Cognac – noble, tart alcoholic drink, produced from certain grape varieties. Anyone who has tried this amazing bouquet at least once will never refuse to enjoy the taste of true cognac again. Unfortunately, real drink It's not cheap. But there are recipes that allow you to make cognac from alcohol at home yourself.

Homemade cognac - a real French drink

With noble tart drink France introduced us. Real cognac is expensive and is produced using special technology. By following its basic principles, you can prepare a semblance of the original at home, using quite affordable and simple ingredients. At the same time, in taste and quality it will be no worse than a true French drink.

True connoisseurs of cognac know that it must be aged in wooden barrels for at least 2 years. Only in this case the taste and aroma of the drink is fully revealed. Cognac prepared at home can be infused for much less time, and its quality will surpass many strong alcohol, offered today in wine and vodka stores.

How to make classic cognac from alcohol at home?

The accelerated process of preparing cognac with alcohol significantly reduces the aging time of the drink. But you still have to let it brew for a couple of months so that it acquires those very tart notes.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 liters of alcohol (ethyl, wine - names of the same substance);
• 5 tbsp. l. with a heap of dry oak bark;
• 2 tsp. Sahara;
• 3 pcs. carnations;
• just a little vanillin to add a subtle aroma;
• for more tartness you can add nutmeg- a little, on the tip of a knife;
• You can add a couple of lemon balm leaves to soften the taste.

Preparation:

1. Color and special taste gives this cognac burnt sugar. It is prepared like this: metal utensils heat over low heat granulated sugar until it turns light brown.
2. Pour alcohol into a glass bottle, add sugar and stir thoroughly until it is completely dissolved.
3. Then add cloves, nutmeg and vanilla.
4. Mix everything well again, close the bottle and put it in a cool, dark room for 1 month.
5. Strain the drink before drinking.
6. The more the drink is infused, the richer its taste and aroma will become.

Cognac with added tea - quick and easy

Read also: How to properly dilute alcohol with water at home?

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. l. large leaf black tea (dry);
• 5 pieces. bay leaf;
• 3 tbsp. l. Sahara;
• 4 black peppercorns;
• 3 liters of alcohol.

Preparation:

1. In a large glass bottle or five liter jar add all the ingredients and fill them with alcohol.
2. Mix everything well.
3. Infuse the alcohol solution in a cool room or pantry for at least 14 days.
4. The finished drink can be stored in a jar and large quantity time, straining required quantity homemade cognac immediately before drinking.

Making strong cognac from alcohol

Ingredients:

• 1.5 liters of alcohol;
• 20 g crushed partitions from walnuts;
• 1 tbsp. l. dry oak bark;
• 1 PC. bay leaf;
• 0.5 tsp. black tea;
• 1 tbsp. l. dried orange zest;
• vanillin on the tip of a knife;
• lemon balm, black peppercorns, St. John's wort - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Pour alcohol over the walnut ingredients.
2. Let them sit in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks.
3. Place all ingredients in a glass container and fill with infused alcohol.
4. Infuse the resulting drink for another 2 weeks, preferably in a cool room.
5. After this time, strain the finished cognac and pour into glass bottles.

Homemade cognac made from instant coffee

Easy coffee aroma gives a specific taste to the drink, and lemon gives a special zest that makes the taste noble drink simply amazing.

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon;
• 1 tbsp. l. dry oak bark;
• 0.5 tsp. instant coffee;
• 1 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
• 3 liters of alcohol.

Preparation:

1. Pass fresh lemon through a meat grinder along with the peel.
2. Place lemon, sugar, coffee in a glass bowl and pour alcohol into the mixture.
3. Mix everything until the sugar is completely dissolved.
4. Infuse the mixture by placing the dishes in a cool room for at least 1 week.
5. Filter the finished drink to remove sediment and remnants of used ingredients, and pour into glass bottles.

