IL - Spirits Portfolio

BRANDY CALVADOS

What do they mean? In a word: Aging. V.S. (Very Special): AKA “three stars,” The youngest eau-de-vie in the blend must be a minimum 2 years old. V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale): The youngest eau-de-vie in the blend is at least 4 years old. Napoleon: A favorite of Napoleon, otherwise it just designated a blend that’s at least 6 years old. X.O. (Extra Old): The “extra” here used to mean at least 6 years old, though since April 2018 the new minimum is 10 years old. Hors d’Age (“Of the Ages”): Literally… “it is so old, it’d be impolite to ask.” It’s used to communicate a very high quality product. Vintage: A vintage brandy means that the brandy is a single blend from a single year’s harvest. There is no age limitation. — VINEPAIR.COM VS XO the Brandy Alphabet

COQUEREL FRANCE, NORMANDY Maison Coquerel is still producing its Calvados in respect of the Normand tradition, yet using today’s technology. The apples are washed and gravitationally floated to an elevator which takes them to a grating machine where they are turned into pulp.The pulp is conveyed to a press, spread out between two perforated sheets of metal and driven through two high pressure rollers. The apple-juice thus is left to ferment naturally over several months as the sugar gradually turns into alcohol. It becomes cider. It is only after this fermentation process that this cider can be distilled to produce “eau de vie de cidre” (apple brandy).” Coquerel Calvados Fine 80PF / 375ML / 750ML Coquerel Fine or VS is a blend of Calvados aged during a minimum of 2 years and selected by our cellar master in order to confer it strength and freshness, so typical of this Calvados. While tasting Coquerel Fine, you rapidly perceive the fresh apple taste associated with the vanilla notes, that result from its first months of aging in young oak – fine grain barrels. Tasting “La Fine” is like biting into an apple. 2016 Gold Medal Intl Wine & Spirit Competition Coquerel Calvados VSOP 80PF / 750ML Coquerel VSOP is Calvados known for its fruity and floral aromas resulting from a blend of Calvados aged of a minimum of 4 years. DAMPFWERK DISTILLING USA, MINNESOTA We are not just a name; we are a global family that enjoys the simplicity of a good meal and spirits. To create these spirits, we have imported a hand-hammered copper still, originating from the Schwarzwald in Baden, Germany. Like the farmers in Baden, we pride ourselves in building relationships with local orchards and suppliers to produce the best spirit possible under exacting conditions. Dampfwerk Aged Apple Brandy 86PF / 375ML Meet a more mature Tilli. This European-style Apple Brandy is hand-made from Minnesota Haralson apples, fermented with selected cider yeasts and distilled using a classical Black forest pot still to capture the delicate apple aromas. The short oak barrel rest rounds up the aromas and creates a new softer dimensions. Dampfwerk Aged Immature Grape Brandy 86PF / 375ML Meet Tilli. This American-style Grape Brandy is hand-made from the cold hardy Frontenac Gris grape, fermented with selected cider yeasts and distilled using a classical Black-forest pot still to capture the unique grape aromas. We only aged this immature brandy for six months on ex-Cabernet Sauvignon French oak barrels to allow the unique grape aromas shine through. Dampfwerk Unaged Apple Brandy 86PF / 375ML Meet Ivey. This European-style Apple Brandy is hand-made from Minnesotan Haralson apples, fermented with selected cider yeasts and distilled using a classical Black-forest pot still to capture the delicate apple aromas. BRANDY FRUIT BRANDIES

WHAT IS A FRUIT BRANDY? Opening Pandora’s box here… Putting it simply, fruit brandy is taking wine, and distilling it! You can make wine from any fruit, apples, grapes, pears, plums, or tomatoes if you will… Our German-style fruit brandy comes from apples, pears, and grapes that go through skin-on-fermentation. This just means that we use the whole fruit, mash it into a sauce, ferment it, distill it, and add water to proof it down. We pride ourselves in the fact that we do not add any coloring, flavoring, or concentrates to make our brandy FABULOUS.

ILLINOIS SPIRITS PORTFOLIO

8