Demand for this very special eau de vie is so high that until now it had been completely unavailable elsewhere. Made from the highly prized cider of cult producer Cyril Zangs, Master Calvados Distiller Jean Roger Groult takes uses the cider made from over 30 varieties of apples including bitter & bitter-sweet (70%), sweet (20%), and sour (10%). The apples for the cider are cellared for several months after ripening to concentrate the sugars. Then they are gently pressed, slowly fermented, racked once and left to age on the lees for 10 months before distillation. Jean Roger uses his families artisanal 12 hectoliter direct wood fired pot still to slowly extract and refine the ciders core essence, taking severe measures to capture only the heart of the liquid. The spirit is then bottled at 100 proof with zero additives and zero filtration. Notes include green apples, vanilla bean, blade mace, garden flowers, hops, coconut oil, pine wax, decomposed autumn leaves, white chocolate, sweetgrass and candied almond. The sharp, mouth-watering acidity sings on the finish and the complexity is surprising, pure and almost mezcal like at times. One of the best things we have tasted so far this year. A stunning achievement from the next generation of superstars from Normandy.