Making real French cognac

It is difficult for a non-professional sommelier to distinguish a drink prepared in this way from expensive cognac with many years of aging. The taste of the drink is soft and pleasant.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 liters of alcohol;
• 1 tbsp. l. dry oak bark;
• 1 tbsp. l. St. John's wort;
• 1 tbsp. l. dried rose hips;
• 1 tsp. black tea;
• 1 tsp. instant coffee;
• 1 tsp. Sahara;
• 0.5 tsp. soda;
• 5 pieces. large raisins;
• 1 PC. prunes;
• 2 black peppercorns (can be replaced with allspice);
• A little ground cinnamon and vanillin (literally on the tip of a knife).

Preparation:

1. Place all ingredients, including baking soda, into a deep saucepan. It is needed to “pull out” the maximum color from black tea.
2. Pour alcohol over all ingredients and place over low heat.
3. Be sure to cover the pan with a glass lid.
4. While heating the mixture, try not to open it so as not to lose the temperature.
5. Watch the process carefully so as not to miss the moment when the liquid boils. This is the most important moment in cooking. homemade drink.
6. You cannot boil the tincture! As soon as you see that air bubbles begin to form prior to boiling, immediately turn off the heat. It's better to turn it off a little sooner rather than later.
7. Leave the drink to cool at room temperature.
8. When the future cognac has cooled completely, strain it and pour it into a prepared clean container.

Preparing exquisite Armenian cognac

The drink prepared according to this recipe will definitely please you with its light, slightly tart taste and a subtle floral aroma.

Ingredients:

• 3 liters of alcohol;
• 250 ml water;
• 2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
• 1 bag of black tea;
• 2 pcs. bay leaf;
• 2 pcs. currant leaf;
• 2 pcs. cherry leaf;
• black ground pepper on the tip of the knife.

Preparation:

1. Place currant, cherry and Bay leaf and fill with water.
2. Place on low heat and add sugar.
3. Stirring, bring the water to a boil and boil for 4 minutes.
4. Pour the resulting infusion into alcohol.
5. Leave in a dark and cool room for at least 3 days.
6. Strain the finished drink and pour into glass bottles.

Real cognac is not only tasty, but also healthy drink(in moderation, of course). Today, a lot of analogues of this noble drink are offered on the shelves, but, unfortunately, they are of very dubious production. Recipes for cognac made from alcohol prepared at home will allow you to appreciate the taste of a true French drink. In addition, a completely natural homemade product will certainly be much healthier than store-bought options.

For many, cognac is a favorite drink. And many people ask the question: “How to make cognac from alcohol?” Although this drink is the most difficult, it is very possible to prepare it at home. However, if you decide to make natural homemade cognac, you will have to be patient.

After all, this will require time, effort and culinary talent. Before we start cooking, let's learn what classic cognac is.

How to make cognac from alcohol? Classic recipe

To prepare this aromatic drink For many years, experts have been selecting the most the best varieties grapes Or rather, their juice, which has undergone a fermentation process for a month. The resulting mash is subjected to double distillation in a special copper still. Thanks to this process, the wine material is cleared of unnecessary fractions that can give the cognac an undesirable aroma. From 9 liters of mash, 1 liter of alcohol is obtained. Next, the original drink is bottled. Aging ranges from one to several years. It is by aging that the quality of cognac is determined, especially since in the barrel the alcohol is filled with substances contained in the wood. The technology, of course, is very long and labor-intensive. At home, wondering how to make cognac from alcohol, sometimes you want to prepare it as quickly as possible. Let's look at the nuances of the accelerated process.

To prepare, you will need alcohol or vodka, but you can also use moonshine.

Homemade cognac from alcohol: the first method

Mix one liter of alcohol or vodka with one teaspoon of sugar, black tea, add bay leaf, 2 black peppercorns, 2 cloves, just a little vanillin, orange or lemon peels. You need to insist in a warm and dark place for about 10 days. Then strain through cheesecloth. Your cognac is ready, all that remains is to pour the liquid into bottles.

