Tag: calvados

August is the perfect moment to slow down, enjoy the sunshine and raise a glass to all things refreshing. At Brandyclassics, we’ve curated a selection of exceptional spirits and aperitifs that are ideal for crafting bright, elegant summer spritzes. These French favourites bring finesse, flavour and a seasonal twist to every glass. Château de Beaulon Pineau des Charentes White 2000 Aged with care and crafted with finesse, the Château de Beaulon Pineau des Charentes White 2000 offers gentle sweetness, notes of dried fruit and a mellow richness that balances beautifully in a chilled spritz. Add fizz and you’ve got a… Read more

Coming from the heart of Normandy, Calvados is a distinguished apple brandy, celebrated for its rich history and meticulous craftsmanship. Derived from the double distillation of fermented apple and pear juice, this exquisite spirit is aged in oak barrels, creating a sensory journey that encapsulates the essence of the orchards from which it originates. Dupont 10 Year Old Pays d’Auge Calvados Enter the world of refinement with Dupont 10 Year Old Pays d’Auge Calvados, an embodiment of unparalleled expertise and dedication. Sourced from the finest orchards in Normandy, this calvados is a testament to the Dupont family’s legacy of over… Read more

December is well underway so its time to turn our attention to present shopping. But, what do you buy for the person who has everything? Well, we’ve put together a list of our favourite, luxury drinks that will go down a storm this Christmas. Not only do they taste fantastic, some of the packaging is exquisite and will grace any sideboard with aplomb. The three, classic French brandies of cognac, armagnac and calvados really come into their own at this time of year as their typical flavours of roasted nuts, spices and dried fruits complement the Christmas fayre brilliantly. We… Read more

We have a very special treat for the calvados lover ….. a magnum of 8 Year Old from the top cru. Calvados is usually sold in 70 cl bottles but this one is 150 cl and perfect for a gathering or celebration. This Toutain magnum of calvados comes in a traditionally shaped bottle and really does look the part. It would certainly be a talking point for its rarity, presence and wonderful flavour. The Toutain family has been developing calvados in Normandy for 5 generations, while respecting family customs and ancestral traditions that give big names to small houses. It… Read more

Whether you call it applejack, calvados or bätzi, apple brandy is a spirit made from fermented and distilled apples.  There are clear, unaged versions and golden-coloured ones that have spent years in oak barrels.  These are five of the most popular: Applejack Historically, applejack was made with North American cider apples and produced using a method called “jacking” or freeze distillation. These days, however, it is typically distilled in column or pot stills and aged in barrels or bottled as a young, clear spirit.  Applejack and apple brandy are by definition the same, but there are minor differences between the apples used, terroir and the ageing process. Bätzi A clear brandy made… Read more

Today Thursday, 20th October, is World Calvados Day.  If you would like to try this fabulous French apple brandy how about making something different?  Calvados and tonic is France’s answer to the G&T and is a staple in Normandy.  Although traditionally served chilled, it is just as fabulous with heaps of ice, a ton of tonic and a simple lemon twist producing a drink that’s “A little bitter and sweet, refreshing and bright”. INGREDIENTS Serving: 1 50 ml Calvados tonic water, to top Garnish: lemon twist DIRECTIONS Pour the Calvados into a Burgundy glass over ice. Top with tonic water. Garnish with a… Read more

Calvados has long been the underdog of French spirits.  “Even in France, people quite liked it, but the image was dusty and old fashioned,” says Xavier d’Audiffret Pasquier, co-founder of Maison Sassy. “Our mission is to bring calvados back to life. We want to almost promote calvados like a gin, as a very modern spirit.” Outside France, calvados has always been popular was the bartending community.  Tim Etherington-Judge says “First, it’s delicious. It has a very approachable flavour profile, not complex like a mezcal. But also, as a cocktail nerd, if you go back to some of the historical cocktail books,… Read more

Here at Brandyclassics and Bunch & Bushel we sell three main types of French brandy: cognac, armagnac and calvados. Brandy is the generic name for spirits that have been made from fruit and produced all over the world.  But some brandies have very specific guidelines concerning their production.  So what is the difference between our products?  This can be summarised as follows: COGNAC Made from specific grape varieties Produced in the Cognac region of France only The eau de vie must be distilled twice Distilled in copper pot Charentais stills. ARMAGNAC Made from specific grape varieties Produced in the Armagnac region… Read more

It’s been a difficult time, financially, for everyone this year as prices increase. With energy prices soaring and raw material shortages across the globe, all our producers are struggling with increased costs. Unfortunately, these increased costs have inevitably been passed on to us and so we have had to review our prices too. Our new prices will, therefore, come into effect on Monday 25th July. So, if you have some summer birthday gifts to buy, now’s the time to do it!

We have been looking for a new range of calvados to offer the UK market for some while.  It’s not been easy as so many are too sweet or have lost the appley flavour.  It was therefore tremendously exciting when we came across the Toutain Calvados range.  A family firm, now on the fifth generation, who produce calvados from their own orchards. In keeping with the high standards of Brandyclassics, we know precisely how long each Toutain product has spent in cask.  This range includes Toutain Vieux, Hors d’Age, Vieille Reserve and Tres Vieille and they have been aged from… Read more