Swell de Spirits #9 Flashback Prunier Calvados 47,4%

This Calvados is part of Swell de Spirits’ Flashback Series. Distilled in 1991 and aged for 33 years in French oak within a humid cellar, it was bottled at 47.4%. Only 150 half-litre bottles were released, with no reduction or additives. An intriguing single-cask Calvados AOC from Prunier’s cellars. 

Colour: Dark amber, orange lights. Irregular heavy tears.

Nose: Extreme profile right away, bursting with exotic fruit: passion fruit and papaya. One could almost mistake it for rum. Vinous and slightly oxidative notes, drifting toward certain sherry-like profiles. Intense nutty aromas, especially walnut kernel.

Palate: Exuberant and fully aligned with the nose. Exotic fruit again, now leaning toward roasted pineapple. High-acidity profile with lingering acidulous notes in the aftertaste. The structure almost recalls a Grande Champagne Cognac, not entirely surprising considering that one comes from Prunier’s cellars.

Last notes: Rounder with air, moving toward vanilla and assorted nutty tones. Roasted accents on coffee beans. Funky, salivating profile, though slightly lacking precision. Finish on hard cider and tangerine juice.

A very enjoyable, funky Calvados. One can’t help but wonder how it might have evolved with a few months in a very dry cellar before bottling, to sharpen the profile and gain precision. Still, a highly pleasurable dram.

My very subjective note: 87+/100

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