Christian Drouin 1957 Coeur De Lion Pays d'Auge Calvados
OVERVIEW: The "Coeur de Lion" expression represents Drouin's dedication to crafting fine apple brandies, with vintage bottlings offering a direct reflection of a specific harvest year. Drouin utilizes around thirty varieties of cider apples, carefully selected from their organically farmed orchards. The production adheres to the strict Pays d'Auge regulations, requiring double distillation in traditional copper pot stills, as done in Cognac. Following distillation, the spirit is aged for an extended period in oak barrels, allowing it to develop complexity and depth over decades.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER: "The tale of the House of Drouin began in 1960 when successful businessman Christian Drouin, seeking a respite from the industrial city of Rouen, bought a country house and its surrounding orchards in the Normandy countryside. However, rather than simply retiring and relaxing, the die-hard capitalist saw potential in the orchards and engaged his friend, Pierre Pivet, a well-known local distiller, to distill his crop into Calvados, laying each successive harvest and distillation down to age. He also began buying up the stocks of several of his small neighbors, some stretching back to before World War II, to add to his collection.
After Christian's son joined his father in the operation, what began as a collector's obsession turned into a business when, starting in 1979, Christian Jr. decided to focus on the export market. With the stocks that his father had built over decades, they had an impressive portfolio that helped to elevate Calvados as something much more than a regional drink, worthy to be served at the finest restaurants and bars throughout the world and, consequently, bringing great success to the House of Drouin and establishing them as a leader in the Calvados sector,
Since 2013, the business has been in the hands of the third generation with Guillaume Drouin overseeing the management of the estate and production. The commitment to quality is unwavering, and the character of the House's offerings is exemplary, particularly as they develop further nuance and character with age.