yield to him in price.
Production development
Gradually, the distillery turned into a small, but perfectly functioning plant. In 1866, Jack became the first person to officially register his unique whiskey production. We see this date on the label when we purchase Jack Daniels. The product has become quality due to filtering on charcoal sugar maple and using the right water. And for this, Jack purchased a plot of land near the city of Licksburg. It was here that he discovered a spring with clean, tasty and soft water. Production began to expand and improve. An ordinary thirteen-year-old boy became the owner of a popular worldwide alcohol brand. Jack did not sit still, constantly developing his business, making the right marketing moves. So, for example, in 1892, out of thirteen employees of the enterprise, he created a group called Original Silver Cornet Band, which quickly became famous in the region. Such an advertising move made the brand’s products even more popular.
And we continue to study the difference between the world's most popular alcoholic beverages.
Appearance of the bottle
In large glass bottles with a special star marking indicating the period of its exposure, cognac is produced from the first days of production. “Jack Daniels” (a photo depicting an old product can still be found on the Internet) was originally sold in clay bottles with oak corks. The number of bottles left is a few, and the price for them is sky-high. On traffic jams there was an engraving "Mr. Jack" indicating quality of goods. Such packaging was replaced by a new one only in 1895, when a salesman from Illinois presented in his presentation a completely new, unusual-shaped bottle that breaks all possible stereotypes. She was screwed in a cork, square, easy to transport, and Jack liked it so much that he realized that it was in such a container that his Jack Daniels should be sold.
Is it whiskey or cognac?
A knowledgeable person such a question for a few minutes can be confused. Both of these strong alcoholic drinks are aged in oak barrels, but this is where their similarity ends. Cognac is made exclusively from white grapes of certain varieties, and the raw material for whiskey is one of the types of cereal plants (rice, millet, wheat, corn, buckwheat, rye or barley). That is, both drinks have a completely different taste and aroma. Well, of course, there are a number of differences in manufacturing technology. Thus, if you are interested in the nuances, you will first have to figure out how Jack Daniels is made. Cognac or whiskey in front of you - it will not be difficult to determine after that.
Production difference
For the transfer of cognac, an alambic is used - a classic cube made of copper, and two devices are used in the distillation of whiskey. Moreover, it is interesting that when one of them fails for some reason, it is not repaired, but ordered exactly the same and even with identical defects on the case. The manufacturer excludes any changes in its technology and is afraid of even the slightest deviations from the ideal in taste, so that this does not affect the reputation of such a successful and world-famous brand as Jack Daniels. Cognac is simpler to manufacture and requires only one haul, whiskey is often distilled not only two, but also three times.
Since 1904, the drink of Jack Daniels began to gain worldwide fame. At first he received a gold medal in St. Louis, and the next year it repeated again. An international gold medal was awarded to the drink in Belgium, and after that other countries began to award this whiskey with prizes and medals for the highest quality. In 1911, the company lost its founder, who died suddenly due to blood poisoning. His nephew Lem Motl entered into the inheritance rights of the plant and property, who decided not to change anything, because the production was already perfectly organized, and everyone considered the taste of the drink exceptional. No changes were made until 1988, when Jack Rair became the head of the company. Conventional charcoal was used for filtration, but now the whiskey was cleaned twice. The first, as before, was carried out before placing it in barrels, the second was done in the fourth year of aging. The drink has acquired an even more elegant taste, delicate and soft at the same time.
The technology for creating cognac is no less interesting. Wine from the province of Cognac did not exceed the fortress of seven degrees, and therefore it was not stored for a long time. Soon, the Normans and Saxons began to refuse to buy it. To preserve the product, winemakers decided to distill it and left it to wait for the buyer in oak barrels. Often storage took several years or more, and the first fragrant cognac appeared.
Jack Daniels: how to distinguish an original from a fake at a glance
In a genuine bottle, the shape is a straight parallelepiped with slightly sharpened edges and perfectly even ribs. In fake production, such an effect is difficult to achieve: the edges are rounded, fuzzy.
Now it is worth paying attention to design. Embossed inscriptions and engravings on the lower and upper faces of the bottle are the hallmark of the original. Making them crisp is quite difficult, and in a cheap fake version they will be blurry, smoothed. If so far it was not possible to identify a fake, you need to look at the label. The official website of the company has its updated design. We take into account everything: the font is correct, the size of the inscription ... If there is no doubt, you should pay attention to attaching the label to the bottle. On the original everything will be symmetrical, the fake is distinguished by the presence of traces of glue and the lack of relief.
Cognac can be Dagestan or Armenian, but only France has all the legislative rights to its production and strictly monitors the quality of the product, therefore if the label indicates another country of origin, the drink most likely belongs to the category of brandy. Or is it just a fake, not brandy.
“Jack Daniels” (a 0.5-liter bottle of whiskey) is also distinguished by the presence of a unique EI code located in the corner of the sticker and indicating the packaging date and barrel number.
Diving deep
Now consider the cork and its design. In the original, it is made of high-quality plastic, covered with a glossy black film with an even section. On the counterfeit film, as a rule, is absent, and the lid is made of metal. We pass to the bottom. As indicated above, it is a square with perfectly clear edges and all the information the consumer needs. A sign of a fake here may be the presence of a circle imprint from the press machine, there simply cannot be such a flaw on the original. And, of course, the price: about a thousand rubles for a classic bottle of 0.5 liters and at least 1700 rubles. per liter - such a price tag indicates that before you is a real "Jack Daniels".
Cognac is a drink with a strength of 40-60 degrees. The source of raw materials for it are white grape varieties. In the classic version, a press is used for spinning. Sugar is not added here, and the juice is immediately fermented. The result is a dry wine. After several repeated distillations and aging in a barrel for at least two years, the resulting brandy alcohol can be called cognac.
Proper tasting drink
Even the most delicious and high-quality drink can easily be spoiled if used incorrectly. And to appreciate the taste of the original, you need to learn how to taste it. In our country, few have a clear idea of this. Many are used to drinking strong liquor in one gulp, when it is recommended to slowly savor good alcohol. It is even better if this happens in a room with dim dim lighting and a calm atmosphere, which will allow you to fully concentrate on the ritual of drinking and get real pleasure from it. The bottle must certainly be cold. And for this, half an hour before the start of the tasting, we put it in the freezer. The drink is served only in deep glasses on the leg, the contents are shaken. Glasses are filled by a third, no more - it’s more convenient to watch overflows and play the color of a drink with a beautiful amber tint. So it’s customary to drink Jack Daniels whiskey.
Cognac (reviews - direct confirmation of this) is drunk, holding the glass in his hand a little and warming it. Its smell is a little tart and sweet, before a small sip, experts recommend to definitely enjoy its aroma.
Absolutely forbidden:
1. Mix the drink with another type of alcohol or drink it after.
2. Drink juice, water, etc.
3. Quickly drink and immediately have a snack, without waiting for an aftertaste.
4. Use any decoration for a glass, straw. Both cognac and whiskey are truly male drinks, and they simply do not accept such treatment.
Which drink is healthier
If you compare drinks for health benefits, of course, a good brandy will be the winner . Unlike whiskey, it favorably affects the human body, does not contain esters and fusel oils. But high-quality malt whiskey is also useful. It has more ellagic acid than wine. This antioxidant is able to withstand the development of cancer pathologies and helps the heart. Real American whiskey, tart and sweet, firmly won its place in the world. It contains subtle notes of caramel, cherries and light haze. And in order to finally be sure of the authenticity of a product, you should buy it exclusively in specialized stores that have the necessary quality certificates.