Everyone has heard of cognac, and brandy geeks know Armagnac, but have you heard of France’s third great brandy, calvados? The best calvados brands create a flavoursome brandy from select French apples and sometimes pears.
Calvados has a long history in France, but Louis XIV banned it from being exported beyond Normandy in the eighteenth century. Thankfully, some of the finest calvados are finally making their way onto international shelves.
- What Is Calvados?
- How Is Calvados Made?
- Best Calvados Brands
- 1. Boulard VSOP Calvados Pays d'Auge
- 2. Berneroy Calvados Fine
- 3. Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d'Auge XO
- 4. Chateau Du Breuil Calvados 12 Year
- 5. Busnel Calvados Pays d'Auge Fine
- 6. Calvados Morin Selection Contrilie
- 7. Pere Magloire Calvados Pays d'Auge VSOP
- 8. Roger Groult Calvados Pays d'Auge Venerable
- Ingrid’s Top Pick
- Understanding Calvados Age Lettering
- Conclusion
- Further Reading
What Is Calvados?
Calvados is the brandy of Normandy, made with the fruit of up to 200 different varieties of apples and perry pears. It gained appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) status and may only be made in a designated area of Normandy.
Pays d’Auge calvados has additional requirements, and producers must make Domfrontais Calvados with a minimum of 30% pears.
How Is Calvados Made?
The making of calvados begins with French apples and sometimes pears, which are crushed and fermented to make cider. This cider is distilled in pot or column stills to make eau de vie and aged in oak barrels for at least two years. (Source: Drinkcalvados.com)
Best Calvados Brands
We have selected 8 of the best calvados brands available internationally to give you a handy starting point with this magnificent French apple brandy. Let’s dive into the exciting world of calvados!
1. Boulard VSOP Calvados Pays d’Auge
Overview
- Distiller: Boulard
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Amber Gold
Review
The house of Boulard was founded in the Pays d’Auge in 1825 by Pierre-August Boulard. This calvados distillery has remained in the family ever since.
A Pays d’Auge calvados, Boulard produces its VSOP from 120 varieties of apple from Boulard’s orchards and around 500 local growers.
Much like cognac, it’s fermented and double distilled in copper pot stills. It is a blend, with the youngest part aged four years in seasoned oak barrels.
Taste Notes
Opens with hazelnut and vanilla notes; cider and applesauce mingle with dry oak. The finish is sweet apple and oak with lingering pepper and vanilla tones.
Best Served
I recommend that you enjoy this young and fruity calvados neat over ice. You can also use it as a base for cocktails such as Calvados Old-Fashioned, Sidecar, or Corpse Reviver No. 1.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Berneroy Calvados Fine
Overview
- Distiller: Berneroy
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Light Gold
Review
Berneroy, a calvados producer from the broader Calvados AOC region, produces high-quality calvados from over 180 varieties of apple and ages them in oak barrels.
An AOC calvados, Berneroy Fine is fermented for four weeks, single distilled in a copper column stills, and aged for two to three years in seasoned Limousin oak barrels.
Taste Notes
A fresh and fruity calvados, with prominent apple notes and light oak. Aftertaste lightly oaked, with delicate cinnamon and nutmeg spice and lingering apple.
Best Served
Best served neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails such as the Gummy Berneroy, Norman Delight, or Viking Margarita.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d’Auge XO
Overview
- Distiller: Christian Drouin
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Pale Gold
Review
Christian Drouin senior established the house of Drouin in the Pays d’Auge, with the help of an established calvados producer. The family is now a third-generation calvados producer.
For this award-winning XO Pays d’Auge calvados, Christian Drouin begins with some thirty varieties of apples, fermented and double-distilled, before the signature ageing.
They age the calvados that makes up the XO expression in ex-bordeaux, ex-cognac, and ex-sherry casks for a minimum of eight years, with some of the stock being far older.
Taste Notes
Rich baked apple, nutty flavours, plus overtones of apricots and light oak. The aftertaste displays raisins and cinnamon.
Best Served
This stunning calvados is best enjoyed neat, at just below room temperature, from a tulip glass. You could certainly use this aged apple brandy in a flavoursome sangria.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Chateau Du Breuil Calvados 12 Year
Overview
- Distiller: Chateau Du Breuil
- ABV: 41% (82 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Light Gold
Review
The castle, or château, of Breuil in Normandy has become the home of La Spiriterie Française, a producer of fine French spirits. As they are located in Normandy, it’s no wonder that their focus has been on calvados.
