When people talk about Georgian drinks they usually mean wine and chacha. But Georgia has another pride: brandy, which in the former Soviet countries is still often called cognac. Georgian brandy is made from local grapes and aged for years in oak barrels, and the best bottles hold their own against famous French names. It makes an excellent gift and a good reason for a tasting in Tbilisi.

Cognac or brandy?

Under international rules the word "cognac" belongs only to spirits from the Cognac region in France. So Georgian producers label export bottles "brandy", while the domestic market often uses the Georgian word "konyaki". Technically the drinks are close: grape wine is distilled and aged in oak.

Don't confuse brandy with aged chacha. Chacha is distilled from grape pomace, brandy from young wine, so brandy is usually softer and closer to classic cognac in taste.

A little history

Industrial brandy production in Georgia began in the late 19th century. The key figure is David Sarajishvili, a chemist and entrepreneur educated in Europe. In the 1880s he set up brandy production in Tbilisi using French methods and Georgian grapes. His brandies won awards at international exhibitions, and Sarajishvili himself became a major patron of Georgian culture and charity.

In Soviet times Georgian brandy was one of the most prestigious drinks in the USSR, aged for decades and served at official receptions. Today Georgia has both historic houses with century-old stocks of brandy spirit and small new producers.

What it's made from

Georgian brandy is made mostly from white grapes with good acidity, above all Rkatsiteli, plus Mtsvane, Chinuri and others. Young wine is double-distilled and the spirit is aged in oak barrels, often Georgian oak, gaining colour and aromas of vanilla, dried fruit and nuts.

Reading the label

  • Stars (3, 4, 5) mark young brandies, roughly matching the years of ageing of the youngest spirit.
  • Vintage-named brandies are aged six years or more and carry their own names. The older, the smoother and more complex.
  • Collection brandies are aged further for many years — expensive gift bottles.
  • VS, VSOP, XO appear on export bottles, from youngest to oldest.

If you are not a brandy expert, a 6–10-year-old bottle is a great gift: clearly better than the "stars" without the price of a collector's item.

Where to taste in Tbilisi

  • Brandy houses and brand shops. Tbilisi has historic producers and tasting rooms where you can tour cellars full of barrels and taste brandies of different ages. Book tours in advance, especially in high season.
  • Wine bars and restaurants. Many good restaurants have a brandy list — order 30–40 ml of two or three ages to feel the difference.
  • Specialist shops. Old Tbilisi and Rustaveli Avenue have many wine shops whose staff will help you choose and sometimes let you taste.

How to drink it

  • In small sips from a tulip or brandy glass.
  • At room temperature, without ice, especially older brandies.
  • In Georgia brandy often comes with coffee, cheese, nuts, churchkhela and chocolate.
  • At a feast it appears towards the end, with dessert.

Prices

Approximate prices in Tbilisi shops:

  • young brandy (3–5 stars), 0.5 l — 25–60 lari;
  • 6–10 years — 60–150 lari;
  • 15–20 years and collection bottles — from 150 lari to several thousand.

A tasting at a producer typically costs 30–100 lari depending on the number of samples.

Choosing a gift

  • Buy in brand stores or large chains, not on the street — brandy is a popular target for fakes.
  • Check the excise stamp and an intact cork.
  • A gift box or wooden case protects the bottle on the way home.
  • To surprise someone, choose a brandy that names the grape or the year it was laid down — rare on other markets.

Taking it home

The same rules as for chacha apply: pack bottles in checked luggage, well wrapped, or buy in duty free after security. Check your country's allowance for spirits, typically one to two litres per adult duty free.

In short

Georgian brandy is an underrated gem next to wine and chacha. Take a cellar tour in Tbilisi, compare brandies of different ages in a bar and bring home a 6–10-year-old bottle — a gift that will impress even connoisseurs.