Camus VS Cognac

Camut Calvados Pays d'Auge Réserve de Semainville 25 ans d'âge

This bottling shows warm, baked apple flavors with delicious layers of oak and honey. The finish lasts and lasts, and even at 25 years of age the apple fruit is still intact and quite succulent. There are older Calvados from the estate, but to me this is the apex of fruit and oak with neither side overwhelming the other. This is a true experience and a wonderfully rare treat. John Rankin

Camut Pommeau de Domaine de Semainville Apéritif Normand

Looking for something new to try before or after your dinner? How about a Pommeau? Pommeau is the traditional blend of Calvados and unfermented apple cider that hardly ever makes its way out of Normandy. Very similar to Cognac’s Pineau des Charentes, Pommeau combines the fruity unfermented apple sugars spiked with a touch of aged brandy. In the fall it makes a wonderful apéritif, but for those afraid of sugary pre-dinner drinks, it would be delicious with cheese, and out-of-this-world with deserts featuring apples. Camut makes what is likely the best Calvados in the grand Cru “Pays d’Auge,” so it’s no surprise that their Pommeau is the best we have ever tasted.  John Rankin

Camut NV Calvados Pays d'Auge 12 ans d'âge

At 12 years old, this Calvados shows extremely youthful and vibrant apple, caramel, and sweet cream aromas. These marry well with perfectly integrated spice and oak notes that add depth and intrigue. This is an absolute treat and is a big step up in complexity from the Camut estate's wildly delicious 6-year Calvados. Tim Gagnon

Camut NV Calvados Pays d'Auge 6 ans d'âge

We have a wonderful customer who drinks a fair share of brandy and prefers the six year expression to the more exclusive bottlings--his preference is not unfounded. Camut 6 has delicious, green apple fruit with a hint of vanilla. A touch of oak smoke is there, but fruit is really the focus of this spirit. Six years may not sound like a long time, but trust us, it’s plenty. John Rankin

Capovilla Grappa di Bassano 750ml

Capovilla spirits are truly labors of love. The Bassano bottling consists of pommace from a variety of grapes from Vicenza. The secret to the rich, broad flavors is the rare still that Vittorio Gianni Capovilla uses. Called a bain-marie still, it heats the pommace at low temperatures to maintain the grape flavors and not create the offensive, alcoholic tones that mars many more commercial Grappa productions. We are extremely happy that Jan d'Amore has decided to import these spirits, and strongly recommend that Grappa and Eau-de-vie fans try them. JR

Capovilla Moscato Fior d'Arancio 375ml

This is a single variety grappa bottling featuring the wonderfully aromatic "Uva Moscota Fior d'Arancio." Vittorio Gianni Capovilla uses his rare bain-marie still to slowly distill and preserve the lively honey and citrus qualities of the grape. Grappa fans will note the extreme purity and freshness of the spirit and applaud Jan d'Amore for bringing it to the American market. John Rankin

Chateau de Briat 2000 Bas Armagnac Bacco

The 2000 Bacco fully exudes the traditional Château de Briat house style: decadent, yet complex and structured, with a focus on new oak. Again, from the diary of John Rankin: On the nose it is luscious with sweet caramel, the chewy soft kind, and orange zest rising from the glass. On the palate it is rich and silky – very drinkable – with a touch of spice and a sugary milk chocolate finish. With this flavor profile and the château’s affinity for new oak, this would be a fantastic crossover spirit for Bourbon lovers! Tim Gagnon

Cobra Fire Eau de Vie de Raisin Domaine d'Esperance

Cyril Zangs NV Apple Brandy Double Zero

This phenomenal, clear apple brandy is the result of a collaboration between the great cider producer Cyril Zangs and Calvados distiller Jean Roger Groult. Over 30 varieties of apples are first cellared for a few months to concentrate sugars and flavors, and then gently pressed into a cider that ages on it's lees for 10 months. Jean Roger Groult then distills the cider on his tiny direct fire still, making very precise cuts to isolate the heart of the spirit, with a resting time of a few weeks between the first and second distillation to further concentrate and enhance the flavors. There is wonderful texture and weight to this un-aged brandy, with the purity of the apple notes complimented with baking spice, hints of cinnamon, and a savory, umami character of earth and dried foliage. An exceptional and unique spirit from Normandy. Oskar Kostecki

Domaine Du Tertre 1997 Calvados

Of the countless wonderful spirits I've had the opportunity to taste this year, Domaine du Tertre Calvados was one of the most memorable. Creating a unique style of Calvados, Tertre is run by by two brothers, Michel and Hubert Havard, and the main focus of production at the estate is apple cider. Their excrutiatingly tiny batches of Calvados are distilled on a travelling single column still with 10 plates, after the apples have been fermented for over 6 months with all indigenous yeast. It is this long fermentation and old school production methods that leads to the intense and rustic style of this Calvados. This is a single es-cognac cask, bottled at a cask strength of 50% abv. Flavors of baked apple, apple peel, dried orange peel, baking spices, nutmeg, mint, dried leaves, and pronounced rancio notes forest floor, mushroom, and balsamic all interweave on the beautifully complex palate. A fresh apple quality emerges on the long, long finish. This is an absolute powerhouse Calvados, and a perfect ending to many a satisfying meal. Oskar Kostecki

