Calvados, an alcohol like no other

Calvados, a typical Normandy brandy and Calvados speciality as its name suggests, is made by distilling cider and perry. Its tradition is already attested in the 17th century. Protected by several AOCs, calvados is a must-have specialty for your vacation, to be discovered in the artisanal distilleries of the Normandy countryside. So don’t leave your campsite in Calvados without tasting it!

The different calvados AOCs

Normandy eau de vie is protected by three appellations:

• AOC Calvados, which represents three quarters of total production and is derived from the distillation of cider from Basse-Normandie and Pays de Bray.
• AOC Calvados du Pays d’Auge, distilled from Pays d’Auge cider
• AOC Calvados-Domfrontais, which accounts for just 1% of total calvados production, and is produced from the distillation of cider and perry, with at least 30% perry. The cider and perry distilled to produce calvados for this AOC must come from the Domfrontais region. AOC Domfrontais calvados must also be aged in oak barrels for at least 3 years.

Discover calvados in cocktails

To be blended with other spirits or fruit juices, calvados should ideally be chosen young (around 2 years), from the Calvados AOC appellation, sold under the Fine or Very Special (VS) age designation. The fruitiness is intense and the alcohol dynamic. The apple flavor is clear and can be combined with other ingredients without unpleasant surprises. Why not combine it with pommeau and apple juice for a Norman touch, with lime, mint and Canada Dry to make an apple mojito, or as a tonic like gin.

Using calvados in cooking

The search for intense flavors and complex aromas in cooking makes Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC the ideal eau de vie: its double distillation gives it a unique aromatic richness and a long, powerful flavor of cooked apples. In the kitchen, don’t be afraid to use quality products that will sublimate your savory sauces as well as your sweet preparations. Calvados can be used to flambé crêpes, to make trou normand ice cream, to flavor pan-fried apples, as well as to make vinaigrettes, pastries and the famous Caen-style tripe.

Calvados as an aperitif and for tasting

For a refreshing, simple and fruity aperitif, Calvados AOC or Domfrontais AOC are the best choice. In both appellations, 3-year-old eaux de vie (appellation d’âge Réserve or Vieux) are distinguished by an attack that is not overly alcoholic, emphasizing fruit notes.

If you want to relax with a glass of calvados as you would with a fine whisky, and enjoy every sip of your beverage, then opt for the richness of a calvados produced by double distillation: this is the case for some AOC calvados, but especially and systematically for AOC Pays d’Auge. Look for an eau de vie at least 4 years old, under the names Very Old, Very Special Old Pale or Vieille Réserve. For special occasions, there are even more prestigious calvados, such as Extra Old, Hors d’âge, Napoléon or Très Vieille Réserve.

Where to taste and buy calvados?

Here are our favorite places to buy the famous eau de vie, some of which will also take you on a little Calvados tourism at the same time!

Roger Groult

A family distillery of vintage calvados, located in Valorbiquet, whose cellars and press are open to visitors. Tastings in the boutique.

Christian Drouin

An artisan distillery in the charming setting of an old Norman half-timbered building in Pont-L’Evêque. The guided tour takes in the manor house, orchards and press, stills and ageing cellars.

Château du Breuil

At Breuil-en-Auge near Lisieux, the grounds of a picturesque château are home to a distillery and orchard. Discover 17th-century cellars and a projection show. Vintage tastings in an antique wine press.

Le Lieu Chéri

In Ouilly-le-Vicomte, an estate where you can taste AOC Pays d’Auge calvados and visit the press, cellars, distillery and winery. 45-minute guided tour followed by in-store tasting.

Le Manoir de Grandouet

At Cambremer in the Pays d’Auge, visit the cellars of the Grandouet manor house during a 30-minute guided tour. The store offers calvados from the distillery alongside cheeses from the farm.

Calvados Experience

In Pont-L’Évêque, a spectacular interactive space to discover the secrets of calvados production. The immersive tour is followed by an introduction to the art of tasting.

A bottle of Calvados costs between €20 and €700 for some 60-year-old bottles!