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10 Best Calvados Brandy UK 2022 | Berneroy, Domaine Pacory and More
If you're a keen cider drinker looking to branch out, Calvados may be the next step in discovering new flavours. Distilled from apple and pear ciders sourced in Normandy, this versatile and distinct brandy is ideal as a stand-alone treat or as an accompaniment to a meal.
In this guide, we'll explain the variations in flavour profile unique to the terroirs of Calvados, Pays d'Auge and Domfrontais, as well as the differences between the AOC, VSOP and XO ageing processes. Alongside a ranking of the 10 best Calvados brandies in the UK, you'll soon know exactly which bottles to pick up when shopping online!
- Last updated: 11-05-2022
Table of Contents
Compare the Best Calvados Brandy
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
- Berneroy - XO Calvados for £40.81
- Domaine Pacory - Calvados du Domfrontais 12Yr for £49.50
- Chateau Du Breuil - 20yo Reserve des Seigneurs XO Calvados for £99.95
- Boulard - Calvados VSOP Gift Pack for £39.34
Domaine Pacory - Calvados du Domfrontais 8 Year Old for £39.50
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of Calvados brandy available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
| Image | 1  Berneroy | 2  Domaine Pacory | 3  Chateau Du Breuil | 4  Boulard | 5  Domaine Pacory | 6  Père Magloire | 7  Chateau Du Breuil | 8  Berneroy | 9  Busnel | 10  Henry de Querville |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | XO Calvados | Calvados du Domfrontais 12Yr | 20yo Reserve des Seigneurs XO Calvados | Calvados VSOP Gift Pack | Calvados du Domfrontais 8 Year Old | VSOP Calvados | Pays D'auge Fine Calvados | Fine AOC Calvados | Calvados Pays d'Auge | Fine Calvados |
| Features | Butterscotch, Sweet Spices, and Caramelised Apples Aged Over 10 Years in French Oak | Subtle Fruit Flavours From the Domfrontais Region | 20 Year Old Batch With Complex Tasting Notes of Oak and Vanilla | Bottle and Glass Gift Set That’s the Perfect Present for Any Brandy Lover | Reminisce With the Nostalgic Flavour of Pear Drops | VSOP From Pays d’Auge With Sweet Notes of Honey and Butterscotch | The Youngest Calvados From Chateau du Breuil | A Brandy for Everything From Cocktails to Cooking | A Bargain Bottle With Notes of Apple, Florals and Wood | A Subtle Blend to Ease You Into the Flavours of Calvados |
| Price | £40.81 | £49.50 | £99.95 | £39.34 | £39.50 | £37.37 | £27.99 | £28.31 | £26.55 | £29.66 |
| Terroir | Calvados | Calvados Domfrontais | Calvados | Calvados Pays d'Auge | Calvados Domfrontais | Calvados Pays d'Auge | Calvados Pays d'Auge | Calvados | Calvados Pays d'Auge | Calvados Pays d'Auge |
| VSOP / XO / AOC | XO | XO | XO | VSOP | VSOP | VSOP | AOC | AOC | AOC | AOC |
| Aged For | 10 years | 12 years | 20 years | 4 - 10 years | 8 years | 4 - 9 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Tasting Notes | Caramelised apples, buttery, nutty, butterscotch, baking spices | Pear, apple | Pear, apple, oak, vanilla | Apple, vanilla, orange, dark chocolate | Pear drops | Apple, honey, vanilla, hazelnut, butterscotch | Apple | Aromatic, fresh apple, buttery | Apple, floral, woody | Apple, toffee, marzipan, herbs |
| ABV | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl | 70 cl | 70 cl | 700 ml | 50 cl | 70 cl | 70 cl | 70 cl | 70 cl | 70 cl |
| Link |
What Is a Calvados Brandy?
By distilling cider, the region of Calvados in Normandy, France, creates their own distinct style of brandy. As most popular French brandy is typically produced using a base of wine, this unusual choice results in a unique flavour profile of apple and pear.
Once distilled, Clavados is aged in oak barrels for anything from 2 years to several decades. Because of the large variety of apples and pears used, plus variations in distillation and ageing methods, Calvados can feature a wide variety of tasting notes.
