Calvados Lemorton Reserve

This is a category of spirits I haven't explored much; Calvados can be made from apples and pears. While most tend to be apple-forward, this particular bottle is actually more pear-dominant. The aroma immediately brings to mind an orchard and pears. The initial sips reveal granny smith apples, a touch of spice, and some citrus. The finish is quite long, with just a hint of a burn. It certainly presents as a young spirit, but I wouldn't consider that a negative. As an everyday drink, it's definitely serviceable. Again, though, I haven't tried many others, so opinions might vary. For the price, I believe this is a solid choice and works well in most cocktails calling for Calvados.

There are some intriguing flavors here. It immediately has a stale taste reminiscent of Grappa. However, the apple in this case solidifies the fruit presence into something palatable. It's semi-dry with a bit too much cinnamon, a touch of anise, and a green apple note that pleasantly bursts with a juicy and somewhat sweet sensation in the middle. The stale flavor is still unappealing, but the apple does a good job of masking it. Imagine mixing grappa with cinnamon and one of those sour candies that becomes sweet at the end. The flavor is somewhat muted, but if that's what it takes to prevent sourness and cinnamon from overwhelming my palate, I'll accept it.