Maison Vauron | Spirits Calvados: A Guide to Normandy's Apple Brandy Calvados is an apple brandy from Normandy in northern France. It is made by fermenting apples into cider, distilling that cider into a spirit, and ageing it in oak casks for at least two years. It is one of France's three great brandies, alongside Cognac and Armagnac, and the only one made from orchards rather than vineyards. Maison Vauron stocks Calvados from three Normandy producers: Château du Breuil, Victor Gontier and Père Jules. This guide explains what Calvados is, how it is made, where it comes from, what it tastes like, which bottles to try, and how to mix it. What Is Calvados Brandy? Calvados brandy is a French spirit distilled from cider and aged in oak. Brandy is the name for any spirit distilled from fermented fruit. Cognac and Armagnac are distilled from grape wine, while Calvados is distilled from apple cider, sometimes with a share of pear. The name is legally protected. Only brandy made in designated parts of Normandy, from approved fruit and by approved methods, can be labelled Calvados. It takes its name from the Calvados department on the Normandy coast. Calvados Pays d'Auge was the first to receive appellation status, in 1942. Calvados is bottled at a minimum of 40 percent alcohol. If you already enjoy Cognac or Armagnac, Calvados offers similar depth from oak ageing with a brighter, fruitier core. Three Calvados from Our Cellar Breuil Calvados Fine 700ml Ageing for two years in oak casks give a gold colour to the fruity taste of its youth. Vigorous and fresh on the palate, Calvados Fine contains all the fragrances of Normandy! Gontier Calvados Vintage 16 700ml Produced from a mixture of apples and pears (at least 30% perry pears), the Calvados of Domfrontais typically has a robust and strong character. Père Jules Calvados 3 Year Old 700ml After letting it age for 3 years in oak barrel this Calvados is very smooth and very floral. Calvados Apple Brandy: How Is It Made? Calvados apple brandy is made in four stages: harvest, fermentation, distillation and ageing. The whole process takes a minimum of two to three years, and often far longer. 1. The Harvest Apples are picked in autumn. Producers blend many varieties of cider apple, grouped as sweet, bittersweet, bitter and acidic, to balance sugar, tannin and freshness. These are cider apples, not eating apples. In some areas perry pears are added. 2. Fermentation into Cider The fruit is pressed and the juice ferments slowly and naturally into a dry cider. This takes from several weeks to several months. 3. Distillation The cider is distilled into a clear spirit called eau-de-vie. Two methods are used. Double distillation in a copper pot still gives a rich, complex spirit suited to long ageing. Single distillation in a column still gives a fresher, fruit-forward spirit. 4. Ageing in Oak The spirit rests in oak casks for at least two years. Over time it turns from clear to gold to amber, and the fresh apple flavour deepens into baked fruit, vanilla and spice. The age grade on the label, such as Fine, VSOP or XO, tells you the age of the youngest spirit in the bottle. See the table further down for what each grade means. The Calvados Region: Where Is It Made? The Calvados region is Normandy, in north-west France. The cool, damp, maritime climate suits apple and pear orchards rather than vineyards. Within Normandy there are three Calvados appellations, each with its own rules and style. Calvados Pays d'Auge The Pays d'Auge is the oldest and most prestigious appellation, recognised in 1942 and centred on the orchards in the east of the Calvados department. Calvados here must be distilled twice in copper pot stills and aged at least two years. The style is rich, rounded and built for ageing. Château du Breuil and Père Jules are both Pays d'Auge producers. Calvados Domfrontais The Domfrontais, in southern Normandy, is pear country and the smallest of the three, recognised in 1997. Calvados here must contain at least 30 percent perry pears, is distilled once in a column still, and is aged at least three years. The style is lively and aromatic, with a distinct pear note. Victor Gontier is a farmhouse producer from this appellation. Calvados (AOC Calvados) The broad Calvados appellation, recognised in 1984, covers most of the rest of the production area and accounts for the majority of bottles. Producers may use either type of still, and the spirit must be aged at least two years. Styles range from light and fresh to deep and oaky, depending on the house. What Does Calvados Taste Like? Calvados tastes of apple, with flavours that shift from fresh and crisp in young bottles to baked, spiced and nutty in older ones. It is a dry spirit, not a sweet liqueur. Young Calvados (2 to 4 Years) Expect fresh green and red apple, pear, white flowers and a touch of vanilla. The texture is lively and the finish is clean. This is the style to use in cocktails and cooking, or to serve as an aperitif. Aged Calvados (6 Years and Over) With time in oak the fruit turns to baked apple, tarte tatin and dried apricot, joined by caramel, cinnamon, toasted nuts and soft oak. The texture becomes smooth and the