Let's Talk BBQ
Spriited Discussions => SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS => Topic started by: Roget on October 06, 2018, 07:23:14 PM
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(https://storage04.dropshots.com/photos8000/photos/1366801/20181006/r90_185128.jpg)
I know it is cognac. I assume it was distilled in Russia, or assuredly part of the former Soviet Union. (Yes, there is quite a backstory to this bottle, concerning how it came into my possession)
I can't seem to find anything on this particular brand.
Any further information any of you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
If anyone is interested, I will be happy to share the backstory.
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Cyrillic alphabet....
Soviet block language...interesting. A Google search?
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(https://storage04.dropshots.com/photos8000/photos/1366801/20181006/r90_185128.jpg)
If anyone is interested, I will be happy to share the backstory.
Keep the story, share the bottle!
(yeah, we would like to hear the story)
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I would be willing to help you out by sharing the bottle and listening to the story.
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Thanks fellas.
I did a Google search on every aspect of it I could think of.
As to the story, I play a bit part in it.
One of my friends passed about a year ago.
Before he died he gifted me with this bottle of cognac. He knew I had a taste for Brandy.
During his life my friend was a very high ranking figure in Indiana academia. He was renowned in several international circles.
He shared time in his home with the Dalai Lama among many others.
One of the others was Mikhail Gorbachev, who was also a visitor in my friend’s home. On one of these visits my friend was gifted with this bottle of Russian cognac, which was later gifted to me.
I was never personally in the company of Mikhail Gorbachev. (I'm a nobody :D) I do have pictures of my friend and Gorbachev together in his home.
This is just a small bit of political memorabilia that I would like to know a little more about. Yea, I know, I've got too much time on my hands.
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I have a business aquaintence in Moscow. I’ll see if he will translate it for you. Or knows anything about it.
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I have a business aquaintence in Moscow. I’ll see if he will translate it for you. Or knows anything about it.
Appreciate that.
Like I say, I pretty much know what I have. I mainly am interested in info about that particular brand & where it is distilled.
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Correct me if I'm wrong here but, I believe that the only place cognac can be named as such is the Cognac Region of France. Everything else is considered brandy. Which does not make it any less tasty as it's in the name only not the quality.
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Correct me if I'm wrong here but, I believe that the only place cognac can be named as such is the Cognac Region of France. Everything else is considered brandy. Which does not make it any less tasty as it's in the name only not the quality.
You bring up a valid point.
If this were distilled in Russia it definitely would not technically be cognac.
"kohbrk" is pronounced "cognac" in Russian.
Is this most likely from one of the cognac houses in France, which has been packaged for distribution in Russia?
That's why I'm interested in what the brand is. With almost a hundred cognac brands it could be anything.
I might have a cheap bottle of cognac or I might have a very expensive one. (not that I care about the value, as such)
I doubt that Gorbachev drinks cheap booze, but it's possible that he pulled out the cheap stuff to give to my friend. (kinda like when your obnoxious brother in law wants a drink :D :D)
Perhaps that's why my friend gave it to me. ??? :o :(
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Correct me if I'm wrong here but, I believe that the only place cognac can be named as such is the Cognac Region of France. Everything else is considered brandy. Which does not make it any less tasty as it's in the name only not the quality.
You bring up a valid point.
If this were distilled in Russia it definitely would not technically be cognac.
"kohbrk" is pronounced "cognac" in Russian.
Is this most likely from one of the cognac houses in France, which has been packaged for distribution in Russia?
That's why I'm interested in what the brand is. With almost a hundred cognac brands it could be anything.
I might have a cheap bottle of cognac or I might have a very expensive one. (not that I care about the value, as such)
I doubt that Gorbachev drinks cheap booze, but it's possible that he pulled out the cheap stuff to give to my friend. (kinda like when your obnoxious brother in law wants a drink :D :D)
Perhaps that's why my friend gave it to me. ??? :o :(
It's hard to say without a good translation what exactly you have. I did read that 95% of all cognac made in France is exported. Is it possible that what you have is a relabled cognac, or a brandy which culturally is called cognac? Either way a unique gift with a neat story.
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There is an Azerbaijan Cognac called Baku or Baky (or Баку in Cyrillic)... Maybe?
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There is an Azerbaijan Cognac called Baku or Baky (or Баку in Cyrillic)... Maybe?
I think you are definitely on to something here. I don't know why I didn't think of Baku Azerbaijan.
