"Jack Daniels" - cognac? No, whiskey! "Jack Daniels": photo, how to distinguish the original from a fake

Most people almost do not see the difference between such drinks 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 in both the raw materials used and in production. So, the pride of America is unquestionably the whiskey "Jack Daniels". Cognac is thought up in France, he comes from a province with the same name. But the differences do not end here. Further in the article we will discuss all the nuances. In the meantime ...

A bit of history

A man very devoted to God, but experiencing an equally strong love for liquor - Dann Call, - was a priest and had his own distillery, which later recruited the boy Jasper Daniel. The kid was no older than seven years old, but seeing his wit and diligence, the holy father began to teach him everything he knew himself. The boy grew up and soon became a true 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 tough alcohol business. It was Jasper who became the creator of the world famous product under the brand name Jack Daniels. Cognac in the whole world was in demand, but producing it as a whole is somewhat more complicated. It requires careful selection of the right ingredients. With the same aging in barrels, a French drink costs more, but this rule does not work if you compare it with whiskey "Jack Daniels". Cognac with the same time exposure and even the most famous manufacturer will give it in price.

Production development

Gradually the distillery turned into a small-sized, but perfectly functioning plant. In 1866, Jack became the first person to officially register his unique production of whiskey. This date we see on the label, acquiring "Jack Daniels". The product has become quality due to the filtration on the sugar maple and the use of the right water. And for this, Jack bought a piece of land near the city of Lixburg. It was here that he discovered a spring with the purest, tasty and soft water. The production began to expand and improve. An ordinary thirteen-year-old boy became the owner of a popular alcohol brand throughout the world. Jack did not sit still, all the while developing his business, making the right marketing moves. So, for example, in 1892, out of thirteen employees of the company, he created a group called Original Silver Cornet Band, which quickly became famous in the region. Such an advertising move made the brand products even more popular.

And we continue to study the difference between the world's most popular spirits.

Appearance of the bottle

In large glass bottles with a special star marking, indicating the period of its aging, from the first days of production, brandy is produced to this day. "Jack Daniels" (a photo depicting an ancient product can still be found on the Internet) was originally sold in clay bottles with oak plugs. The number of bottles is just a few, and the price for them is sky-high. On the cork was an engraving "Mr. Jack", indicating the quality of the goods. Such a package was replaced by a new one only in 1895, when a traveling salesman from Illinois presented in his presentation a completely new, unusual bottle that broke all possible stereotypes. She was with a twisting stopper, square, convenient to transport and so pleased Jack that he realized: it was in such a container that his Jack Daniels should be sold.

Is it whiskey or cognac?

A person who knows this question for a few minutes can puzzle. Both of these strong alcoholic beverages are aged in oak barrels, but this ends their similarity. Cognac is produced exclusively from white grapes of certain varieties, and one of the types of cereal plants (rice, millet, wheat, corn, buckwheat, rye or barley) serves as a raw material for whiskey. That is, both drinks have a completely different taste and aroma. And, of course, there are a number of differences in manufacturing technology. Thus, if you are interested in nuances, you will first need to find out how Jack Daniels is made. Cognac or whiskey in front of you - to determine after this will not be difficult.

Difference in production

To distill cognac used Alambic - a classic cube of copper, and in the distillation of whiskey is used immediately by two apparatus. And interesting is the fact that when one of them for some reason goes out of order, 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 trademark like "Jack Daniels". Cognac is more simple in production and requires only one distillation, whiskey is often distilled not only two but also three times.

Since 1904, the drink of Jack Daniels has won worldwide fame. First he received a gold medal in St. Louis, and the following year it was repeated again. The international gold medal was given to a drink in Belgium, and afterwards other countries began to award this whiskey with premiums and medals for the highest quality. In 1911, the company lost its founder, who died suddenly due to blood poisoning. In the inheritance rights of the plant and property entered his nephew Lem Motl, who decided not to change anything, because production and so it was arranged perfectly, and the taste of the drink was all considered exceptional. Changes were not made until 1988, until the head of the company became Jack Rair. For the filtration, ordinary charcoal was used, but now the whiskey was cleaned twice. The first, as before, was carried out before its placement in barrels, the second was done for the fourth year of aging. The drink got even more elegant taste, gentle and soft at the same time.

The technology of cognac creation is no less interesting. The wine from the province of Cognac did not exceed the fortress at 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, the winemakers came up with a way to distill it and left it waiting for the buyer in oak barrels. Often the storage took several years or more, so the first fragrant cognac appeared.

"Jack Daniels": How to distinguish the original from a fake at first sight

In a genuine bottle, the shape is an even parallelepiped with slightly pointed edges and perfectly even ribs. In counterfeit production, such an effect is difficult to achieve: the faces turn out to be rounded, fuzzy.

Now you should pay attention to the design. Embossed inscriptions and engravings on the bottoms and bottoms of the bottle are the distinguishing sign of the original. Make them clear is quite difficult, and in a cheap falsified version they will be blurred, smoothed. If you still can not find 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 correctness of the font, 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 forgery differs by the presence of traces of glue and lack of relief.

Cognac can be Dagestan or Armenian, but only France has all the legislative rights for its production and strictly observes the quality of the product, so if the label indicates another country of origin, it is likely that the drink is classified as brandy. Or it's just a fake, not cognac.

"Jack Daniels" (0,5-liter bottle of whiskey) is different and the presence of a unique EI-code located in the corner of the label and indicating the date of packaging and the number of the barrel.

Plunge into the depths

Now consider the cork and its design. The original is made of high-quality plastic, covered with a glossy film of black color with an even cross section. On falsification, the film, as a rule, is absent, and the lid is made of metal. We pass to the bottom. As mentioned above, it is a square with perfectly clear edges and all the information that the consumer needs. A sign of a fake here may be the presence of a circle print from the press machine, on the original such a defect simply can not be. And, of course, the price: about a thousand rubles for a classic bottle of 0.5 liters and at least 1700 rubles. Per liter - this price tag indicates that you have a real "Jack Daniels".

Cognac is a drink with a strength of 40-60 degrees. The raw materials for it are white grape varieties. In the classical version, a press is used for pressing. 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 spirit can be called cognac.

Proper tasting of the drink

Even the most delicious and 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 people have a clear idea of this. Strong alcohol many are accustomed to drink a volley, when a good alcohol is recommended to slowly savor. Even better, if this happens in a room with a soft muffled lighting and a relaxed atmosphere that will allow you to fully concentrate on the ritual of drinking and get a real pleasure from it. The bottle must 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 stem, the contents are shaken. Fill the glasses one-third, not more - so it is more convenient to watch the overflows and play the color of the drink with a beautiful amber tint. That's how it is customary to drink whiskey "Jack Daniels".

Cognac (reviews - a direct confirmation of that) are drunk, holding the glass in his hand a little and warming it. The smell is a bit tart and sweet, in front of a small mouthful of experts recommend to definitely enjoy his scent.

Absolutely forbidden:

1. Mix the drink with another type of alcohol or use it after.

2. Drink with juice, water, etc.

3. Quickly drink and immediately have a snack, without waiting for the aftertaste.

4. Use any decorations for a glass, a straw. Both cognac and whiskey are truly men's drinks, and they just do not accept such treatment.

Which drink is more useful

If you compare beverages on health benefits, surely the winner will be a good cognac. Unlike whiskey, it favorably affects the human body, does not contain esters and fusel oils. But 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 work of the heart. This American whiskey, tart and sweet, firmly won its place in the world. It contains subtle notes of caramel, cherry and light haze. And to finally be sure of the authenticity of the product, you should buy it exclusively in specialized stores that have the necessary quality certificates.