The Data

Category   Brandy

Sub-Category   Calvados, Pays d’Auge

Origin   Normandy

Retail Price   $90

ABV   42%

Score   4.5 Stars/Exceptional! +

In the Glass

Brilliant copper to amber color.

The aromatics are complex, beautiful, and a bit unexpected with intense wild honey notes in the lead supported by Christmas fruit cake, cinnamon, Nutella, and baked apples.

The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich, fruit-driven core with waves of baking spices, walnut toffee, and cashew butter with hints of ginger.

Ideally balanced with great length and weight.

Cool Factor

It's impossible for me to give any Christian Drouin product anything less that an "A" for cool as these represent some of the finest spirits the world has to offer.

Value Grade

These handcrafted spirits from Christian Drouin are not cheap but how could they be? Old and beautiful Calvados at $125 is a special treat.

Analysis

This is a real beauty showing what Calvados can be with a few years of maturation seamlessly integrating oak and spice into the fold while keeping the fresh apple notes alive. The XO is made with a blend of double distilled Calvados aged 8 to 15 years in small casks.

How to Enjoy

Sip neat in a Brandy glass after dinner or at any special occasion.