Talk:Calvados

Comments

Spelling mistake? "vieillée en chêne" or "vieilli en chêne"? - User:Olivier

In common English usage it seems that Calvados is regularly capitalized. I have changed the article to reflect this.

Yes, Calvados (like Cognac) is in reference to the French department of Calvados and should always be capitalized Philvarner 23:11, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Single vs Double distillation

This is a misleading title for a discussion of column and pot, or alembic, stills. The discussion itself is misleading too. Very, very few distillers who produce high quality product would suggest that column stills produce a cleaner "apple" flavor than alembic stills. When a pot still's distillate flows, what first comes out is different from the next phase, which is different from the next, and so on. The distiller separates those different parts, and only uses the best. A column still is supposed to isolate a better fraction continuously. But fermented mash is variable. Every batch has a different flavor when heated, too. So columns inevitably mix an array of "fractions" in their stream. They miss very good parts, and use not so good parts. In terms of "clean" flavor, it's more likely from alembics, where the distiller controls the results, than the column, where the distiller sets the column and hopes for the best. The column will have either off-flavors, or little flavor, no matter how carefully done.

I once set up a distillery, and interviewed many distillers to understand the best way to do things. Brian C — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.80.117.214 (talk) 09:17, 13 October 2014 (UTC)

A pot still will make fairly clean-tasting alcohol until the head temp hits 94C. After that the distillate becomes increasingly unpleasant. A double distillation via pot still makes for very clean flavor. You'd have to have an exceptional tongue to pick the type of original wash.61.68.71.253 (talk) 23:07, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

Apple varieties

This article should mention the number of apple varieties (up to 120 or more, of the bitter, tart, and sweet kinds) used to produce Calvados. 69.81.158.35 07:38, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

Not just apples

As the article mentions, Calvados can include pears as well as apples. LeMorton, for example, is made with 70% pear and only 30% apple. The first line of the article is hence incorrect in defining Calvados as apple brandy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.95.60.70 (talk) 20:14, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

Huh?

"During World War I cider brandy was made for armaments."

That makes no sense. It either means: that cider brandy was made for consumption by members of the armed forces; or that cider brandy was used in making armaments. I don't know which. Either way, could someone who knows something about it expand on this please, as well as provide a source? WikiReaderer 22:19, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

Pronunciation

I've removed the line about pronunciation. According to Chamber's English Dictionary (and my experience) it is always '-dos' not '-do' - and this is en.wikipedia.org, not sure about the 'authentic' French pronunciation of the region - I would guess that in any case would not have stress on the first syllable. Luke Harris (talk) 22:41, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Absolutely right - the "s" is pronounced. Not pronouncing it is a perfect sign of being a foreigner who learned from a book. Locals do refer to it as "calva" - the moral equivalent of calling beer "brew" 81.247.203.239 (talk) 14:02, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

In fact, perhaps a line explaining that the final "s" is pronounced ought to be included, given that final s's in French are more often silent. As for stress, in standard French there isn't any; all syllables are stressed equally. Trying to duplicate that effect in English, however, sounds stilted. The topic of syllable stress in French words spoken in English is worthy of its own Wiki topic (there might already be one, for all I know), with significant differences between American and British practices. However, in this case, placing the stress on the first syllable - the usual British practice - sounds most natural, although it is no more "authentic" than stressing the VA or the DOS. 76.99.86.148 (talk) 02:01, 1 April 2008 (UTC)essex9999

WikiProject Food and drink Tagging

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Move discussion in progress

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Alcoholic content

During World War I, cider brandy was requisitioned for use in armaments due to its alcohol content.

– Any word on what the alcohol content of calvados typically is? Sca (talk) 19:07, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

" 'Lord' de Gouberville " Is there any justification for the "scare quotes" surrounding the title "Lord"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.19.201.144 (talk) 02:31, 11 September 2016 (UTC)

Ice Cream

Is there actually justification for this section? Dstar3k (talk) 06:14, 27 February 2023 (UTC)

Coupe Normande does exist. Don't know it deserves its own section (in which it is misspelled!) DeCausa (talk) 09:54, 27 February 2023 (UTC)

