Calvados

Calvados is a traditional brandy obtained from Cidre der Normandie (French cider) and is a classic digestif. If armagnac and cognac were brothers, calvados would be their posh cousin.

It ages in oak barrels just like its relatives, and is obtained either by a single distillation (like armagnac), or by repeated distillation (like cognac). The smooth and soft taste of particularly old types of calvados reminds of cognac. However, younger types of calvados are characterized by a bittersweet, fruity taste, which is simply unique amongst all spirits of their kind.