Pere Magloire

Père Magloire is one of Normandy’s most historic and best-known Calvados houses, with a heritage that dates back to 1821. Founded in the small town of Pont-l’Évêque, a region famed for its apples and rich agricultural traditions, Père Magloire has been producing high-quality apple brandy for over two centuries. Its name comes from a local innkeeper, Père Magloire, who became known for serving fine Calvados to travellers and locals alike, building a reputation that would eventually inspire the brand itself.

Calvados is a protected designation spirit produced in Normandy, France, made from cider distilled from carefully selected apple (and sometimes pear) varieties. Père Magloire is known for sourcing its fruit from the heart of Normandy’s orchards, where over 200 different apple varieties are grown. These range from sweet and bittersweet apples, which add body and richness, to tart, acidic apples, which bring freshness and structure.

The production process begins with pressing the apples into juice, which is then fermented into cider over several weeks. Père Magloire employs traditional methods, using slow, natural fermentation to develop complex aromas. The cider is then distilled in copper stills, either through a single continuous distillation (Calvados AOC) or a double pot still distillation (Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC), depending on the expression.

Ageing is carried out in French oak casks, often for years or even decades, allowing the spirit to mellow and take on layers of flavour from the wood. Père Magloire’s cellar masters carefully manage maturation to balance the apple’s bright, fruity character with the vanilla, spice, and nuttiness imparted by the oak. Younger bottlings tend to be fresh, crisp, and aromatic, while older expressions develop richer notes of baked apple, caramel, dried fruit, and warm spice.

The Père Magloire range covers the full spectrum of Calvados styles:
• Fine (young, vibrant, and ideal for cocktails)
• VSOP (aged at least 4 years, with a balance of fruit and oak)
• XO (extra old, with deep complexity and smoothness)
• Vintage and prestige bottlings that showcase exceptional casks from specific harvest years.

Père Magloire is also recognised for innovation, producing Calvados finished in casks that previously held fortified wines or other spirits, adding new dimensions to the apple-forward base. These finishes appeal to both traditionalists and adventurous drinkers.

In terms of flavour, expect bright apple aromas in the younger expressions, with hints of citrus, pear, and blossom. Older Calvados from Père Magloire deliver baked apple, toffee, almond, and spice, often with a silky texture and a lingering, elegant finish. This makes them versatile: younger styles are excellent in cocktails like the Normandy Old Fashioned or Apple Spritz, while older versions are best sipped neat after dinner.

Our Père Magloire Calvados selection includes approachable entry-level bottles for those new to the spirit, as well as mature, limited-edition releases for collectors and connoisseurs. Whether you’re exploring Normandy’s apple brandy tradition for the first time or adding a world-class Calvados to your collection, Père Magloire offers an authentic taste of French heritage in every glass.