Distiller Notes
Maison Coquerel is still producing its Calvados in respect of the Normand tradition, yet using today’s technology.The apples are washed and gravitationally floated to an elevator which takes them to a grating machine where they are turned into pulp. The pulp is conveyed to a press, spread out between two perforated sheets of metal and driven through two high-pressure rollers. The apple-juice thus produced is called the must.The apple juice is left to ferment naturally over several months as the sugar gradually turns into alcohol. It becomes cider. It is only after this fermentation process that this cider can be distilled to produce “eau de vie de cidre” (apple brandy).
All of their eau-de-vie are certified AOC and all our apples of apples are selected between the best varieties that the Normandy region has to offer.
Calvados is a department (county) in Normandy in northern France that is famous for its Brandies—also called Calvados—which are created by distilling cider made from locally fermented pears and apples. The Calvados orchards and brewers date back as far as the 8th century; distilling came about in the 16th century. Categorized by both age and geography, Calvados production methods differ among the three sub-appellations: AOC Calvados, AOC Domfontais and AOC Calvados Pays d’Auge (highest quality). Generally, the longer a Calvados ages in barrel, the more it resembles Cognac and other fine Brandies in clarity and depth of flavor, approachability and complexity.