Requested move 27 September 2026

Calvados → Calvados (brandy)Calvados (brandy) – I propose moving this article to Calvados (brandy) and using Calvados as a disambiguation page. Calvados (department) is a significant geographical and administrative entity, with around 709.400 inhabitants. It is therefore not a marginal or obscure meaning of the term. Moreover, the brandy itself takes its name from the department. Although the brandy has more page views, the department also receives substantial views. Given the importance of the department and the fact that the brandy is named after it, Calvados is better suited as a disambiguation page covering both meanings. ~2026-52068-79 (talk) 15:28, 27 September 2026 (UTC)

• Weak support no clear primary topic, the brandy has more views (8,704) than the department (4,005)[]. Crouch, Swale (talk) 17:00, 27 September 2026 (UTC)
• Oppose Calvados (department) is notable, but the most notable use of "Calvados" in the English language is indeed the liquor. Primary topic per WP:PT1 and WP:PT2. 162 etc. (talk) 17:23, 27 September 2026 (UTC)
• Oppose per User:162 etc. above. The liquor might be named after the department but most people still think of the liquor when they hear the word "Calvados". JIP | Talk 20:36, 27 September 2026 (UTC)
• Support. Although it has fewer views, the department has far more incoming links than the brandy. I've fixed nearly 500 articles which incorrectly linked to Calvados intending the department. This suggests that many editors assumed the department to be a primary topic, and I expect many readers do too. de:Calvados and fr:Calvados are dabs; es:Calvados is about the department; the brandy is at Calvados (qualifier) in each case. Certes (talk) 21:28, 27 September 2026 (UTC)
• Oppose I have had second thoughts, if there are only two meanings it may not need much of a difference in notability to establish a primary meaning. PatGallacher (talk) 01:03, 1 October 2026 (UTC)
• Oppose per User:162 etc. above. If you type Calvados into any search engine the brandy comes first.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 16:58, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  @Davidstewartharvey This is not a criterion for determining the primary topic. Web search results can be influenced by commercial factors, among other things. If I search for "Tottenham," "Ajax," or "Chelsea," the football clubs will almost always appear at the top. Should we therefore make them the primary topic? ~2026-52562-71 (talk) 17:07, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  The search engines pick up the primary subject. Champagne is the primary subject on wikipedia, and on Google. Your examples are poor, as they are Tottenham Hotspur F.C on wikipedia. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 18:04, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  Google results are a way to determin a primary topic but there can be bias, see WP:DPT so this is valid evidence, obviously one article has to come up before another so this may only indicate which article has a better claim but might not show that there is a strong enough claim for a primary topic. Crouch, Swale (talk) 18:25, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  @Davidstewartharvey Search results can be subject to various biases, as already pointed out, and are by no means a way of determining a primary topic. In fact, this is not listed as a unique and definitive criterion at WP:PRIMARYTOPIC. That is your personal opinion. For example, if I search for "Naza," NAZA (film) comes up as the primary result, but this is simply due to recentism. ~2026-52589-94 (talk) 20:37, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  Primary topic tells us this:

  1. A topic is primary for a term with respect to usage if it is highly likely—much more likely than any other single topic, and more likely than all the other topics combined—to be the topic sought when a reader searches for that term. Well as per the figures provided above the brandy has higher usage, more than double. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 20:59, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  @Davidstewartharvey Yes, but Calvados (department) also receives a substantial number of page views and has a large population, so it is certainly not negligible. Moreover, page views are not the only criterion that should be considered; for example, Ambition, Pedro Juan Caballero, Surprise and Theia (and I could give many other examples) receive fewer views than other articles, yet they are still primary topics. Long-term significance should also be taken into account, and there is no doubt that both the department and the brandy have lasting significance. ~2026-52589-94 (talk) 21:12, 30 September 2026 (UTC)

