anchor distilling co.
CALVADOS
anchor distilling co.
CALVADOS
CHRISTIAN DROUIN France The history of producing apple cider at the Christian Drouin estate stretches as far back as 1638, when barrels of cider were offered as payment for a portion of the rent. Surrounded by an orchard of cider apple trees, the estate is representative of local architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries comprised of a group of half-timbered buildings, including a press house, stillroom, store rooms where the spirit is aged, a bottling plant and an early 17th century manor house.
1 | Sélection Calvados Available in 375ml & 750ml
While Calvados Pays d’Auge needs to undergo lengthy aging in oak casks to reach full maturity, calvados from the Domfront region can be enjoyed young. In Domfront, pears are added at a minimum of 30% and the calvados is single distilled and aged for at least three years. Sélection Calvados is recommended for those who appreciate calvados as a long drink at aperitif time, and is also well suited to the preparation of cocktails. 40% ABV
THE ART OF Vintage Calvados
“Drouin’s Calvados are always excellent, even inexpensive bottles like the Sélection.” - Eric Asimov, New York Times
Fine Pays d’Auge Calvados
Double distilled and aged over three years in small oak casks, this is a terrific example of a young Calvados Pays d’Auge. The intense apple aromas are echoed on the clear, vivacious palate of demonstrative apple flavors. 40% ABV
SILVER MEDAL - International Wine & Spirits Competition 2011 2 | VSOP Pays d’Auge Calvados
This V.S.O.P. Calvados is matured for five to 14 years in used sherry and port casks. A good balance of the apple flavor characteristic of younger brandies with spicy aromas, full-bodied flavor and a lingering finish showcasing the older components. 40% ABV
SILVER MEDAL - San Francisco World Spirits Competition
“My father, Christian Drouin Sr., started to produce calvados on a farm he bought in 1960. Until 1979, he distilled and aged the production without selling anything. He built an inventory of very high quality calvados; he also bought some older calvados from farmers who retired. A sleeping company between my father and myself was created in 1969 called C & C Drouin. In 1979, I started to transform the inventory into a small business. As my father never mixed years of production, it was possible to sell all calvados produced with their respective vintage, and older vintages of calvados bought from farmers enabled us to offer a unique collection of vintages. Calvados develops quickly during the first 15 to 25 years. Cognac, armagnac and rum develop faster because the temperature is higher than in Normandy. The influence of the year, depending on rain and temperature, is noticeable during the first years of aging, then the influence of the cask becomes dominant. To give each vintage its own character, we play with different types of barrels including calvados and cider casks, port, sherry, madeira, muscat de rivesaltes, banyuls and cognac. It is difficult to predict the development. Normally after 15 to 25 years, the quality still improves, though at a slower pace. Every year we release a new vintage when the calvados reach 20 years of aging in cask, and I select the best barrels for the vintages.” - Christian Drouin
3 | Hors d’Age Pays d’Auge Calvados (1)
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THE Apples OF Christian Drouin Calvados The estate orchard was planted and grafted between 1991 and 1993. For the making of calvados, approximately 30 varieties of apples are used. To obtain juice containing the necessary sugar, tannins and acidity, the correct blend of sweet, bitter-sweet, bitter and acidic apples must be used. The estate orchard is planted only with traditional low-yield varieties, carefully selected to ensure a proper balance. Harvesting is carried out by shaking the branches of the trees, causing the apples to fall onto tarpaulins spread out below the trees, which are gathered by hand and placed into sacks.
After more than 15 years in the cask, the color of Hors d’Age is flamboyant amber, and the nose is complex and balanced. On the palate it is smooth, dominated by wood and spice and with great length. 42% ABV
“A thrilling, top-drawer Pays d’Auge Calvados that smells and tastes of baked apple strudel and baked pear...Hard to find anymore but worth the search.” - F. Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal
Vintage Calvados
4 | XO Pays d’Auge Calvados
Christian Drouin hosts the world’s largest selection of single vintage calvados. The date on the bottle is the year of distillation, and blending with older calvados is not permitted. Apples harvested from October to December are distilled in the next calendar year. The bottle shows the years of bottling and of harvest. Christian Drouin takes particular care in selecting the casks for aging the rich full-bodied ciders, as this ultimately determines the quality and breeding of a first-class calvados. The barrel designation is noted accordingly.
GOLD MEDAL - Vimoutiers 2012
Calvados is single-distilled and aged in old oak casks unless otherwise noted. Calvados Pays d’Auge is double distilled and generally aged in used sherry and port casks. For more information on vintage selections, please visit AnchorDistilling.com. All vintage selections are 42% ABV
This special Christian Drouin X.O. Calvados is aged in small oak casks. The nose is very complex, yet delicate, with notes of ripe apples, tarte tatin and vanilla. The palate is supple, rich and long. 40% ABV (5)
25 Year Old Pays d’Auge Calvados Christian Drouin Calvados 25 Year Old is a subtle beauty; dark amber in color with aromas as sweet and rich as buttery apple crisp. The palate is lush and round with hints of toffee and smoke, complex but still fruity with a smooth, lingering taste. All components are double distilled calvados from Pays d’Auge aged in small oak casks for more than 25 years. 42% ABV
Calvados 1939
Calvados Pays d'Auge 1968
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1982
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1954
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1970
Calvados Pays d'Auge 1984
96 POINTS. CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY. ULTIMATE RECOMMENDATION. - Ultimate Spirits
Calvados 1958
Challenge 2012
Calvados 1953 Calvados 1957 Calvados 1959 Calvados 1961
Pomme Prisonnière Pays d’Auge Calvados
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anchordistilling.com
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Christian Drouin has given a traditional favorite new life by substituting a Boskoop apple instead of a pear inside the bottle with Pays d’Auge Calvados. Boskoops preserve better in calvados than any other type. It is harder to grow an apple in a bottle than it is a pear, because apple trees drop much of their crop as the fruit develops. Less than half of the bottles end up with an apple inside, thus making Pomme Prisonnière extremely limited. 40% ABV
Calvados 1962 Calvados 1963
5 | Calvados 1964
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1965 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1966 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1967
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1969 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1971 Calvados 1972
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1973 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1974 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1975 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1976 Calvados Pays d’Auge 1977 Calvados 1978
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1979
Calvados 1983
Calvados Pays d'Auge 1985 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1986 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1987 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1988 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1989 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1990 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1991 Calvados Pays d'Auge 1992
Calvados Pays d’Auge 1980
anchordistilling.com
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