Calvados

Calvados

There are no wines in Normandy, but the region makes its mark in the spirits world with the apple-based Calvados, a fragrant oak-aged brandy. Like Cognac, Calvados, which is distilled from cider, gets better and more expensive with age. Top producers, such as Dupont in Victot-Pontfol, and Pierre Huet in Cambremer, sell Calvados from "Vieux," aged a minimum three years, to "X.O." or "Napoléon," aged from six to 25 years. Many producers also offer Pommeau, an aperitif blending cider with a generous dose of Calvados.