Calvados: The Basics

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What You Need To Know

Calvados is the world famous, and rightfully so, apple based brandy from the Normandy region of France. Some 40 varieties of apples and pears are permitted to be used in creating Calvados. These varieties are categorized as sweet, bittersweet, bitter, and acidic. The distiller blends these carefully to achieve the desired character. The juice is fermented, often with natural airborne yeast, creating a hard cider. Some producers will bottle and sell a portion of their cider that is often delicious especially when fresh. Calvados is typically aged three to ten years although vintage Calvados from top producers can easily be found.

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