finish long. This is a spirit for slow sipping after dinner. How to Serve It Serve Calvados neat at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass, which gathers the aromas. It pairs well with Normandy cheeses such as Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l'Évêque, and with apple desserts. Best Calvados: Three Bottles to Try The best Calvados depends on how you plan to drink it. For mixing, choose a young Fine. For sipping, choose something with more age or a single vintage. These three bottles from our cellar come from two of the three appellations. Best for Everyday Drinking and Cocktails Maison Vauron Recommends Breuil Calvados Fine 700ml "Ageing for two years in oak casks give a gold colour to the fruity taste of its youth. Vigorous and fresh on the palate, Calvados Fine contains all the fragrances of Normandy!" World's Best Fine Calvados 2026. International Wine & Spirit Competition 2020, Gold Medal, 95pts. Best Vintage Calvados A vintage Calvados comes from a single year rather than a blend of years. This one is from the Domfrontais, so it is made with perry pears as well as apples. Maison Vauron Recommends Gontier Calvados Vintage 16 700ml "Produced from a mixture of apples and pears (at least 30% perry pears), the Calvados of Domfrontais typically has a robust and strong character. A farmhouse production in the true sense of the word and an inimitable character." Best Small-Producer Calvados Père Jules is a family estate in the Pays d'Auge, established in 1919. Its three year old spends a year longer in oak than the two-year minimum for a Fine. Maison Vauron Recommends Père Jules Calvados 3 Year Old 700ml "After letting it age for 3 years in oak barrel this Calvados is very smooth and very floral." Calvados Cocktail Ideas A Calvados cocktail works best with a young Fine or a VSOP, where the apple flavour is clear enough to carry through the other ingredients. The two recipes below come from Château du Breuil's own cocktail book. Norman Mule Made with Breuil Calvados Fine 40ml Fine Calvados 20ml fresh lime juice 100ml ginger beer Fill a copper mug or tall glass with ice. Add the Calvados and lime juice, top with ginger beer and garnish with a slice of lime. Calvados Espresso Martini Made with Breuil Calvados VSOP 40ml Calvados VSOP 1 espresso 20ml cold brew coffee liqueur 3 coffee beans Shake the Calvados, espresso and coffee liqueur hard with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the coffee beans. Calvados NZ: Where to Buy Maison Vauron's cellar in Newmarket, Auckland holds thirteen Calvados from three Normandy houses: Château du Breuil and Père Jules in the Pays d'Auge, and Victor Gontier in the Domfrontais. The selection runs from young Fine and VS through VSOP and XO to single vintages and bottlings aged 10 and 15 years. Three are also bottled in 350ml. The full Calvados range is listed online, and the cellar is open for those who prefer to choose in person. View the Calvados Range Calvados Age Grades at a Glance Label Min. Age Style Best For Fine / VS 2 years Fresh apple, lively Cocktails, cooking Vieux / Réserve 3 years Smooth, floral Aperitif, mixing VSOP / Vieille Réserve 4 years Baked apple, vanilla Sipping, cheese XO / Hors d'Âge 6 years Dried fruit, spice, nuts After dinner Age statement (10, 15 year) As stated Deep, complex, long Special events Vintage (Millésime) Single year One harvest Gifts, cellar Frequently Asked Questions Is Calvados a brandy or a whisky? Calvados is a brandy. Brandy is distilled from fermented fruit, while whisky is distilled from fermented grain. Calvados is made from apples and sometimes pears, so it is an apple brandy. What is the difference between Calvados and Cognac? Calvados is made from apples in Normandy, while Cognac is made from grapes in the Charente region of south-west France. Both are aged in oak, but Calvados tastes of orchard fruit and Cognac of dried grape, flowers and spice. For more on France's grape brandies, read our guide to Cognac and Armagnac. How do you drink Calvados? Drink aged Calvados neat at room temperature after a meal, and young Calvados in cocktails such as a Norman Mule. In Normandy there is also the tradition of the trou normand, a small glass of Calvados served between courses of a long meal. Does Calvados go off once opened? No. An opened bottle of Calvados keeps for years if it is sealed, stored upright and kept away from heat and direct light. The flavour slowly fades as the level in the bottle drops, so it is at its best within a year or two of opening. Can you cook with Calvados? Yes. Calvados is a staple of Normandy cooking, used to flambé pork and chicken, enrich cream sauces and flavour apple desserts such as tarte tatin. Use a young Fine or VS for cooking and keep older bottles for the glass. Where can I buy Calvados in NZ? Maison Vauron stocks 13 Calvados from three Normandy producers, available online and at its cellar in Newmarket, Auckland. The range covers Fine, VSOP, XO, vintage and aged bottlings. Calvados at Maison Vauron From a Fine for the cocktail cabinet to a vintage for after dinner, the team at Maison Vauron is happy to guide you through the range. View the Calvados Range