What is pommeau?

Key facts

• Made by mutage. Calvados is added to fresh cider-apple must to stop its fermentation; the blend is then aged in wood for at least 14 months (Pommeau de Normandie). [1]
• The brandy. For Pommeau de Normandie, the calvados used has spent at least a year in oak and is at least 65% ABV at mutage. [2] Pommeau de Bretagne uses Eau-de-vie de cidre de Bretagne, also called Fine Bretagne or Lambig de Bretagne (see what Pommeau de Bretagne is); Pommeau du Maine uses Eau-de-vie de cidre du Maine. [3] [4]
• Sweet by rule. Pommeau de Normandie must have more than 69 g/L of sugar, Pommeau de Bretagne more than 90 g/L. [2] INAO gives at least 90 g/L for Pommeau du Maine. [4]
• Strength. All three are 16–18% ABV. [1] [5] [4]
• History. A 1935 decree banned the sale of cider-based aperitifs. Producers won the right to sell pommeau in 1981, and Pommeau de Normandie became an AOC in 1991. [1]
• Serving. It is best served chilled, as an aperitif, with a meal or after dinner; see how to drink pommeau. [6]

How is pommeau made?

1. Press cider apples to get the must. For Normandy, it needs at least 108 g/L of natural sugar at mutage; for Brittany and Maine, 123 g/L. [2]
2. Mute the must with cider brandy, about three parts must to one part brandy, before 15 February. [2]
3. Age in oak: at least 14 months for Normandy and Brittany, and at least 21 months for Maine. [1] [5] [4]
4. Bottle at 16–18% ABV. [1]

How is pommeau different from calvados?

Calvados is an ingredient of Pommeau de Normandie, not the same drink. Producers add calvados that has spent at least a year in oak to fresh must, at about one part brandy to three parts must. [2]

	Pommeau de Normandie	Calvados
What it is	Apple must blended with calvados (mutage) [1]	Brandy distilled from cider and perry [7]
Fruit	Cider apples [1]	Cider apples and perry pears [8]
Strength	16–18% ABV [1]	At least 40% ABV when sold [7]
Sugar	More than 69 g/L [2]	Dry spirit
Oak ageing	At least 14 months [1]	At least 2 years (3 for Domfrontais) [7]

The brandy itself is covered in what calvados is. In Normandy, farms on the Cider Route often sell cider, pommeau and calvados together. [9]

Related answers: how to drink pommeau · where to buy pommeau · what cider brandy is

Find it on Cider Radar

• Normandy: 114 cider makers · Brittany: 73 (as of 2026-10-02). Many cider and calvados producers also make pommeau, for example Calvados Christian Drouin and Calvados Roger Groult; check each profile.
• Glossary: pommeau · calvados
• Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.