Roger Groult Calvados Pays D’Auge – 13YR Jurancon Finish

The history of the Groult family distillery begins in the 19th century at “Clos de la Hurvanière”, a farm located on the heights of the Pays d’Auge, in Saint-Cyr du Ronceray. The production of apples and cider were already traditional there, as in most Norman farms for several centuries.

In 1860, Pierre Groult (1830-1918) began distilling his cider with the aim of producing his own eau-de-vie: Calvados Groult was born.
Thanks to his meticulous production methods as well as the magnificent terroir offered to him, his Calvados quickly obtained a fine reputation. He won his first gold medal in 1893. His son Léon (1874-1923) developed production by planting orchards, building a second aging cellar, and setting up two of the three stills still in operation today. He was, unfortunately, part of the generation sacrificed in the First World War, his serious injuries received at the end of the conflict did not allow him to develop the distribution of his Calvados.

Thanks to the work carried out and the stocks built up by his father and grandfather, Roger Groult (1905-1988) was able to develop his Calvados sales significantly after the Second World War. In 1952, he enlarged the distillery and built a large aging cellar where oak casks of more than 12,000 liters are still housed. He gave his letters of nobility to his eau-de-vie and made his name a brand.

His son Jean-Pierre (1946-2008) extended the distribution of his Calvados throughout France and was a pioneer in exporting his eaux-de-vie abroad. In order to meet this new international demand, he gradually increased his production of cider apples by planting new orchards, as well as the stock of Calvados by building the two largest cellars in the estate.

Finally, the family traditions are perpetuated because today his children Estelle, Charlotte, and Jean-Roger manage the distillery. While maintaining certain ancestral production methods such as double distillation over a wood fire or perpetual blending, they are developing international distribution (currently in 38 countries) and modernizing the range by offering cuvées original (vintages, “cask finish”).