Christian Drouin Vintage 1968/2018 Calvados AOC

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Old Calvados casks shape this vintage from Christian Drouin's Les Millésimés series. The spirit was distilled once in a copper column still in 1968, then matured in previously used Calvados casks. It was bottled in 2018 at 40% alcohol.

In the glass, the Calvados displays a deep brown amber colour. Its fruity, spicy spectrum includes apple, cooked fruit, dried fruit, quince and pear. The 0.7-litre bottle is presented in a wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, ripe apples meet spicy oak notes.
• Palate: The Calvados is full-bodied on the palate. Sweetness and acidity are balanced, while caramel and vanilla complement the flavours.
• Finish: The finish is long and warm, with a hint of cinnamon and nuts.

Distillery/Bottler:

The history of Maison Christian Drouin began in 1960 with the purchase of the Fiefs Sainte-Anne farm near Gonneville-sur-Honfleur. With the help of distiller Pierre Pivet, Christian Drouin senior had cider from his orchards distilled and initially built up stocks for maturation. His son joined the business in 1969; sales did not begin until 1979. These long-matured stocks became the foundation of the house's specialisation in old Calvados and vintage bottlings. In 1991–1992, production moved to a 17th-century farm in Coudray-Rabut near Pont-l'Évêque.

Agricultural engineer and oenologist Guillaume Drouin joined in 2004, bringing the third generation into the business. For maturation, the house mainly uses small casks, many of which have already been used. Older Calvados may be moved into larger wooden vessels once they have absorbed enough tannins. Christian and Guillaume Drouin taste every cask each year and decide how it should develop further. Each vintage thus follows a maturation path tailored to its character.

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