Double Hill – Calvados Brandy Barrel Aged (2019)

Cider Profile:

Name: Double Hill – Calvados Brandy Barrel Aged (2019)
Sampled January 2026

Brand: Double Hill Cider Type: Apple – Barrel Aged Location of Production: Caledonia, PE ABV: 5.5% Website Link: doublehillcidery.com/ Ingredients: N/A Gluten Free: Yes Sugar Content: N/A Size(s) available: 750ml (bottle) Availability: Double Hill retail and online stores Flavour: Apple Colour: Translucent sunflower yellow Carbonation: Large, infrequent bubbles

---

Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Crisp, juicy apple.Woody and barrelling notes with brandy and vanilla elements. 
Initial Taste: Light bite from carbonation. Smooth, crisp, clean apple that is juicy at the first sip, however, very quickly overtaken once you swallow by the barreling elements that are woody, brandy and a touch of dankness.  Barreling is not overpowering but very noticeable, with a vanilla finish.
After Taste: Apples and barreling notes soften and linger – a while with a bit of bitter elements from the aging.
On ice: Thinner bodied, less crisp and intense.

Additional Notes: Double Hill’s 2019 Reserve, Calvados Brandy Barrel Aged is one of their earlier offerings, which still holds up about 8 years later. At 5.5%, it’s a more sessionable barreled offering, highlighting the crisp, juicy apples while still holding onto some dark, woody elements from the barrel.  Pretty mellow, both in carbonation and intensity, and even more so on ice, but it still has a satisfying amount of calvados and brandy elements. Still a bit of natural sweetness that linger but not sugary or boozy.

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 3
Sour – 3
Crisp – 4
Dry – 2.5
Fruity – 3.5

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Bulwark – Rum Cider
More Sour – 
More Dry – 
More Crisp – 

Links to Other Stories
Links to Pairings
Links to Cocktails
Links to Comparisons