Make your own Cognac

     Cognac (pronounced as Kon-Yak), is a type of brandy famously drunk by people who think and/or are retired. It is also referred to as 'A drink for the thinking person'. Drinking Cognac is simply about enjoying the taste of rich Oak, Aged barrels, the blend, the make, and the rich flavor. 

 There are many famous Cognac brands around the world for example; 

  1. Hennessy
  2. Hine Antique XO
  3. Martel XO
  4. Louis XIII 
  5. Pierre Ferrand 
But did you know you could make Cognac at your home with some vodka, berries, and a few other ingredients? It's a simple procedure to make homemade Cognac. 

All the ingredients you need are; 

  • Vodka or Moonshine – 1 liter
  • Oak chips – 2 tsp
  • Rose hips (dry) – 8 grams (10 hips)
  • Hawthorn berries (dry) – 10 grams
  • Sugar (honey) – 1 tbsp
  • Cloves – 4 buds (without caps, just stems)
  • Black tea – 1 tsp
  • Nutmeg – 1 pinch
  • Vanillin – 1 pinch (optional)
Now how do you make it once you have all the ingredients; 

  1. Boil oak chips (water should be above the oak by 2-3 cm) and leave it for 10 minutes. Pour off the decoction, rinse with cold water, and then dry it in the sun. Boiling removes the excess of tannins which lead to an unpleasant taste.
  2. Put berries, cloves, nutmegs, tea, and oak bark in a jar for infusing.
  3. Add vodka, sugar (or honey), and vanillin and stir. Then screw the lid on tightly.
  4. Infuse for 25-30 days in a dark place with room temperature. Shake it once every 5 days.
  5. Strain off the cognac through a few layers of cheesecloth and absorbent cotton.
  6. Bottle the cognac for storing, hermetically sealing it.
  7. Leave the beverage for 1-2 days in a cold dark place before giving it a taste. Its shelf life is up to 5 years, 37-38% ABV.
And that's it, you have your fresh homemade Berry infused Vodka Cognac (Best served with berries, cheese, chocolate, or cigar).









Comments