  Substantial? Less than half the views, which clearly meets "highly likely—much more likely than any other single topic, and more likely than all the other topics combined—to be the topic sought when a reader searches for that term". Secondly, as pointed out but didn't answer is the current consensus that already exists surrounding Champagne? Thirdly, your examples are not exactly great. For example ambition, if you ask any English speaker what ambition is, it would be the primary subject. And Pedro Juan Caballero, the place, is named after the said person. If he hadn't existed the place would have been called something else. These are established, if silly rules, on wikipedia about primary subjects that have been discussed previously. I did put forward back in the past that we should not have any primary subjects, but I was shot down, so we have to live what the consensus says. I have put forward my opinion, as have others who have also opposed (which you have not questioned?). At the end of the discussion it will be the consensus that prevails. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 07:07, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  @Davidstewartharvey There is no consensus. These are not rules, but your personal opinions. I have already explained at length why the department is relevant. It is not an obscure or negligible subject: with more than 709.000 inhabitants, it is a significant administrative, historical and territorial entity. As already mentioned, page views are not the only criterion to consider. Moreover, since there is no disambiguator, even people searching for the department will end up on this article first. Each case should be assessed individually, and the fact that one topic takes its name from another is not a relevant criterion for determining a primary topic. In this particular case, the department has, for the reasons already mentioned, considerable long-term significance. The novel A Clockwork Orange gives its name to the film, but it is not the primary topic. Thus, the reasoning you put forward for Pedro Juan Caballero is once again incorrect. ~2026-52806-65 (talk) 08:15, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  You clearly don't understand concensus! A concensus on Wikipedia is what editors agree, and in the norm is the majority unless the closing editor decides that this does not meet Wikipedia rules. I have clearly put my case against quoting the guidelines. You may not like my opinion but this is the process, and it will be up to the rest of the editors who want to get involved to pass comment, and for the closing editor to decide. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 12:59, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  @Davidstewartharvey First and foremost, I would ask you to keep the discussion respectful. I am not sure what you mean by saying that I do not understand what consensus is. Secondly, the arguments I have presented are well-founded, whereas I have addressed and rebutted your arguments one by one. Of course, the final decision will be up to the editors and the consensus they reach, but as demonstrated, the arguments you have put forward are not in themselves criteria for determining a primary topic. I would remind you that page views are not the only criterion to consider, as shown by the numerous examples I have provided. Long-term significance must also be taken into account, and avoiding incorrect wikilinks is important as well. Moreover, since this article does not have a disambiguator, even someone searching for the department will end up here. ~2026-52831-01 (talk) 13:05, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  Both criteria matter but it's fine to base your arguments on just one, I normally only base my arguments on usage where I have pageviews unless there is an obvious argument for long-term significance. As noted at Talk:999#Requested move 28 July 2019 other searches as well as the main Google are Images, Books and A site:wikipedia.org Calvados. When I Google Calvados I only get results for the brandy, Images seems mixed though the brandy does come up more, Books seems mixed and site:wikipedia.org Calvados returns the brandy first. So while David's case may be weak it is a valid argument showing the brandy might be primary by usage. Crouch, Swale (talk) 18:11, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  As there is only one other topic, a hatnote guides readers to the department and we don't need a disambiguation page. We will need to create one (an easy task) if we decide that there is no primary topic. Certes (talk) 18:22, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  A DAB page already exists on 21 Wikipedias including Frwiki, @Certes: do you think it would be worth looking at Champagne and Stilton like what was done with Cheddar. Crouch, Swale (talk) 18:36, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  Is the English language a special exception in being the only one to treat the brandy as a primary topic (fr:Calvados, de:Calvados, es:Calvados, pt:Calvados, it:Calvados, nl:Calvados, etc.)? ~2026-52892-44 (talk) 19:26, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  Of the 51 other wikipedias with articles on the spirit, 17 treat it as a primary topic, including about five for which no issue arises because they use a different title for the department (e.g. tr:Kalvados vs tr:Calvados). Certes (talk) 19:46, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  @Certes I mean the major languages, those that are generally more monitored. In any case, most of the other Wikipedias do not treat the brandy as the primary topic. ~2026-52892-44 (talk) 19:59, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  My first thought above was to check French, German and Spanish. None of those treat the brandy as primary. I'm showing western European bias here, partly because I have almost zero knowledge of languages from elsewhere, but the brandy and the department are both western European topics. Taking the next two that come to mind, it:Calvados is a dab; pt:Calvados is the department. Certes (talk) 15:51, 2 October 2026 (UTC)

  Possibly, though the wine and cheese both seem more famous than Calvados. Other things that aren't departments include Ardennes, Loire, Moselle and Vosges. Certes (talk) 19:31, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

  I do not believe that the English language is the only exception compared to all the others for "Calvados". ~2026-52892-44 (talk) 19:40, 1 October 2026 (UTC)

• Support No obvious primary topic, should be disambiguated. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 05:46, 1 October 2026 (UTC)
• Support 8,704 vs. 4,005 pageviews is not the kind of margin that supports having a primary topic. Plantdrew (talk) 21:48, 2 October 2026 (UTC)