Armenian brandy is popular and often given as a gift, so shelves hold a lot of it, and the quality varies. The label helps: it carries almost everything you need to know. Here is how to read it and what else to look at.
What the label tells you
Age. This matters most. It shows how many years the youngest spirit in the blend spent in oak. The older the brandy, the softer the taste.
Stars. They mark young brandies. Three stars mean at least three years of ageing, four at least four, five at least five.
Letters. Traditionally, aged Armenian brandies are marked with Russian letter codes:
- KV, aged brandy: at least 6 years;
- KVVK, aged brandy of the highest quality: at least 8 years;
- KS, old brandy: at least 10 years;
- OS, very old: at least 20 years.
Many producers simply print the age in numbers, for example "20 years". That is the clearest.
Producer and address. Armenian brandy is made in Armenia. If the label has no Armenian producer and distillery address, be careful.
How to spot a genuine brandy
Check the excise stamp. In some countries every bottle carries an excise or tax stamp. In Russia, for example, it can be scanned with the official "Antikontrafakt Alko" app, which shows what the bottle is and where it was sold.
Look at the price. A twenty-year-old brandy cannot cost the same as a three-year-old. Years in an oak barrel are expensive, and a very low price on an old brandy speaks for itself.
Smell it. An aged brandy has a complex aroma: dried fruit, vanilla, oak, chocolate. If all you smell is sharp vanilla, like a baking flavouring, that is a bad sign. Some producers try to fake that aroma with additives instead of long ageing in the barrel.
Buy from reliable places. Brand stores, large chains, airport duty free and producers' official websites. Markets and private sellers carry the highest risk.
Which Armenian brandy to choose
For cocktails, a three- to five-year-old brandy is enough. To drink neat, choose an aged one of ten years or more: it is soft and has a long finish. As a gift, especially for someone important, people choose brandy aged twenty years or more, in a box or case.
TUFF makes Armenian brandy in two ages. TUFF XO is aged 20 years; the Ani edition comes in a black gift box with a stone window. TUFF Heritage is aged 30 years and comes in a dark blue case. Both are 40% ABV, and each bottle is closed with a cap of volcanic tuff carved by hand. The TUFF collection
Questions and answers
Which Armenian brandy is best?
The one that fits the occasion. For cocktails three to five years is enough; to drink neat, take ten years or more; as a gift, twenty or more. Look at the age, the producer and where you buy it.
What do the stars on brandy mean?
The age of a young brandy: three stars mean at least three years in oak, four at least four, five at least five.
What do KV, KVVK, KS and OS mean?
These are aged brandies: KV at least 6 years, KVVK at least 8 years, KS at least 10 years, OS at least 20 years.
How can I check that a brandy is genuine?
Check the excise stamp where your country uses one, the producer and address on the label, and whether the price matches the age. Buy from reliable shops.
Where to buy TUFF · How brandy is made · TUFF XO or Heritage
Read next: Armenian brandy (Armenian cognac): a complete guide · Armenian brandy as a gift: how to choose
