National Calvados Week Returns For 2026
The UK’s Official Calvados Celebration Returns. From 16-26 October, bringing the spirit of Normandy to bars, restaurants and retailers across the country.
Emporia Brands - National Calvados Week will return this autumn, inviting the UK drinks trade and consumers to discover and celebrate one of France’s most historic and distinctive spirits.
Taking place from Friday 16th to Monday 26th October 2026, this year’s extended celebration gives participating venues greater flexibility to run National Calvados Week activity across a week or throughout the full promotional period.
Founded by UK spirits importer and distributor Emporia Brands in partnership with historic Calvados house Père Magloire, National Calvados Week has grown into an annual UK celebration of the category, bringing together bars, restaurants, retailers and drinks enthusiasts each autumn.
Timed to coincide with the end of the traditional Normandy apple harvest, the campaign aims to introduce more people to the most sustainable spirit in the world, and showcase a category that combines centuries of French heritage with considerable versatility for the modern drinks trade. Previous editions have seen venues across the UK celebrate through cocktail specials and menus, tastings, food pairings, retailer promotions and other Calvados inspired activities.
At the heart of National Calvados Week is a simple ambition: to get more people tasting Calvados, it’s a spirit category that people often just expect on fine dining drinks menus or cigar lounges, but the reality, its got so much to offer.
Produced in Normandy from apples and protected by its Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, Calvados offers a distinctive alternative within the wider world of aged spirits, with applications ranging from neat serves and food pairing to contemporary cocktails.
The campaign seeks to make the category more accessible to consumers while giving the UK drinks trade a focal point around which to talk about, introduce and promote Calvados.
CALVADOS SPECIAL: THE APPLE BUCK
At the heart of this year’s campaign is the Apple Buck, the official cocktail of National Calvados Week 2026. A simple, refreshing serve combining Père Magloire V.S. Fine Calvados, apple juice and ginger beer, served over ice and garnished with fresh apple and mint, the Apple Buck showcases the fresh apple character of Calvados in an accessible, contemporary way. Participating bars and restaurants will be encouraged to feature the Apple Buck as a cocktail special throughout the campaign, supported by dedicated menus and promotional materials — helping introduce more consumers to Calvados through an easy-to-enjoy signature serve.
OVER 200 YEARS OF HERITAGE
National Calvados Week is supported by Père Magloire, one of the historic houses of Calvados and a longstanding partner of Emporia Brands. Founded in Normandy in 1821, Père Magloire has more than two centuries of expertise in the production of Calvados and Calvados Pays d’Auge, combining the traditions of the category with an extensive range spanning younger, fruit-forward expressions through to long-aged Calvados. Its involvement provides a direct link between National Calvados Week in the UK and the region, orchards and producers at the heart of the spirit.
NATIONAL CALVADOS WEEK
National Calvados Week takes place across the UK from 16–26 October 2026 and is open to bars, pubs, restaurants, hotels, independent retailers and online retailers.
Participation is free, with Emporia Brands providing supporting campaign materials to help businesses bring National Calvados Week to their customers.
National Calvados Week 2026. 16–26 October 2026.
Registration for 2026 is now open for the UK trade to register their interest, sign up can be found on the portal page, after simple registration an Emporia representative will be in touch to discuss how we can support you.
