Some of the best Eaux de Vie are made in Alsace, where we buy from the excellent house of Bertrand. Yves Ryckwaert is brother of Marc, of Château du Grand Moulas in the Rhône Valley. He has a wonderful old alembic tucked away in the barn with which he produces fragrant Poires Williams from his Williams pears. Normandy is the home of Calvados. Etienne Dupont is a grower-distiller and his Calvados is particularly fine.