Christian Drouin Vintage 1987/2018 Calvados Pays d'Auge

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Two stages of cask maturation distinguish this vintage from Christian Drouin. Following double distillation, the Calvados first aged in old Calvados casks, then spent one year in casks that had previously held sherry. Dark fruit and pastry notes meet a soft tannin structure.

The Calvados was distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2018 at 42% alcohol. The bottle contains 0.7 litres and comes in a wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is rich and rounded. Prunes and sour cherries mingle with other dried and candied fruits and delicate pastry notes.
• Palate: The Calvados is full-bodied and oily on the palate, with plenty of substance. The tannins are soft and well integrated.
• Finish: A hint of bergamot adds a delicate citrus accent to the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

The house's history began in 1960, when Christian Drouin père acquired the Les Fiefs Sainte-Anne farm near Honfleur. Together with distiller Pierre Pivet, he turned the farm's own cider into Calvados and built up stocks in cask over two decades. His son Christian later focused the business on long-aged vintages. In 1991–1992, production moved to a 17th-century Norman farm in Coudray-Rabut near Pont-l'Évêque. Guillaume Drouin, an agronomist and oenologist, 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 batch-operated pot still. Heads and tails are separated during both distillations, with the cut points adjusted to each cider. Slow fermentation and several months of cider storage are particularly important for spirits intended for long ageing. The cellars predominantly hold small casks that have already been used many times. Christian and Guillaume Drouin taste every cask annually and decide how each stock should continue to mature.

Facts: