Christian Drouin Hors d'Age Calvados, Normandy, France - 70cl bottle

Rich and thick, with baked and stewed apple notes carefully balanced against bitter char, old oak and sweet woody spice. Old polished oak boards fill the centre of the palate, with tannic apple skins and rich, fruity flesh as a counterpoint. Sweet spice and apple sauce fade to leave tingling cinnamon and chocolatey oak on the finish.

Hors D’Age, the historic keystone of the range, is aged for more than fifteen years in small barrels, including a large number of former brandy casks. The colour is dark amber, the nose is complex and balanced, and the palate is smooth, dominated by wood and spices.

The fine, silky tannins and great length make this a perfect companion for a long evenings with a cigar and a crackling fire.