Second way

Place 2 black and allspice peas, 3 cloves, one teaspoon of black tea, a teaspoon of cinnamon and vanillin in a fabric bag. Dip this bag into a jar of alcohol, do not forget to add a teaspoon of sugar. Leave for 10 days in a dark place. As soon as the cognac is ready, the bag is removed.

Third way

As in the second method, we will need a fabric bag. Place in it one teaspoon of coffee, one bay leaf, 3 hot peppercorns, 2 cloves. Place all this in a jar of alcohol, in which do not forget to dilute a teaspoon of sugar. It is necessary to insist for up to 7 days. When the drink is ready, the bag is removed.

Of course, in the end you will get anything, but not that real “star” cognac. In any case, you can always try to make something like cognac homemade. The result will make you very happy. Now you know how to make cognac from alcohol at home. Drink yourself and treat your friends! This drink will please even the most demanding gourmet.

You can make a good imitation of expensive aged drinks yourself. Making it from alcohol at home using the recipes given below is quite simple. Its quality will not be comparable to elite varieties, but the drink will turn out tastier and healthier than cheap alcohol that you can buy in stores.

Production technology and nature of color

High-quality French and Armenian cognac, cheaper varieties - drinks made from distillate, which is obtained by distillation grape wine. The drink is different from simple alcohol a special aroma inherent in distilled rather than rectified types of alcohol.

After distillation, cognac alcohol is aged in oak containers. This gives the drink a golden color and a woody vanilla aroma. Bouquet good cognac depends on other factors that affect cognac alcohol during aging. The longer it is, the richer the color and the more pronounced the complex of tastes and smells inherent in the drink.

Cheap varieties of cognac are aged for at least 2 years. Even this period is long for home-made alcohol production. Often the drink is infused for only 2-4 weeks, and the color, taste and aroma are imparted various additives. Unlike store-bought imitation, homemade cognac from alcohol can be prepared without the use of artificial essences, dyes and flavors.

A simple recipe for cognac made from alcohol

For classic imitation, a small amount of available ingredients is used. They are all natural and serve both for coloring and flavoring the drink. You need to prepare:

• 1 tsp. Sahara;
• 1 tsp. dry tea leaves (it is better to take good variety loose leaf tea without flavoring);
• 2 black peppercorns;
• 1 medium bay leaf;
• 1 tsp. grated orange zest;
• ¼ tsp. vanilla or ½ vanilla pod.

Place all ingredients, except sugar, in a container for infusion. Melt the sugar in a spoon and bring to a brown tint, and then dissolve in small quantity water.

Before making cognac from alcohol, strong alcohol you need to bring the strength to 40%. You can determine it using an alcohol meter or adding boiled and cooled water to 96% alcohol in a ratio of 1:2. Pour the prepared alcohol (1 l) into a bottle with spices, add caramel coloring from burnt sugar, seal the container and place it in a dark place.

The infusion process lasts 10-14 days, the bottle must be shaken daily, mixing the layers. After this, strain the liquid.

Oak bark recipe

Oak bark and wood chips are ingredients that allow you to simulate the process of aging cognac material in wooden barrel. It does not take long to stand, but the extraction of aromatic and tannin substances from the bark and wood chips occurs faster. In addition to its characteristic taste, the drink also acquires the desired color. Oak bark can be easily purchased at a pharmacy, and wood chips can be purchased at handmade stores. When using wood chips, it is recommended to lightly burn it (until brown) to obtain more saturated color drink

For 1 liter of prepared alcohol you will need:

• 20-30 g of pharmaceutical oak bark or 50 g of wood chips;
• 1 clove bud;
• a little cinnamon (a 1 cm piece of stick or 0.5 tsp ground);
• ¼ tsp. grated nutmeg;
• ¼ tsp. vanillin or 0.5 vanilla pod;
• 10 g sugar.

