Connoisseurs know that Calvados doesn’t always need long aging to be special, and Roger Groult’s eight-year-old bottling is an excellent reminder of this. Golden honey in color, the nose is intense, with bold baked apple, mulled spice, and a touch of attractive wood. On the palate, fresh, juicy, ripe green-apple notes, then a creamy softness on the midpalate. Spicy throughout, with notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and even pink peppercorn that glide into a surprisingly long finish. A great introduction to Calvados for a committed rye whiskey drinker. (AOC Pays d’Auge, 41% abv.)