What does VSOP mean on Calvados?
Very Superior Old PaleCalvados VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) has aged 5 years in oak barrels, with 25% of new oak.
Is Calvados the same as brandy?
Calvados is a type of brandy or eau-de-vie that is named after its home region in Normandy. Unlike most other celebrated French brandies like cognac and Armagnac, calvados is made from apple cider rather than wine. Occasionally, it can also be made from pear cider or perry as well.
What kind of alcohol is Calvados?
Calvados is a cider or perry eau-de-vie and not an apple or pear eau-de-vie — i.e. it is obtained from fruit that has already been fermented. It is dependent on the terroir, the varieties harvested, their quality and quantity, and the nature of the cider or perry made from these fruits.
Is Calvados the same as Cognac?
Firstly, the ingredients are different. Cognac is made from distilling white wine and therefore grapes, while Calvados is made from cider and therefore apples — a fundamental that Béjot claims works in their favour.
Can you drink Calvados straight?
Once distilled, Calvados must be aged in oak casks for a minimum of two years, except in the Domfrontais region where it is aged for at least three years. While it's customary to sip Calvados straight — or stir it into your morning coffee!
Should Calvados be refrigerated?
On its own, Calvados goes down smoothly at room temperature, but the apple taste in the foreground makes it surprisingly refreshing served chilled.
What does Calvados taste like?
What does Calvados taste like? Predominantly Calvados tastes of apple and pears, but often offers notes of apricot, baking spices, sweet pastries and flowers.
Do you warm Calvados?
Flambéing with Calvados: To succeed in flambéing, it is important to warm the calvados gently in a small pan. Once it is hot light the Calvados in the pan and tip it carefully over the dish to be flambéd.
What does the word Calvados mean?
a French brandy distilled from apple cider. Word origin. after Calvados, department in NW France, where chiefly distilled.
What does VSOP stand for?
Very Superior Old PaleVSOP stands for “Very Superior Old Pale”: VSOP cognacs are created from eaux-de-vie aged for at least four years. The VSOP category includes designations such as “Old” or “Reserve”. XO stands for “Extra Old”: XO cognacs are made only from eaux-de-vie at least six years old.
Does Calvados help digestion?
Digestifs remain highly popular in France today. A tipple of calvados, cognac or armagnac after a hearty meal is seen as a luxurious way to help the digestive system. At the other end are apéritifs (apéro) such as kir, white wine or pastis that are thought to sharpen the appetite before a meal.
How do you pronounce Calvados brandy?
Break 'calvados' down into sounds: [KAL] + [VUH] + [DOS] - say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.
What do the French call brandy?
Cognac and Armagnac are both French brandies made from white wine grapes. Unsurprisingly, Cognac is made in Cognac and Armagnac is made in Armagnac, in the Gascony region.
What can I use instead of Calvados?
Keep in mind that cooking any liqueur will diminish a lot of the original flavor, which makes replacements not such a challenge to find.Cheap brandy. ... Unsweetened apple juice concentrate. ... Apple cider. ... Apple essence. ... Apple juice. ... Apple butter. ... Pear brandy.
What does Calvados taste like?
What does Calvados taste like? Predominantly Calvados tastes of apple and pears, but often offers notes of apricot, baking spices, sweet pastries and flowers.
What are the 3 types of brandy from France?
French BrandyCognac Brandy. The stand out most famous brandy in the world, Cognac can only be created from grapes grown in the 79,000 hectare AOC region of South West France. ... Armagnac Brandy. ... Calvados.