How to Choose Calvados Brandy in the UK
Key Points to Consider
- Consider The Tasting Notes of Each Terroir
- Consider Which Ageing Process Will Suit Your Desired Flavour Profile
1. Choose Calvados Pays D’Auge for Subtle Flavours, or Calvados Domfrontais for a Complex Tasting Palette
As well as the key tasting notes of apple and pear from the cider base, terroirs also affect the flavours of Calvados. Terroirs are the environmental conditions in a vineyard, such as climate, soil, terrain, and human practice. Calvados ordinarily falls into one of the three following categories:
- Calvados: Sourced from lower Normandy, the Calvados terroir refers to around 70% of the region's produce. Ideal temperature and ample rainfall make this area perfect for cider production, growing over 230 varieties of apples and 130 varieties of pears. Because of this, it is the most varied in terms of flavour.
- Calvados Pays d'Auge: In this terroir, brandies undergo a compulsory double-distillation process before being aged for a minimum of 2 years. This allows for a subtler taste than regular Calvados varieties. This region often produces brandies with a minimum of 30% pear content, making this a key flavour on the palate.
- Calvados Domfrontais: From the damper soils of this terroir comes a rich and intense flavour that's aged for a minimum of 3 years before bottling. Due to the slightly longer ageing tradition, these brandies tend to have a more well-rounded and complex flavour.
Get a taste of another region of France with our 10 Best Armagnacs!
2. Consider the Ageing Process: XOs Have an Intense Flavour Profile, VSOPs and AOCs Are Light and Fruity
Another influential factor in Calvados production is the ageing process. Each bottle will either be XO, VSOP or AOC, and this will greatly impact the overall flavour profile. Whether you opt for a young bottle of just 2 years, or splash out on a decades-old blend, there's sure to be an option that's perfect for you.
- XO: The most desirable option among connoisseurs, XOs are aged for a minimum of 10 years, with many bottles undergoing decades-long ageing processes. This brings out a round, intense fullness in the flavours and adds a hint of woody vanilla that's best enjoyed as a stand-alone treat.
- VSOP: Aged for around 4 to 9 years, this variety is lighter in its flavours and is often enjoyed as an accompaniment to a meal. It retains hints of apple and pear, but also has a wealth of other floral and fruity notes.
- AOC: Generally the lowest budget option on the market, these bottles are aged for 2 to 4 years, and retain the most of their distinctive apple and pear cider flavour. They can act as a great introduction to Calvados if you're not quite ready for the intense complexity of XOs.
Enjoy the crisp flavours of apple and pear with one of the Best Ciders in the UK!
10 Best Calvados Brandys in the UK
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
1
BerneroyXO Calvados
£40.81
| Terroir | Calvados |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | XO |
| Aged For | 10 years |
| Tasting Notes | Caramelised apples, buttery, nutty, butterscotch, baking spices |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
2
Domaine PacoryCalvados du Domfrontais 12Yr
£49.50
| Terroir | Calvados Domfrontais |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | XO |
| Aged For | 12 years |
| Tasting Notes | Pear, apple |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
3
Chateau Du Breuil 20yo Reserve des Seigneurs XO Calvados
£99.95
| Terroir | Calvados |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | XO |
| Aged For | 20 years |
| Tasting Notes | Pear, apple, oak, vanilla |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
4
BoulardCalvados VSOP Gift Pack
£39.34
| Terroir | Calvados Pays d'Auge |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | VSOP |
| Aged For | 4 - 10 years |
| Tasting Notes | Apple, vanilla, orange, dark chocolate |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 700 ml |
5
Domaine PacoryCalvados du Domfrontais 8 Year Old
£39.50
| Terroir | Calvados Domfrontais |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | VSOP |
| Aged For | 8 years |
| Tasting Notes | Pear drops |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 50 cl |
6
Père MagloireVSOP Calvados
£37.37
| Terroir | Calvados Pays d'Auge |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | VSOP |
| Aged For | 4 - 9 years |
| Tasting Notes | Apple, honey, vanilla, hazelnut, butterscotch |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
7
Chateau Du Breuil Pays D'auge Fine Calvados
£27.99
| Terroir | Calvados Pays d'Auge |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | AOC |
| Aged For | 2 years |
| Tasting Notes | Apple |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
8
BerneroyFine AOC Calvados
£28.31
| Terroir | Calvados |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | AOC |
| Aged For | 2 years |
| Tasting Notes | Aromatic, fresh apple, buttery |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
9
BusnelCalvados Pays d'Auge
£26.55
| Terroir | Calvados Pays d'Auge |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | AOC |
| Aged For | 2 years |
| Tasting Notes | Apple, floral, woody |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
10
Henry de Querville Fine Calvados
£29.66
| Terroir | Calvados Pays d'Auge |
|---|---|
| VSOP / XO / AOC | AOC |
| Aged For | 2 years |
| Tasting Notes | Apple, toffee, marzipan, herbs |
| ABV | 40 % |
| Volume | 70 cl |
Additional Links
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
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