The French joke that the popularity of a Calvados in the world is not so high only because they do cognac for export, and leave an exclusive for themselves. The Calvados is the homeland of alcoholic drink Normandy, he prepares from apple and pear alcohols then he is stood in special oak barrels. Fortress of this drink varies from 40 to 44%.
Types and grades of a Calvados
Initially this drink was cooked by method of distillation of apple cider, as a result of blending with pear and further mixing absolutely unique tastes turn out.
The price and taste of drink a Calvados depend on endurance term:
- Millezimnye - with endurance till 1 year quite sharp taste and aroma of apples keep and are most often used by experts for further blending and endurance.
- Young Calvadoses with endurance have 1-2 years strong aroma and sharp smack of fresh apples, have golden color and are most available at the price. The label of such drinks is decorated with the inscriptions Trois pommes (three apples) by analogy with Trois étoiles cognac (three stars).
- The average endurance from 3 to 6 years in process of growing gives to drink dark golden color and new flavoring nuances where through fruit shades the noble smack of an oak appears. Marking of Vieux and Reserve speaks about 4-year endurance, V.S.O.P. and Vieille Reserve – 5 years.
- Mature - of 6 years of endurance, the most valuable and fragrant drinks which are adored by gourmets and true judges. Variations of shades of taste and aftertaste depend on a blend and mixing, can give vanilla, chocolate, spices, coffee and almond notes. The best Calvados is the drink matured 6 and more years on which label the age and marking of Napoleon, Extra, Age Inconnu, Hors d’Age, X.O is specified.
The most famous producers of this drink settle down in the apellasyon of the same name Pei d'Ozh's Calvados. Some brands of a Calvados of this unique ecosystem of France (Boulard, Pere Magloire) are maintained up to 50 years, finding absolutely unique taste and aroma.
How it is correct to drink a Calvados?
Judges and gourmets recommend to drink a Calvados warm, pouring in a cognac glass or a glass tulip. A young Calvados, thanking, serves high content of fruit enzymes as excellent aperitif, also it is often given in the middle of a meal in combination with ice and tonic. In Normandy there is a tradition to give a Calvados in a break between giving of two main courses. It is necessary to sip this drink, feeling all nuances and shades of taste.
On a question on what to have a snack the Calvados, there are several possible answers:
- soft French camembert cheeses, livaro, pon l'evek is a traditional snack;
- bitter chocolate;
- fruit, except a citrus;
- sweet desserts and ice cream;
- strong coffee.