Christian Drouin Vintage 1998/2023 Calvados Pays d'Auge

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This vintage from Christian Drouin combines long maturation in oak casks with a rounded character shaped by apple and pastry notes. The Calvados was distilled twice in a copper pot still in 1998 and bottled in 2023 after 25 years of maturation. It belongs to the Les Millésimés range, whose vintage denotes the year of distillation.

Maturation took place in oak casks without an additional secondary cask maturation. In the glass, the Calvados has a light amber colour. It is bottled at 42% alcohol in a 0.7-litre bottle, presented in an open wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, apple aromas mingle with butter and vanilla.
• Palate: The Calvados feels full-bodied and rounded on the palate.
• Finish: Pastry notes linger on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

The house's history began in 1960, when Christian Drouin senior acquired Ferme Fiefs Sainte-Anne near Honfleur, planted with cider apple trees. Working with experienced distiller Pierre Pivet, he built up stocks of Calvados over two decades. His son joined the business in 1969; sales only began in 1979, once sufficient mature stocks were available. In 1991–1992, production moved to another 17th-century Norman farm in Coudray-Rabut, near Pont-l'Évêque. Guillaume Drouin has led the family business since 2013.

For its Calvados Pays d'Auge, the house distils cider twice in a pot still. Heads and tails are separated during both runs, with the distillery team adjusting the cut points to suit each cider. For Calvados intended for long maturation, Drouin stores the cider for several months before distillation. Small casks and previously used casks predominate in the cellar. Each vintage has its own maturation plan, and Christian and Guillaume Drouin taste every cask annually before deciding on its future use.

Facts: