Calvados barrel 225 l

Generally spoken, Calvados could be described as "apple brandy from Normandy". But this rather sober formulation does not do it justice in any way. As with many other distillates, there is a very special philosophy behind Calvados.

First of all, there are the 11 departments in Normandy, which are the only ones that have the right to use the name "Calvados". There are only exactly 48 varieties of apples that are allowed to be produced - for comparison: in Europe alone there are almost 20,000 varieties of apples. These apples are then pressed into cider after harvesting - already here the recipe plays a special role: exactly 40% bitter or bittersweet, 40% sweet and 20% sour apples are used to achieve the desired taste. The cider obtained is quite tasty, with a maximum of 5% alcohol but still too weak for the (French) palate.So the cider is now fermented in tanks. Depending on the department and taste of the distiller, this takes between 21 and 48 days.

Only then is the actual calvados distilled. In a special procedure it gets its own special note, which is further refined by the storage in wooden barrels.

The barrel maturation lasts at least two, in some cases even many more years. The longer the storage in wooden barrels (which are also made exclusively from French oak), the more aromatic the calvados becomes. The aromas of chocolate, light smoke and walnut speak for themselves and make Calvados a distillate that has maintained its importance for decades - and will continue to do so in the future.

Calvados is a popular aperitif or digestif. In France calvados is also often drunk between two courses of a larger menu. The "trou normand" (Norman hole) is supposed to clean up the stomach and make room for the next courses, in other words, to practically make a "hole" in the stomach.

Wood: French oak

Aroma: Round, strong, floral, soft expression, fine fruit aromas of apples and pears

Dimensions ca.: 
Length of staves:  95 cm
Ø Belly:  69 cm
Ø Head:  57 cm

By default, the barrels are equipped with a used wooden or plastic bung. If you want a new silicone bung, you can order it under accessories (type standard - C16).

Used wooden barrels: Notches in the wood or, in certain circumstances, an uneven base, do not constitute a quality defect, but stem from the idiosyncrasies of the production method and the prior use of the barrels. The usage of the barrel will not be affected by those! The barrels are very carefully checked by us at the exit control against sensor and technical errors. We assume no liability for cracks or splits that occur during maturation. A possible and a reasonable repair is not under guarantee.

Pictures are examples, colour variations are possible