Questions and Answers – Calvados (French Apple Brandy)
Question:
I am making a caramelized apple dessert. The sauce that will be boiled and poured over the top consists of maple syrup and 2 teaspoons Calvados. I need to know what Calvados is and where to buy it. Any ideas?
Answer:
Calvados is a French Apple Brandy, kind of a cider spirit, from Normandy, France. It is a full proof, barrel-aged spirit made from fermented and distilled apples. It is considered a sipping brandy, but it is also used in cooking.
An ancient tradition in Normandy is to serve this as a digestive in the middle of the meal. Aged cider is double distilled as in cognac and aged a minimum of two to three years. Though it may carry a vintage, sometimes it is blended with older Calvados in the aging process.