Boulard – Rye Cask Finish Calvados

Cider Profile:

Name: Boulard VSOP – Rye Cask Finish Calvados
Sampled September 2021

Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Strong (Medium for Calvados), astringent caramel apples with woody elements.
Initial Taste: Light bite from barreling and astringency, Heavy but smokey Rye and barreling elements, thick apple that’s caramelized and pulpy.
After Taste: Long lasting aftertaste with a lot of the barrel and woody elements found in Rye and the cask’s it was fermented in.  Almond and vanilla notes are more present in the aftertaste.
On ice: Much smoother on ice, as the smokey elements are gone.

Additional Notes:  The Rye Cask Finish Boulard VSOP Calvados Apple Brandy is a high ABV, specialty calvados (40%) with extra smokey base that is a lot cleaner with ice added. Rye, wheat like notes. Less astringency and slightly smoother than other calvados, it has some almond and vanilla notes to balance the barrelling. But its still pretty alcoholic tasting so no free passes here.

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 1.5
Sour – 3.5
Crisp – 1.5
Dry – 4
Fruity – 2.5

Next recommendations:
More Sweet –TBA
More Sour – TBA
More Dry – TBA
More Crisp – TBA

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