Christian Drouin : VSOP

Characteristics and tasting advice for Christian Drouin Calvados VSOP

Tasting

Nose
The nose is enticing and marked by freshness. It opens with precise notes of sweet cider, baked apple, and gingerbread. The palette gradually unfolds toward more herbal and floral nuances before becoming decidedly fruity with citrus and prune. Hints of almond liqueur and beeswax are also discernible.

Palate
The attack on the palate is broad and gentle. The more present oak structure channels the fruity notes from the nose. Mid-palate reveals a presence of sweet spices that creates a lovely balance. The eau-de-vie offers good length while remaining light. The finish is harmonious and free of bitterness or astringency. It lingers on fruit, particularly apple, with a medicinal touch, clove, and arnica.

Food pairings and serving occasions

This calvados is ideal for the “trou normand” or to accompany Livarot cheese. It is best enjoyed between 64 and 66°F (18–19°C).

Other characteristics

This calvados is 40% ABV and comes in a 700 ml bottle with a gift box.

A gourmet, elegantly fruity calvados from the Pays d'Auge

Christian Drouin, a Maison of excellence in the Pays d'Auge 1960 by Christian Drouin père in Normandy, this family-run Maison has established itself as a calvados benchmark. Located in the heart of the Pays d'Auge, at Domaine Cœur de Lion, it has perpetuated exceptional artisanal know-how for three generations. Now led by Guillaume Drouin, the Maison stands out for its traditional double distillation and the showcasing of numerous cider apple varieties. It has won over 230 gold medals in international competitions and offers a remarkable collection of vintage calvados, notably covering the period 1939–1998.

Christian Drouin VSOP, a blend of balance and finesse

This VSOP undergoes double distillation, then is aged at least 5 years in recent oak barrels, followed by an additional 4 to 5 years in old casks, to preserve the apple’s fruity expression while gaining roundness and complexity. A blend of different carefully selected lots, the Calvados VSOP Christian Drouin seeks a balance between freshness, indulgence, and oak structure