France
By the 16th century, France had become the main producer and exporter of wine throughout Europe. The conditions for the birth of cognac were also created here. Cognac is made from cognac spirit, which in turn is obtained by distilling grape wine followed by aging.
A funny legend is associated with the birth of cognac, according to which it was invented thanks to the mystical dream of a certain Chevalier Delacroix. He was engaged in wine distillation and one day he had a dream in which the devil wanted to take his soul and threw him into boiling water. But nothing happened to the chevalier, so the devil decided to throw him a second time. When the chevalier woke up, he had the idea to conduct a similar experiment with wine. After the second distillation of the wine, the resulting drink turned out to be completely different in taste. Part of the newly created liquid was forgotten in the cellar for many years. When the cask was opened again, it turned out that the drink had acquired unique taste qualities. In fact, this is the basic rule for making cognac: double distillation and long aging.
Cognac is aged exclusively in oak casks made from porous wood cut in specific regions of France. The cellars are divided into dry and humid, and depending on where the cognac casks are kept, its flavor is formed. During aging, cognac loses some of its strength, and the oak gives it an amber color and a special bouquet of aromas. At the end of the "creation" of cognac, it is the turn of the master blender. They say that to become such a master, one must study for decades. His task is to mix cognacs of different ages, different aromas and bouquets to obtain a unique blend, a one-of-a-kind alcoholic masterpiece.
Cognac is enjoyed slowly, sipping and savoring the bouquet. Initially, it was not customary to have any food with cognac. Only under Nicholas II was the rule introduced to have the drink with a slice of lemon. Cognac is served after a meal, before coffee or tea. Cognac in the French style is a cup of coffee, a glass of cognac, and a cigarette. In cocktails, cognac is combined with milk, cream, ice cream, coffee, orange or lemon juice, tea.
British Isles
Scotland and Ireland vie for the right to claim the invention of another well-known alcoholic drink - whisky. The Irish claim that it was they who invented this drink in the 16th century, while the Scots assert that the place of creation of whisky was their monasteries. In those days, whisky was also called the elixir of life. One way or another, the first large distilleries appeared in Dublin.
Whisky is made by distilling barley mash, for which heat exchangers are used, followed by mandatory aging. Moreover, some varieties after the main aging are placed in casks that previously held sherry, port, and other drinks, where they "finish" for several more months and acquire new aromas. It is also common to blend different types of whisky - that is, to mix malt and grain whiskies in various proportions.
Whisky is usually drunk from glasses with a wide and thick bottom. It is usually served with ice and diluted with water or soda. In Ireland, they are more inventive and add tea, coffee, lemonade, cream, etc. to whisky.
Caribbean Islands
The well-known drink of pirates and bandits - rum - is produced from the completely un-"piratical" sugar cane. More precisely, from molasses, which remains after sugar production. From the fermented juice of this molasses, alcohol is produced, later used to make rum.
Pirates and sailors loved rum simply because it not only cheered and dulled the feeling of hunger but also warmed well in bad weather. Therefore, at one time, Caribbean rum was introduced into the daily ration of British sailors, and this tradition was maintained in the navy until 1970.
After obtaining rum alcohol by distillation, it is aged for several years, then purified with activated carbon and then "seasoned" with various additives. When fermenting rum to obtain a special bouquet, cinnamon, vanilla, pineapple, grapes, plum, clover, peach, etc. may be added. Rum is also aged in oak casks, which give it an amber hue. If metal tanks are used, it remains colorless.
Rum is usually drunk from glasses with thick walls and bottom, with ice or a slice of lemon. Rum can be mixed with carbonated drinks, syrups, or fruit juices. Cocktails with rum are usually served beautifully decorated: with paper umbrellas, sparklers, or flowers, and some drinks - in half a coconut. Rum goes best with lemon juice or coconut milk. Dark rum is consumed hot, in grogs, where it is mixed with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and hot water.
England
Another strong alcoholic drink was invented thanks to the distillation process, but this time not wine, but grain spirit with the addition of juniper berry infusion. This is gin. It is believed that it was first invented by the Dutch professor of medicine Franciscus Sylvius. Mass production of gin began in England.
Like other drinks, gin experienced an era of peak popularity when it was produced in huge quantities, and quality was somehow forgotten. All this led to an alcohol crisis, or rather, mass consumption of this strong drink in the lowest strata of society due to its cheapness. Therefore, the British government was forced to take measures, and after the introduction of strict licensing and taxation rules, gin became more expensive, and the mass obsession with this drink subsided somewhat.
Gin is most often drunk in cocktails or with tonic and juices. Gin is served at the start of lunch as an appetizer, and if it is a cocktail, it is already considered an aperitif.
Mexico
One of the legendary strong alcoholic drinks is Mexican tequila. Its history is linked to the invention by the Toltec tribes of a drink from agave - pulque. It was a fermented juice, thick and slightly frothy, with a strength of four to six degrees. The Indians deified the plant from which this drink was made. For a long time, pulque was the most popular in Mexico. Tequila was born from the fermented juice of the agave. It should be noted that real tequila is made only from one variety - blue agave, although there are more than a hundred varieties of this plant. From other agaves, a drink similar to tequila is produced - mezcal, which, unlike tequila, is distilled only once and is somewhat stronger in proof. However, finding mezcal outside of Mexico is difficult.
Some types of tequila, such as white or silver, are bottled immediately after distillation. But Reposado and Anejo, like the drinks described above, are aged in oak barrels from several months to 10 years.
Traditionally in their homeland, Mexicans drank tequila in one gulp from small tall glasses called "little horse". It is still customary to pour tequila into such glasses. Tequila does not need to be frozen like vodka. It should be neither too warm nor too cold. As for whether to drink it all in one go, that is a matter of taste. The most common and correct way to consume tequila neat is with salt and lemon. Tequila is served with a pile of salt and a green lemon - lime. The drinker rubs the pad of the outer left palm between the thumb and index finger with lemon juice, pours a pile of salt on that spot, then licks it off and drinks the contents of the glass in one gulp. The drink is immediately chased with a slice of lemon. A "refreshing" effect is guaranteed.