Christian Drouin Pomme Prisonniere - Calvados Pays d'Auge in GP

Volume: 0.9 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

For Pomme Prisonnière, the apple grows where it will eventually remain: inside the decanter. In spring, the Alleaume family near Gonneville-sur-Honfleur hang the glass vessels in their apple trees and guide the tiny fruit through the necks. Timing is crucial: the apples must already have set, but must still be small enough. They continue growing inside the glass throughout the summer.

After four to five months, the decanters containing the ripe apples are taken down and carefully cleaned. The Drouin family then fill them with Calvados Pays d'Auge. Over the following months, the apple steeps in the spirit, adding its own fruit flavour to the Calvados. The process remains demanding: on average, only around 40% of the decanters hung in the trees are suitable for sale.

This pale-gold Calvados combines ripe orchard fruit notes with vanilla, oak and spice. The 0.9-litre bottling contains 40% alcohol and comes in illustrated gift packaging. To keep the apple covered with Calvados after opening, the house recommends topping up the decanter with Calvados Pays d'Auge from Christian Drouin before the fruit becomes exposed.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, vanilla and fresh oak mingle with garden herbs and a delicate hint of spice.
• Palate: The opening is soft. Ripe apples and pears shape the palate, accompanied by a delicate, balanced texture.
• Finish: The fruit notes fade slowly, while pronounced spice lingers on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

The house's history began in 1960 at the Fiefs Sainte-Anne farm near Gonneville, close to Honfleur. With the help of experienced distiller Pierre Pivet, Christian Drouin senior had cider from his orchards distilled and laid the spirits down to mature. His son joined in 1969; sales began in 1979, once sufficient mature stocks were available. In 1991 and 1992, the family moved production to a 17th-century farm in Coudray-Rabut near Pont-l'Evêque. Guillaume Drouin joined as the third generation in 2004 and took over management of the company in 2013.

For its Calvados Pays d'Auge, the house uses double distillation in a still with a capacity of 2500 litres. Heads and tails are separated during both runs, with the team adjusting the cut points to suit each cider. During maturation, Drouin uses numerous previously used casks to limit the extraction of bitter tannins. Cask selection and the course of maturation are tailored to the intended style of each bottling.

Christian Drouin launched the first Pomme Prisonnière in 1981. The idea was developed together with fruit grower Didier Alleaume, whose family had already been growing pears inside decanters for four generations. Drawing on this experience, the two families developed the combination of an apple grown inside glass and Calvados.

Facts: