Best French Fruit Brandy Types
Calvados is a brandy distilled from apple cider or a combination of apples and pears. The fermented juice is usually double distilled to create the base of the brandy, which is then aged, and finally blended.
The production of Calvados is strictly regulated, and final products are classified according to the length of maturation, with two years being the minimum aging period. The appellation Calvados is divided into three sub-regions that slightly differ in the base ingredient, terroir, and the distillation process.
THE BEST Calvados Fruit Brandies


CALVADOS CHRISTIAN DROUIN
La Fine de Lelouvier
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold 2023

Château du Breuil
Calvados Pays D'Auge - 15 Ans
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding 2020

SPIRIT FRANCE DIFFUSION
PERE MAGLOIRE EDITION SPECIALE HORS D'AGE
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold 2021
Poire Williams is a type of eau-de-vie (fruit brandy) that is distilled from fermented Williams pears. The production of this clear and colorless spirit is mostly associated with France, Switzerland, and Germany. The drink is often sold with a whole pear inside the bottle—this is achieved by attaching the bottle to a branch with a small pear.
The fruit is tucked inside and then allowed to grow inside the bottle. When it’s ripe, the fruit is cut off, and the distilled spirit is then poured inside. This brandy is usually of high quality, with clean and crisp flavor and ripe pear aromas.
VARIATIONS OF Poire Williams
Lambig is an oak-aged brandy distilled from apple cider. It hails from Brittany, where it originated as a farm brandy that was mainly distilled for local consumption. The brandy is now commercially produced and has become one of the traditional regional products.
When the brandy is distilled, it is oak-aged for several years. It results in a golden or amber-colored drink with pleasant aromas reminiscent of apples, warming spices, and nuts, along with distinctive woody and spicy notes. Lambig is best served as an aperitif or a digestif, and it should always be slowly sipped.
Marc de Bourgogne is a French pomace brandy distilled from grape marc (pips and skins of pressed grapes). The marc has to be produced in Burgundy, and it can be made with regional grapes such as Aligoté, Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Noir, and many more.
The distillate has to be aged for at least two years. The resulting drink can vary in character, but most examples are amber-colored, refined, aromatic, and complex, usually with caramel and spice notes. The spirit can be labeled vieux (aged for three years), très vieux (aged for six years), and hors d'âge (aged for ten years).
Kirsch de Fougerolles is a French cherry brandy. As the name suggests, the brandy hails from Fougerolles (Fougerolles-Saint-Valbert). It is a clear and colorless brandy, with a distinctive cherry aroma and a subtly bitter note reminiscent of almonds.
This kirsch is bottled at 45% ABV. Kirsch de Fougerolles has been granted AOC status in 2010. It is produced from guigne cherries, and the production must take place in Fougerolles and the ten surrounding villages. This cherry brandy should be bottled in so-called bô bottles and come with a guarantee seal.
As the name suggests, this eau-de-vie (fruit brandy) hails from Lorraine, and it is made from Mirabelle plums that are cultivated in the region. This fruit brandy has been granted the AOC status, and its production is strictly regulated and restricted to the Lorraine region.
It can be made with Metz and Nancy varieties. The plums are fermented, and the mash is usually double-distilled to get a clean and pure spirit that preserves the original flavor of the plums. Mirabelle eau-de-vie is a clear spirit with distinctive Mirabelle aromas and hints of warm spices.
Best French Fruit Brandy Producers
Calvados Boulard is a renowned French producer specializing in Calvados, an apple brandy originating from the Normandy region. Established in 1825, the company is known for its commitment to quality, blending tradition with modern techniques. Boulard uses a variety of apples grown in the Pays d'Auge, a region famous for producing some of the finest Calvados.
Their distillation process, combined with careful aging in oak barrels, creates complex and refined spirits. The brand offers a range of Calvados, from young, fresh varieties to well-aged expressions, appealing to both newcomers and connoisseurs.
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Silver
2024

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Chairman's Trophy
2023
BEST Calvados Boulard Spirits
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024

World's Best Calvados - Winner
2023
BEST BUSNEL Spirits
Père Magloire is one of the oldest and most prestigious producers of Calvados, founded in 1821 in the Normandy region of France. The distillery specializes in creating high-quality apple brandies using traditional methods, drawing on over two centuries of expertise.
Père Magloire carefully selects apples from the Pays d'Auge, renowned for its rich apple orchards, and follows a meticulous double distillation process. Their Calvados offers a wide range of expressions, from young and vibrant to aged and complex, each showcasing rich apple flavors, subtle spices, and refined character.
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2019

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2021, 2020, 2019

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy
2017, 2009
BEST La Martiniquaise-Bardinet Spirits
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2020

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2020

World's Best Calvados - Winner
2022
BEST Château du Breuil Spirits
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2020

World Calvados Awards - Best XO
2022
BEST CALVADOS CHRISTIAN DROUIN Spirits
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2021

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2023

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy
2023
BEST SPIRIT FRANCE DIFFUSION Spirits
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
BEST Calvados Lecompte Spirits
AWARDS

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Chairman's Trophy
2022, 2021, 2020

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100
2022, 2021, 2020
BEST Christian Drouin Spirits
Best French Fruit Brandies
Boulard Auguste X. O. Calvados is a tribute to the brand's founder, Auguste Boulard, and reflects their long-standing expertise in crafting high-quality Calvados. This extra-old Calvados is aged for many years in oak barrels, creating a rich and sophisticated spirit.
It boasts complex aromas of baked apples, dried fruits, vanilla, and subtle spices. On the palate, it offers a harmonious blend of flavors, including caramelized apples, almonds, and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, with a long, velvety finish. This premium Calvados is a true reflection of Boulard's dedication to tradition and craftsmanship, offering a refined tasting experience.
AWARDS

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Chairman's Trophy
2023

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100
2023
Père Magloire V. S. O.P. Calvados is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship, embodying the essence of the Pays d’Auge region in Normandy. Made exclusively from carefully selected apple cider, this calvados showcases the unique characteristics of one of the most renowned terroirs in the world.
The region's rich soil and mild climate create the perfect environment for growing exceptional apples, which are at the heart of this spirit. What sets Père Magloire V. S. O.P. apart is its meticulous production process. The cider undergoes double distillation in traditional copper pot stills, a method that enhances the complexity and depth of its flavors.
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2020
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2021
Boulard X. O. Mizunara Cask Finish Calvados is a sophisticated blend of carefully selected apple brandies, first aged in French oak barrels and then finished in rare Mizunara oak casks from Japan. This double maturation process imparts unique depth and complexity, enhancing the traditional Calvados with delicate oriental notes.
The aroma features rich baked apples, vanilla, and subtle spices, while the palate reveals smooth layers of caramelized fruit, toasted oak, and exotic hints of sandalwood, coconut, and incense. The finish is long and elegant, reflecting the fusion of Norman craftsmanship and Japanese artistry.
AWARDS

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100
2022
AWARDS

World's Best Calvados - Winner
2023
AWARDS

World's Best Calvados - Winner
2022
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2020
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2020
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