Chateau Du Breuil Calvados 12 Yr is a Pays d’Auge calvados, double distilled in pot stills and aged at least 12 years in oak barrels in the castle’s cellars.
Taste Notes
Fruity, with notes of apricot, cocoa, liquorice, and mild woodiness. A long finish with mild spice and a touch of sweetness.
Best Served
I recommend enjoying it neat as a flavoursome aperitif or digestif. To my palate, it’s similar to a sweet vermouth.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Busnel Calvados Pays d’Auge Fine
Overview
- Distiller: Busnel
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Gold
Review
Established in 1820 by Ernest Busnel and Madame Quétel, the Busnel family has run this esteemed calvados producer for four generations. They have been the official suppliers to the RMS Queen Mary and the SS France.
A Pays d’Auge Calvados; they make Busnel’s Fine from a blend of different Pays d’Auge calvados and age it for at least two years in oak barrels.
Taste Notes
Fresh apple and pear flavours mingle with hints of citrus and vanilla and floral notes. I love the long finish with subtle woody smoothness.
Best Served
Serve neat or with ice, or in cocktails such as apple mojitos, calvados and tonic, or pair with ginger ale.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Calvados Morin Selection Contrilie
Overview
- Distiller: Morin
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Gold
Review
Calvados Morin began in 1889 in the Risle Valley before its modern incarnation in 1945 in Thélème Distillery’s former facilities in the Eure Valley. Jacques Viry, who has been with the company since 1945, and his son, have succeeded Pierre Morin.
An AOC calvados, Calvados Morin Selection is aged in Limousin oak barrels for two to three years in the underground chalk cellars of Eure.
Taste Notes
Fresh and fruity, with prominent apple notes and well-integrated wood—a moreish toasty finish.
Best Served
I must say that this tasty calvados is best enjoyed neat. You can also pair it with tonic water or cocktails such as a calvados Sidecar or a Normandy Flower.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Pere Magloire Calvados Pays d’Auge VSOP
Overview
- Distiller: Pere Magloire
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Golden Brown
Review
Begun in 1821 and named after innkeeper Dominique Magloire, by 1900, Père Magloire had become France’s leading producer of calvados. Its reputation grew over the twentieth century. Debrise-Dulac owns the brand, which is now the leading export brand of calvados.
Pere Calvados VSOP is double distilled in pot stills and aged in oak barrels for at least four years.
Taste Notes
Apple blossom and cider mingle with butterscotch vanilla and bitter oak. This finish combines lingering oak with candy apple, vanilla, and hazelnut notes.
Best Served
Enjoy neat or in cocktails such as apple mojitos, Norman Negronis, and Norman mules.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. Roger Groult Calvados Pays d’Auge Venerable
Overview
- Distiller: Roger Groult
- ABV: 41% (82 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Light Gold
Review
A family producer that began in 1860 with Pierre Groult, the brand has remained in the family’s hands for five generations. Roger Groult gave the brand his name and letters of nobility after World War 2.
A Pays d’Auge calvados; Roger Groult Vénérable is double distilled in copper pot stills before being aged for a minimum of eighteen years in oak barrels to develop complex flavour.
Taste Notes
Spiced apple pie and cherry wood with notes of orange peel—aftertaste persistent baked apple and gingerbread.
Best Served
Serve neat, at room temperature, in a tulip glass, or as a Vénérable Old-Fashioned. Wow!
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d’Auge XO
My top pick is Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d’Auge XO. This incredibly rich calvados unleashes delicious baked apple with hints of apricots and smooth light oak. The finish is cinnamon-dusted dried fruits.
Understanding Calvados Age Lettering
A simple lettering system displays the age of the cognac;
| Label | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| V.S | Very Special | Aged for a minimum of 2 years |
| Reserve | Reserved | Aged for a minimum of 3 years |
| V.S.O.P | Very Special Old Pale | Aged for a minimum of 4 years |
| X.O | Extra Old | Aged for a minimum of 6 years |
Conclusion
So that’s eight of the best calvados brands, which should give you a fair idea of the range of this beautiful French spirit. If you have not yet tried calvados, it’s time for you to make the acquaintance of France’s third great brandy. Finally, let’s not forget the Greeks…. check out my article on 7 Metaxa Brandes to fall in love with.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
