Adrien Camut 18 Year Privilege Calvados Domaine de Semainville

Adrien Camut 18-Year‑Old “Privilège” Calvados (Pays d’Auge) represents the pinnacle of the Camut family’s apple brandy craftsmanship—elegant, richly layered, and deeply refined. With 18 years of oxidative aging, it offers luxurious orchard fruit softened into toffee, honey, and spice complexities, all wrapped in a round, velvety texture and impressive length.

🧪 Origins & Aging

Distilled by the seventh-generation Camut family at Domaine de Semainville, this expression uses 100% estate-grown heritage apples cultivated in the traditional high‑stem (hautes‑tiges) system. After 10–11 months fermentation, the cider is double-distilled over wood-fired fires and aged 18 years in seasoned Limousin oak barrels and large foudres, promoting oxidation and concentration. No additives, charring, or coloring are used. 

👃 Nose (Aroma)

The bouquet unveils layers of caramelized apple tart, melted toffee, spiced apple bread, and honeyed orange zest. Hints of Earl Grey tea with milk, toasted almond, and gentle floral or tobacco‑leaf nuances emerge as it evolves in the glass. 

👅 Palate & Texture

• Palate: Softer and richer than younger expressions, this 18‑year offering delivers baked apple, autumn spice, cooked pomme fruit, and caramel—interwoven with deep earthy undertones and almond‑nut finish.

• Texture: Restrained yet luxurious, it feels velvety on the tongue with a refined, buttery feel that underscores its maturity. 

🔁 Finish

The finish is smooth, balanced, and lingering: a pleasant interplay of sugared apple, warm baking spice, and subtle oak tannin, all finishing with a whisper of dryness and herbal earthiness. Some reviewers note that despite its richness, the finish is slightly short for their taste. 

🌟 Highlights at a Glance

📌 Additional Insight

This is considered the flagship “privilege” release in Camut’s lineup—often described as “the perfect brandy” by retailers. It’s praised for balancing maturity and fruit intensity while holding artisan integrity in context of Calvados tradition. Despite one note from a taster that the finish felt "a little short," the consensus lauds its elegance, richness, and length.