My bottle is labeled "Баку коньяк".
Баку, of course, is pronounced the same as Baku.
The city of Baku was actually known as Баку during the soviet era.
It appears that part of the eastern bloc insists that the brandy they make is in fact the same as cognac, seeing as how they double distill it the same as the French do.
Thus they label it as such.
I still can't find any reference to a Баку or Baku brand of brandy or cognac.
Where do you find a reference to that specifically?
thank you for your help.
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There is an Azerbaijan Cognac called Baku or Baky (or Баку in Cyrillic)... Maybe?
I think you are definitely on to something here. I don't know why I didn't think of Baku Azerbaijan.
My bottle is labeled "Баку коньяк".
Баку, of course, is pronounced the same as Baku.
The city of Baku was actually known as Баку during the soviet era.
It appears that part of the eastern bloc insists that the brandy they make is in fact the same as cognac, seeing as how they double distill it the same as the French do.
Thus they label it as such.
I still can't find any reference to a Баку or Baku brand of brandy or cognac.
Where do you find a reference to that specifically?
thank you for your help.
I saw a bottle once in a bar. The bottle I saw was long and skinny though. Looked like the bottle in this link...
http://www.absheron-sharab.az/products/brandy.html#filter=.brandy
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It's made by Mosazervinzavod JSC with cognac spirits from Azerbaijan. Your bottle is fancier than what they have on their website though (English version link below). I may be mistaken but I think the rough translation of the "Baky" on the label is actually "Baku" which is the capital of Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea. I also believe that is bottled as an 8 year old cognac in a collectible bottle. Note the "text" with the 8-10 towards the bottom of your lable (Mosazervinzavod makes a 8 year old blend of 8-10 year oak aged Cognac from what I found). I think yours is just a much older label.
http://mosazervinzavod.ru/cgi-bin/mosazervinzavod/index.pl?text=page&i=12&lng=en (http://mosazervinzavod.ru/cgi-bin/mosazervinzavod/index.pl?text=page&i=12&lng=en)
http://mosazervinzavod.ru/cgi-bin/mosazervinzavod/index.pl?text=page&i=17&lng=en (http://mosazervinzavod.ru/cgi-bin/mosazervinzavod/index.pl?text=page&i=17&lng=en)
(https://storage04.dropshots.com/photos8000/photos/1366801/20181006/r90_185128.jpg)(http://mosazervinzavod.ru/mosazervinzavod/himg/baku_07suv206336!206!336.jpg)
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It is cognac from Azebaijan. Baku cognac is a well known brand. There is a long tradition of cognac production in Azerbaijan and neighbouring Georgia and Armenia, as they are wine growing regions.
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Thanks again guys.
I think collectively we have come up with the answers I was looking for.
I appreciate your help.
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I really had no idea so I asked on a forum that has mostly people from that area of the world. On fellow added this to the post over there this morning. LOL
"You are right this cognac is from Azerbaijan, former soviet (USSR) republic. Azerbaijani cognac never was considered a "good" cognac in former Soviet Union. Georgian and Azerbaijani cognacs used to be considered just "OK" cognacs. On the other hand Armenian (especially five stars) was the best one and second one in that rating line was cognac from Moldova - also former soviet republic - so called "white stork". None of those cognac can be compared with any decent French cognacs, IMO. Last time I tried those cognacs was almost 30 years ago and my taste is based on that experience. Who knows, maybe quality of their cognac's has changed since then but I really doubt that....."
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Thanks. Interesting comment.
Maybe Gorbachev doesn't have a refined palate.
Or perhaps his gift was an underhanded way of saying,"yea, but we still don't like you". :D :D :D
I wonder what he brought for President Reagan. :)
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Interesting finish to your story!
But, I'm still a bit confused as to how/why all these, then satellite regions of the USSR, now countries of their own, can call their brandy....cognac. As I understand, all cognac is brandy but not all brandy can be cognac. Cognac must be grown, distilled and barrel aged in the Cognac Region of France, thus the name cognac! If a brandy is grown, distilled and aged 1 kilometer outside of the Cognac Region it can not be sold as cognac. Cognac is not necessarily any better than brandy, and vice versa, but the quality of the grapes, the distilling process and the aging time determine the caliber of the liquor. Obviously France cannot govern any other country's product but it just doesn't seem kosher! I personally would never purchase a cognac made anywhere but France....brandy yes.