CALVADOS - CUSENIER - Old Reserve of the Good King of Yvetot
The Cusenier House is one of those great historic French houses whose expertise has endured through the decades. Active since the 19th century, it distinguished itself by producing characterful liqueurs and brandies, intended both for gastronomy and fine dining. The mention “Old Reserve of the Good King of Yvetot” refers to a bygone era when spirits were conceived as products to be aged, mellowed by time and shaped by a demanding artisanal tradition. Bottles from the 1950s to 1970s bear witness to this period, both in their aesthetics and style. Here we have a true collector’s item, rich in history and memory.
This Old Reserve of the Good King of Yvetot is a very old Calvados, bottled by the Cusenier house at a time when blends were based on long-aged eaux-de-vie. Precise information regarding the exact age, apple varieties, or aging duration is not available and it would be inappropriate to speculate. The bottle itself, typical of its time, reinforces the heritage character of this cuvée: old glass, sober presentation, period label. It is clearly an old bottling, preserved as a testament to the style of mid-20th century Calvados, well before the modern standardization of the appellation.
On tasting, when considered, such a cuvée promises a deeply evolved expression, marked by long aging. One can expect notes of cooked apples, dried fruits, wax, old wood, soft spices and a noble rancio, signature of very old Calvados. The palate should offer a supple and mellow texture, with great overall sweetness and a persistent finish, more contemplative than demonstrative. This Calvados is primarily aimed at collectors, lovers of old eaux-de-vie or exceptional tastings, to be shared in a rare moment. A bottle at the crossroads of spirits and heritage, where emotion counts as much as taste.
