Undisclosed
Foley Family Wine & Spirits
46%
NAS
Released in November 2025, Ampersand Malus a limited-edition release blending American rye whiskey with Calvados, a traditional apple brandy from Normandy, France. Produced by Foley Family Wines & Spirits, Malus combines 51% rye whiskey with 49% Calvados debuted with an initial run of 6,000 bottles. Each bottle is 750 milliliters and bottled at 46% ABV (92 proof), with a suggested retail price of $59.99.
The rye whiskey component of Malus is made from a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and aged in charred new American oak barrels for over eight years. The Calvados is distilled from 95% apples and 5% pears, matured in French oak barrels for the same period. Both components are non-chill filtered before blending, and the final product is bottled at Foley’s Minden Mill Distillery in Minden, Nevada.
Ampersand Malus is the first release in the Ampersand collection, which also includes Vinea and Opimus. The collection is produced under the guidance of Chip Tate, Master Distiller for Innovation at Foley Family Wines & Spirits. Tate, a veteran of American whiskey known for founding Balcones Distilling, joined FFWS in 2024. The name “Ampersand” reflects the philosophy of connection and combination, a guiding principle behind this series of small-batch releases.
Malus pays homage to early American distilling traditions, drawing on rye whiskey and apple brandy — both among the first spirits produced in the United States. The Calvados component is crafted from a diverse selection of apples and pears from Normandy, distilled in traditional copper stills, and aged in French oak to preserve the character of the fruit. The production emphasizes careful barrel selection and blending to ensure the two spirits complement each other in a single expression.
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Distinctive nose. Apple juice, popcorn, cinnamon, pepper, tapioca.
Moderate mouthfeel. Pie crust, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, green apple.
The finish is sharp and peppery. Black pepper and nutmeg are followed by apple peel.
Pretty tasty. I could see this thriving in a highball or similar light, refreshing cocktail. Sipping neat, it comes across as a bit youthful — the rye sharp and peppery instead of delivering deep baking spice notes, and the calvados is coming across more like apple juice than thick brandy or even apple cider. A fun concept but ultimately just fine; I wish I could taste it at higher proof.
86
Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.
