Calvados Domfrontais. This was my birthday bottle treat to myself, and it was SO delicious I literally drank like a quarter of the bottle in one day (oops). The French really know how to do their brandies right. Outside of well-known Cognac and the more rustic Armagnac (both made from grapes), we have the lesser-known French brandy – Calvados. Calvados is an oak-aged spirit made from apples and pears, produced in particular areas of France – think of it as a distilled cider, or the European cousin of the American applejack.

Generally people refer to Calvados as an *apple* brandy (brandy = fruit-based spirit), but it can actually be made from any combination of apples and pears. Specifically, Calvados from the area near the town of Domfront (aka “Calvados Domfrontais”) use a high % of pears in the production, at least 30% but often 60%+. This particular 15 year old Calvados from the Pacory Estate happens to be 100% pear. The combination of pears and wood is so harmonious, and the smell of this is just heavenly. If you enjoy fruit brandies, or just love the sound of ripe apples and pears aged in wood, you have to give Calvados a try! I can’t wait to explore more.

For recipes with Calvados, click here.