🥃 Armenian brandy
Grape brandy from Armenia aged in oak barrels; the best-known brand is Ararat; under an agreement with the EU, the name “cognac” is being replaced by 2032.
Armenian brandy is a grape brandy from Armenia: wine made from local grapes is distilled and aged in oak barrels. The best-known brand is Ararat from the Yerevan Brandy Company. Under Armenia’s agreement with the EU, the name “cognac” on these drinks is being gradually replaced, and new batches under that name will not be produced from 2032.
History. According to RFE/RL, industrial brandy production in Armenia began in 1887, using methods of French distillers. The main source of grapes for wine and brandy is still the Ararat Valley, a hot plain near Mount Ararat, and the drink has become one of Armenia’s main export products.
Brands and age. According to Difford’s Guide, the Yerevan Brandy Company belongs to the Pernod Ricard group. Its Ararat 5 Year Old is the most popular in the range, while Ararat Akhtamar 10 Year Old is 40% ABV and aged 10 years. The name Akhtamar comes from a legend about Princess Tamar and Lake Van.
Name and law. Cognac is a protected geographical indication of France. Under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the EU, as Armenpress writes, the word “cognac” was to be removed from the domestic market within 14 years and from exports within 25 years. In 2021 the EU allocated 3 million euros for the transition to the new name.
Why this matters to you. The word “cognac” on an Armenian bottle does not mean French cognac from Charente: it is a brandy from Armenia. Read the age in years on the label; in the EU such a drink is sold as brandy with at least 36% ABV. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Facts
| Raw material | wine made from grapes grown in Armenia, mainly in the Ararat Valley |
|---|---|
| Cask type | oak barrels |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | Ararat Akhtamar 10 Year Old — 40% ABV; in the EU brandy — at least 36% ABV |
| Year founded | industrial production — from 1887 (according to RFE/RL) |
| Legal basis | EU–Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (2017): phase-out of the name “cognac”; in the EU — the “brandy” category, Regulation (EU) 2019/787 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Armenian brandy → kind of → 🍇 Grape brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🌿 Grape
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Armenians
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape brandies, 🥃 Brandy
- Related to
- 📍 Ararat Valley, 🗺️ Armenian wine, 🌍 Caucasus
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Cognac, 🥃 Georgian brandy, 🥃 Oghi
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Armenian brandy is cognac?
No. Cognac is a protected name of France; the Armenian drink is a grape brandy, and under the agreement with the EU the word “cognac” on it is being gradually replaced.
When will Armenia stop using the name “cognac”?
According to RFE/RL, new batches under that name will not be produced from 2032; for exports the agreement provides a longer transition period.
Who makes Ararat brandy?
The Yerevan Brandy Company, which according to Difford’s Guide belongs to the Pernod Ricard group.
What is the strength of Armenian brandy?
Ararat Akhtamar 10 Year Old is 40% ABV; in the EU, brandy must have at least 36% ABV.
Where do the grapes for Armenian brandy come from?
The main source is the Ararat Valley near Mount Ararat.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🗺️ Armenian wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🥃 Georgian brandy — Grape brandy from Georgia: white wine from local varieties is distilled and aged in oak; the tradition dates from the 1860s to 1880s, and the best-known producer is Sarajishvili in Tbilisi.
- 🌍 Caucasus — A mountain region between the Black and Caspian Seas: the home of kefir and matsoni.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Armenians — Ancient people of the Armenian Highland: 2.93 million in Armenia (2022); matsun and motal in dairy cuisine, Areni-1 winery from about 4000 BC.
Similar
🥃 Georgian brandy · 🥃 Raisin spirit · 🥃 Armagnac Ténarèze · 🥃 Haut Armagnac · 🥃 Bas Armagnac · 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- RFE/RL (21.06.2021), Amos Chapple: Armenian 'Cognac' off the shelf as EU pledges 3.5 million dollars to drop the name (deadline 2032; EUR 3 million; large-scale brandy production since 1887)
- Armenpress (13.07.2018): Armenia launches rebranding seeking new name for its prominent cognac (EU–Armenia CEPA: 14 years for the domestic market, 25 years for exports)
- Difford's Guide: Ararat Akhtamar 10 Year Old Armenian Brandy (40 %; Yerevan Brandy Company; Pernod Ricard)
- Difford's Guide: Ararat 5 Year Old Armenian Brandy (most popular of the Ararat range; Yerevan Brandy Company; Pernod Ricard)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: category 24 (akvavit), brandy (from 36 % vol., oak maturation)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)