St-Rémy concludes cask line with Calvados Finish
French brandy St-Rémy has partnered with Calvados producer Château du Breuil on the release of the final expression in the brand’s Cask Finish Collection.
Limited to 12,580 bottles, the new release was finished in Calvados casks from Château du Breuil, based in Pays d’Auge in Normandy. St-Rémy’s Cask Finish Collection – which first launched in 2018 – has seen the release of brandies finished in Sauternes, Port, Sherry, rum, Cabernet Sauvignon and Islay Scotch casks. The series aims to showcase master blender Cécile Roudaut’s expertise in maturing brandy in various types of casks. Roudaut explained that she wanted to work with a French producer for the last bottling in the cask-finished range. “I knew that apple could match very well with St-Rémy brandy,” Roudaut said. “Calvados I had in mind because there’s a controlled appellation for Calvados. “I wanted to work with a house that had the same values as St-Rémy – transparency, traceability, authenticity and sustainability.” Roudaut worked together with Philippe Etignard, Château du Breuil’s cellar master, on the creation of the product. “When I encountered Philippe Etignard, it was a revelation,” she said. “I knew that it was the perfect match between our two houses to have this exchange of casks. So, he gave me Calvados casks and I put in St-Rémy XO brandy and, after several months, we tested it and it was fabulous.” Roudaut identified notes of apple pie, candied fruits and pear. “Its intensity was strong but not aggressive and there’s no bitterness. There’s a lot of smoothness in it,” she added. The resulting liquid offers notes of fresh orchard fruits, vanilla, apple pie and almonds on the aroma. The palate brings flavours of cooked apples and pear, and spices such as vanilla, nutmeg and almonds. The brandy is bottled at 40% ABV and recommended served neat or over ice. The limited edition expression will be distributed in Canada, Taiwan, Poland, France, and Mexico, and in duty free stores in the UAE, Qatar, Singapore, Australia and Thailand from October 2023. The world’s leading French brandy is owned by Paris-based Rémy Cointreau, which recently saw sales fall by more than a third in the first quarter of 2023/2024. Last month, St-Rémy Signature teamed up with Australia-based Mix Haus to launch a fundraising initiative to champion women in the hospitality industry.