Prepare a sugar color from burnt sugar and 2 tbsp. l. water. Add it to alcohol. Place oak bark and spices into the infusion container. Pour in alcohol, close the container and place in a dark place to infuse. The process of extracting aromatic substances from oak bark lasts about 4 weeks. It is advisable to shake the container daily, mixing the layers of liquid.

When the specified period has passed, strain the imitation cognac, separating small pieces spices and bark. It is advisable to use a thick cloth so that no suspended matter gets into the drink, which will make it cloudy. If this effect occurs, the strained drink should be allowed to settle for several days, and then the clear liquid should be carefully drained, being careful not to lift sediment from the bottom.

The aroma of this drink is as close as possible to the natural bouquet of good cognac aged 3-5 years.

Craftsmen also use this recipe for homemade cognac with alcohol:

• place 1 tbsp in a 3 liter jar. l. dried oak bark, dry black tea, instant coffee (without added milk and sugar);
• add ¼ tsp. vanillin and ground cinnamon (no sugar);
• Fill the jar with diluted alcohol or vodka to the top, leave for 10-15 days;
• strain and bottle.

The color of this drink is given by oak bark, coffee and tea. They create a good bouquet, close to the taste and aroma of cognac.

Recipe for nut membranes

You can prepare a cognac drink in another way. Infusion on walnut membranes allows you to get the same effect as when extracting oak bark. Making cognac at home from alcohol using this method is also not difficult: nut membranes can be purchased at the market from sellers of nuts and dried fruits. To make imitation cognac in small quantities, 1 glass of raw materials is enough.

For 1 liter of diluted alcohol take:

• 0.5 cups of walnut membranes;
• 0.5 tsp. cumin seeds;
• 2-3 buds of cloves;
• 10 g vanilla sugar or ¼ tsp. vanillin;
• ¼ tsp. citric acid.

Place all ingredients in a container for infusion and keep the drink in a dark place for 1-2 months. When the tincture acquires a pronounced hint of woody aroma, it can be considered ready. If the color of the infusion is not beautiful enough, prepare a sugar color and add it little by little until the desired color is achieved.

Other simple recipes

You can get a beautiful and pleasant-tasting imitation of cognac from alcohol by infusing pine nuts or their shells. This recipe is available to residents of Siberia and Far East, where raw materials are easy to buy or prepare yourself. But in other regions, unshelled pine nuts can be purchased in supermarkets.

To infuse 3 liters of diluted alcohol, 150-200 g is enough pine nuts with shell. The ingredients are placed in an appropriate container with a tight lid and kept for 2-3 weeks in a dark place. It is recommended to shake the container 1-2 times a day. As the extractive substances dissolve in alcohol, you can see how the liquid turns into a characteristic cognac color. The finished infusion may not be filtered, leaving the nuts in the jar. To serve, artificial cognac is poured into a decanter or a beautiful bottle.

A delicious cognac drink is also made from prune berries. For 1 liter of prepared alcohol take:

• 10-12 pcs. prunes;
• 1-2 buds of cloves;
• 5-7 peas of allspice (Jamaican) pepper;
• vanillin on the tip of a knife.

Crush the pepper and cloves and put them in a jar along with vanilla. Rinse and dry the prunes, add to the spices. Pour in alcohol and leave for 10-14 days. Golden color give with the help caramel color, because prunes do not give the alcohol the desired color.

Secrets of preparing the drink

The richness of the bouquet of the drink depends on the duration of infusion. If it is possible to age cognac from alcohol longer than indicated in the recipes, then you should not strain it after 2-3 weeks. When tasting the tincture, it is easy to determine how its taste and aroma will change, becoming softer and more noble.

Touch up paint sugar color Leading manufacturers of expensive brands of brandy and cognac also use it. Caramel not only colors the liquid in shades of brown, but also gives the drink extra taste, which depends on the degree of heating of the sugar when preparing the burnt mixture.

