Calvados, The Apple Brandy of Normandy

Calvados, The Apple Brandy of Normandy

Have you tried Calvados, the apple brandy of Normandy? The unique drink of Calvados was developed in northwest Normandy, France, in a region bordering the English Channel and abounding in apples. Never heard of Calvados, the location or the liqueur? Well we’ll take a look at the department, the Top Ten places to visit, and, of course, the famous Calvados apple liqueur. 

Calvados the Liqueur

Calvados is a high quality apple brandy named after the department and the local products used to produce it.

Firstly, Calvados apples are pressed into juice and fermented to create dry cider. The cider is then distilled into ‘eau de vie’ (the water of life) before being stored in oak casks for a minimum of two years. The cider can either be distilled once or twice. After two years the ‘eau de vie’ can be called Calvados and either drunk or aged for longer. The longer it ages in oak casks, the smoother the brandy. Double distilled Calvados is said to be have more complexity and lends itself to ageing well. On the other hand, single distilled Calvados is fresh and clean on the palette, lacking complexity. 

Over 200 apple varieties are grown in Calvados and specially selected to create Calvados cider and brandy. Imagine that, over 200 varieties! Calvados can be drunk neat, on the rocks, or mixed with apple juice. It makes an interesting contribution to cocktails, although it's not a favourite of my husband. 

A little bit of extra information for the connoisseur: Like Scotch, Calvados increases in value with age and some bottles are a blend of different ages of brandy. Remember that the age on the bottle indicates the youngest brandy that contributed to the bottle, just like Scotch whisky. This means that a six year old Calvados may contain a blend of older brandy but the youngest part is six years old. 

Calvados Experience Museum in Pont l'Evêque

In the market town of Pont-l’Evêque lies a new speciality museum celebrating Calvados apple brandy. Called the Calvados Experience, this museum centre is a world-class visitor attraction that immerses the audience in a multi-sensory journey through the centuries, from vikings to present day.

Both theatrical and immersive, it is an unforgettable experience. Entry includes a tasting at the end. The experience is open to all ages and non-alcoholic beverages are served at the tasting bar also, including organic apple juice. Be enchanted by apple production, the beauty of orchards, and the story of world-wide success.

Things to see and do in Calvados 

There is so much to see and do in the department of Calvados that we've made a list of our top ten places to visit with links to the official tourism offices and museum sites. So together with trying Calvados, the apply brandy that Normandy is famous for, go explore some of the region's highlights.

• Honfleur – famous colourful historic harbourside townhouses and boats
• The Memorial de Caen – WW2 intro to D Day
• Men’s Abbey in Caen – part of William the Conqueror’s story
• Basilica of St. Thérèse of Lisieux – breathtaking cathedral 
• Deauville – a Hollywood waterfront with seaside hotels
• The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer
• Arromanches – remnants of D Day and museum
• Falaise Castle – restored castle of William the Conqueror
• The Bayeux Tapestry – embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long depicting the Norman conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings
• Calvados Experience – immersion into the magic of apples and their bi-products

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