Dudognon 10 Year Old Cognac Grande Champagne 'Reserve'

The Dudognon Reserve is one of the best values in Cognac. Made without additives or coloring, it's a pale gold color with subtle citrus and white fruit aromas. The palate is clean and long with tea, earth, citrus and spice. Far superior to the brand-name VS or VSOP blends and really worth trying. John Rankin

Dupont NV Calvados du Pays d'Auge Vielle Reserve 750ml

The Dupont estate has been producing Calvados, cider, and cheese since it was founded in 1890. Their orchards are planted to thirteen varieties in chalky, marl-heavy soils and no pesticides or herbicides are used at any time. Their Vieille Reserve is a blend of twice-distilled Calvados, of which the youngest is 5 years old. It is aged in 50% new French oak barrels which lends a softer, more decadent spirit than one might expect from products similar in age. Juicy green apple, sea salt, and caramel (the soft chewy kind) abound on the nose with a touch of walnuts and cinnamon. The palate is also quite round and luscious with more caramel backed by baked apple, vanilla, black pepper, and tart tatin that lead into a salty, mineral-laden finish. A delicious Calvados for a great price! Tim Gagnon 

Esperance 1998 Armagnac

Guillon-Painturaud Cognac Grande Champagne VSOP

Guillon-Painturaud's VSOP is a fantastic 15-year-old Cognac that punches way above its price point. This spirit is all about fresh orange and sweet marmalade fruits with plenty of cut. We are happy to be able to carry this independent producer's fantastic Cognac, and the 15-hectare estate that can trace its history back to 1610 is an exciting find. JR

Huard 2002 Calvados Le Pertyer Hors d'Age

Our Chambers Street selection of Calvados was distilled in 2002 and was aged in a barrel that previously held cider and Pommeau (cider and Calvados blended together). From the diary of John Rankin: The barrel that we bought has candied apple and toffee cream flavors and is surprisingly juicy and fruit-forward, even with a fair amount of age and alcohol percentage. It shows the influence of Pommeau and cider more than barrel, along with richness and a long finish of exotic citrus and dark-toned flowers. Tim Gagnon

L'Encantada XO Bas Armagnac 4 Single Vintage Casks

L'Heritier Guyot Vieux Marc de Bourgogne V.S.O.P.

Neversink Spirits New York Apple Brandy 375ml

This exquisitely clear apple brandy comes in one of the cutest printed packages in the store, but that shouldn’t be the only reason for you to buy it. The fact is that this is one of the most delicious ways to experience New York’s abundant apple crop’s flavors. The apples growing on Neversink’s organic farm were selected for their high acid and high tannic character (not great for eating, but essential to creating delicious ciders and spirits). The mash is then twice distilled which makes for a bright, delicate spirit that truly showcases the quality of the raw ingredients used. In Europe, brandies like this are enjoyed neat after dinner but current cocktail creators are experimenting with all sorts of uses: the most simple being a touch of sugar and a squeeze of citrus for an apple-infused take on a Sour. Tim Gagnon

Neversink Spirits Aged 8 Months New York Apple Brandy 375ml

Orchard Hill NV Ten66 375 ml

Orchard Hill was started in 2005 by all-around spirits guru, Karl du Hoffman, in the Hudson Valley town of New Hampton, NY. They focus on two products here - cider and pommeau - and we were thrilled to be able to get our hands on the latter. Inspired by the famed Normandy elixir of calvados and non-alcoholic sweet cider, Karl wanted to make a product that was true to the apples of the Hudson Valley yet echoed centuries of pommeau production in France. Aptly named Ten66 after the Norman Invasion of England in the year 1066, this is a blend of 3-10 year-old apple brandy and cider of various vintages from 2005-2012 that have been aged in used French oak barrels from wineries on Long Island (that held Merlot or Chardonnay in their previous life). Apple butter, apple cobbler, caramel, toasted nutmeg, and baked cherry come to mind on the nose which hint at what is found on the palate. It is juicy with deeper notes of caramel and spice. This is delicious served slightly chilled as an aperitif but would be equally good with a cheese course after dinner! Tim Gagnon

Paul Beau NV Cognac Grande Champagne Hors d'Age

Located in the heart of Cognac's premier cru "Grand Champagne," the Beau family has a long history of making exceptional artisan Cognacs. The Beaus use old wooden barrels and a majority of Ugni Blanc to facilitate a clear expression of terroir. This creates an absolutely lovely spirit that has been aged an average of thirty years, well over the requirements to label "Hors d'Age." The perfect after-dinner drink with a balance of dried fruit and very nice minerality. JR

Pellehaut 1989 Armagnac Ténarèze Ugni Blanc

This Armagnac shows a vibrant orange color with hints of caramel. Tastes mature, but even after 28 years in cask there is a grippy quality and some citrus-toned fruit. This is an excellent introduction to vintage Armagnac and a fabulous value.  John Rankin

Pellehaut NV Armagnac Selection Folle Blanc

Purkhart 375 ml Apricot Eau-de-Vie Blume Marillen 375ml

Ravignan Floc de Gascogne Bas-Armagnac

Through the Grapevine Cognac Fine Bois Remi Landier Lot 73

Through The Grapevine Francois Voyer Lot 93