Cognac is one of the most expensive strong alcoholic drinks, a sign of wealth and luxury. The history of this exquisite drink began in the first century AD. In those ancient times, the Romans allowed the French Gauls to grow vineyards in France. This is how wine production began on French soil.

Cognac itself is a type of brandy (a drink obtained by distilling grape wine). The drink got its name from the name of the French city of Cognac.

In the twelfth century, the Poitou vineyards were founded in the Poitou-Charentes region of France by Duke Guillaume 10th of Aquitaine. At that time, there was an active trade in salt with the Dutch in the city of Cognac.

Dutch shipowners and merchants exported salt from France and sold it in the northern regions of Europe. In addition to salt, they bought local wine in oak barrels from the French.

When the Hundred Years' War ended, wine sales fell sharply and overproduction began. Wines become worse in quality and shelf life decreases. To avoid a loss when selling, the Dutch use wine distillation method and get brandy. For sale, brandy was diluted with water to create wine.

In the seventeenth century in Poitou-Charentes, the French, following the example of the Dutch, began make wine distillate, which, unlike wine, did not lose its quality during transportation, was richer and more aromatic. In addition, the French began to use double distillation, which further improved the quality of the drink.

Due to delays in loading goods onto ships, shipowners discovered that the double-distilled wine distillate that had been stored in oak barrels, becomes tastier over time, and can be consumed undiluted.

Production of cognac in production

To produce the present French cognac Ugny Blanc grapes are used. The juice is squeezed out of it and left for fermentation; sugar is not added, this is prohibited by the legislation of the country.

After three weeks, the resulting wine with a strength of 9% alcohol content is sent for distillation. Distillation takes place in two stages. At the first stage of distillation, raw alcohol is obtained, and at the second stage of distillation, high-quality cognac alcohol is obtained. In order to get exactly what you need from cognac alcohol, the alcohol must be aged in oak barrels for at least two years.

Cognac made from alcohol at home

Preparing such an exquisite drink is a long and labor-intensive process. But at home it is possible to prepare a drink that is in no way inferior in taste to cognac, and from accessible and inexpensive ingredients.

This article discusses several recipes for cognac made from alcohol at home. How to make cognac from alcohol at home? Need to follow two rules- this is an aging of the drink for at least thirty days, and the alcohol must contain at least forty percent alcohol.

The recipe for cognac made from alcohol is quite simple and does not require any special conditions during production. Anyone can make their own cognac from alcohol at home.

Recipe for homemade cognac from “Classic” alcohol

The following ingredients will be required:

To prepare a cognac drink you need dilute alcohol with water up to 40-42 percent alcohol content.

A wooden keg is best suited as a container for making a homemade drink. If you don’t have a wooden barrel on your farm, you can use a regular one. three liter jar or make a keg with your own hands.

Prepared diluted alcohol is poured into the jar, all ingredients are added and mixed with a wooden spoon or spatula. Then you need to carefully seal the jar and leave it in a cool, dark place. for thirty days.

If you keep it longer, the homemade drink will turn out even tastier and richer. Before drinking the drink, you must strain through cheesecloth, pour into bottles and seal.

Recipe for homemade cognac from Brazil alcohol

To prepare a homemade Brazil drink, you need products such as ginger and walnuts, which add piquancy to the drink. Ingredients:

Prepared Ingredients - Purified walnuts and grated ginger root - put in a liter jar, add sugar and vanilla, pour in prepared alcohol or vodka.

Mix with a wooden spoon, seal tightly and place in a dark, cool place for four weeks. Cognac drink according to this recipe must be stirred periodically. Strain the drink twice before drinking.

Recipe for homemade cognac made from alcohol and tea

Tea is often used in recipes for making cognac drink. Tea gives homemade cognac tartness and color.

Adding tea makes the drink similar to real cognac.

The following ingredients are needed:

• prepared alcohol (40%) - 3 l;
• black leaf tea - 3 tsp;
• cloves - 10 pcs.;
• granulated sugar - 3 tbsp. l.

