Review by: Raygun

Can’t find a whole lot about Hubert. Pays d’Auge requires the use of pot stills, but I have no idea if this is all apple or a blend of apple and pear. I believe this was a K&L exclusive. Reviewed from a sample thanks to. Rested about 10 minutes.

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Distillery: Hubert

Bottler: Hubert

Region/style: Calvados Pays d’Auge 

ABV: 49%. Cask strength.

Age: 30 years. Distilled in 1993.

Cask type: French oak  

Color: 1.5 auburn. Natural color.

Price: $100

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Nose: Plenty of oak, which is no surprise after 30 years. Apple and orange slices dipped in caramel. Some anise. Quite floral, maybe elderflower.  

Palate: Apples, dried cherries, a bit of fig. Spiced apple cider. Lot going on here. There’s the floral again. Rather fresh, but also getting some earthy kind of rancio. Something like saffron, cinnamon, and clove. Lots of wood. Excellent depth.  

Finish: The oaky theme continues. There’s a hint of bitterness like almost burnt caramel and some sort of bitter herb, but it’s not too much. Apples and dried cherries. Less floral, more spice. Very tannic.  

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Conclusion: This is a big oak beast. And I am here for it. Intense, spicy, but also floral. A touch of bitterness harmonizes well. 30 years in a cask brings the expected heavy oak, but it’s hardly one-dimensional. I like the spice character in particular. Delicious. 

Buy a bottle? Hard to believe it was just $100. Shame I missed it.

Score: 86

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent brandy worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.