CALVADOS - Mr. Vivian Simon (barreled on January 5, 1933)
The Calvados of Mr. Vivian Simon is an exceptionally rare testimony to the history of Norman brandies, originating from a time when time itself was the foremost ally of taste. Distilled and barreled on January 5, 1933, right in the interwar period, this Calvados belongs to a generation now almost vanished. It is a very old bottling, preserved in a mouth-blown bottle, typical of artisanal productions from the early 20th century. The bottle itself tells a story: old glass, irregular shapes, patina of time, and an original label still present, although barely legible, reinforcing the authentic and historical character of this piece. Here we have a true object of memory, as much as a spirit.
This Calvados was distilled and then aged starting in 1933, according to the traditional practices of the time, well before the modern standardization of appellations. The handwritten or printed mention clearly indicates the barreling date, a crucial element for this type of old bottle. No additional information on the exact aging duration, the precise type of barrel, or the apple varieties is available to date, and it would be inappropriate to speculate. This bottle should be considered a cellar relic, from a very old batch, probably kept for several decades before bottling. Its rarity lies as much in its age as in its state of preservation and the survival of its original labeling.
On tasting, when considered, such a brandy promises a deeply evolved palette, marked by long aging: notes of cooked apples, dried fruits, wax, old wood, mild spices, and noble rancio, typical of very great old Calvados. The palate, if still lively, should offer a silky, worn texture, with exceptional length and a silent complexity, more contemplative than demonstrative. This Calvados is primarily intended for collectors, lovers of historic brandies, or exceptional tastings to be shared in a suspended moment. A bottle on the border between tasting and heritage, charged with history and emotion.