You can add to taste St. John's wort, rose hips or hawthorn 2-3 tablespoons each, a few peas of allspice and a bay leaf.

Pour the prepared alcohol into a three-liter jar, add black tea, sugar and spices, mix everything thoroughly, seal and put in a dark place for thirty days. Strain and bottle before use.

There are a great many recipes for making cognac with your own hands at home. Important use pure alcohol excellent quality. How to cook homemade cognac from alcohol to make it truly tasty and refined?

To do this, you need to use the main components that are added to alcohol or vodka to obtain a drink similar to a real drink prepared in France:

• oak bark (imitation oak barrel);
• black tea (gives color);
• black ground coffee;
• Walnut;
• cinnamon, cloves, allspice and other spices.

It is very important not only to prepare the cognac drink correctly, but also to learn how to use it correctly. After all correct usage A cognac drink, even one made at home, will only add pleasure and sophistication to a quiet home holiday.

It is believed that the best is a fireplace with crackling wood in it and a cigar. Cognac is an intimate drink. It is better to use it in a close family circle. It is not suitable for noisy parties and grand celebrations. Cognac is the only alcoholic drink that you can drink alone, and it won’t be in bad form.

Drink this exquisite drink accepted from low tulip-shaped glasses. The temperature of the cognac should be about 20-22 degrees. This alcoholic drink should be poured no more than one quarter of a glass.

You should not drink the entire drink from a glass at once: apart from the taste of alcohol, you will not feel any other taste (bouquet). First you need catch the aroma of cognac and only then take a small sip, holding the drink in your mouth for a while - then the taste and aroma will unfold.

Professionals do not recommend using lemon as a snack; lemon can overwhelm the entire taste. An acceptable snack for cognac can be fruits, cheeses and chocolate.

Attention, TODAY only!

For those who like experimenting with homemade alcohol I advise you to make cognac from alcohol or vodka, imitating real taste burnt sugar with oak bark. The recipe is simple and relatively quick. As a result, you will get a cognac drink of normal quality with a well-balanced, mild taste. When tasting, most ordinary people will not notice a substitution with the original.
Attention! The proposed recipe for the tincture has nothing to do with real cognac or grape brandy.

Ingredients:

• alcohol 40% (vodka) – 3 liters;
• oak bark (optional) – 3 tablespoons;
• cloves - 3 pieces;
• burnt (melted) sugar – 2 teaspoons;
• nutmeg - half a teaspoon;
• vanilla sugar - to taste.

Perfect fit wine spirit, but it is very difficult to get this species, so most amateur distillers make do with ordinary ethyl alcohol(diluted to 40-45% degrees) or quality vodka. You can also prepare homemade cognac based on moonshine (distillate) purified from the smell, so that fusel oils and other impurities did not spoil the taste.

How to make cognac from alcohol

1. Pour alcohol into a glass jar.

2. Melt sugar in a frying pan until brown and add to a jar of alcohol. It is thanks to burnt sugar that the color of the drink will resemble real cognac. Then add all the other ingredients: oak bark (creates a natural smell), cloves, nutmeg and vanillin. If you don't like the flavor of any of these ingredients, feel free to omit it from the recipe.

3. Stir the resulting cognac mixture with a spatula or wooden spoon, close the lid and place in a cool, dark place for at least 30 days. Shake once every 5-7 days. Long-term infusion improves the taste.

4. On final stage Filter homemade cognac (strain through cheesecloth), pour into bottles and seal tightly. Shelf life: 2-3 years. Strength - 38-39%.

Ready cognac drink made from alcohol

The advantage of this alcohol cognac recipe is that the preparation uses cheap and available ingredients that are available in every store, and the mixing process itself takes little time. The only drawback is long time exposure (about a month), but you can’t do without it.

It is clear that the resulting cognac drink only vaguely resembles the original one, since we did not adhere to traditional technology, but used improvised means. Another similar method is shown in the video.