Calvados (spirit)

Calvados is an apple brandy from the French region of Lower Normandy.

Related Topics:
Apple - Brandy - French - Region - Normandy

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Like most French wines, calvados is governed by appellation contrôlée regulations.

Related Topics:
Wine - ''appellation contrôlée''

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The Appellation Calvados contrôlée area includes all of the Calvados, Manche, and Orne départements and parts of Eure, Mayenne, Sarthe, and Eure-et-Loir. The more restrictive Appellation Calvados Pays d'Auge contrôlée area is limited to the east end of the

Related Topics:
Calvados - Manche - Orne - Département - Eure - Mayenne - Sarthe - Eure-et-Loir - Pays d'Auge

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département of Calvados and a few adjoining districts.

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Calvados should be aged in oak for several years before bottling. The phrases vieilli en chêne and vieilli en fûts de chêne are indicators of this. The longer it is aged, the smoother the drink becomes. (Up to a point, at least. Eventually the quality of the drink will fall off.) A half-bottle of twenty-year-old calvados can easily cost the same price as a normal-sized bottle of ten-year-old calvados.

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Calvados is the basis of the tradition of le trou Normand, or "the Norman hole". This is a small drink of calvados taken between courses in a very long meal. It is supposed to re-awaken the appetite.

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