Hudson 7 Year Old Calvados Cask Finish Rye Whiskey
New York Rye | 750mL | 46% ABV (92 proof) | 7 Years Old | Calvados Cask Finish — Hudson 7 Year Old Calvados Cask Finish is a limited edition from Tuthilltown Distillery in Gardiner, NY, released October 2024. It starts as 95% rye / 5% malted barley New York rye aged 3.5+ years in new American oak, then spends 3.5 more years in Calvados casks that previously held AOC apple brandy from Normandy, France — a minimum 7 years total, Empire Rye Certified. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The Normandy casks layer apple-orchard character over Hudson's spicy rye base: the brand's official notes describe a buttery blend of vanilla, citrus and corn bread on the nose, with cashew butter and caramel on the palate and a long, balanced finish — Master Blender Brian Kinsman cites crisp apple harmonizing with vanilla, citrus and cornbread. A 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Best in Class finalist in the barrel-finished whiskey category. For rye collectors who chase French-oak and brandy-cask finishes on American whiskey, this is Hudson's most European statement.
Tasting notes
Nose: buttery vanilla, citrus, corn bread, crisp apple (Hudson official). Palate: cashew butter, caramel, vanilla. Finish: long, balanced.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 750mL, 46% ABV — minimum 7 years old: 3.5+ yrs new American oak, 3.5 yrs Calvados casks
- 95% rye / 5% malted barley, Hudson Valley grain; Calvados casks from AOC Normandy apple brandy
- Empire Rye Certified; SFWSC 2025 Best in Class finalist; The Fifty Best 2025 Silver
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a tulip glass — the Calvados fruit opens with a few minutes of air. A drop of water is optional; the apple-brandy influence keeps the 92 proof round.
Frequently asked questions
What is Calvados?
An apple brandy from Normandy, France, protected by AOC rules — the barrels pass crisp apple and orchard-fruit character into the rye.
How is it aged?
A minimum of 7 years: 3.5+ years in new American oak, then 3.5 more years in ex-Calvados casks.
Did it win Best in Class?
It was a Best in Class finalist at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (barrel-finished whiskey) — a finalist, not the winner — plus Silver at The Fifty Best 2025.
Who owns Hudson?
Hudson is distilled at Tuthilltown Distillery in Gardiner, NY, and distributed by William Grant & Sons.