This is our first Eau de Vie of any form on tap, and it is rather good. Our Apple Eau de Vie really does taste of apples, old English cider apples in fact.
And it is good that it does, because that is exactly what it is made from by Julian Temperley, the creator of our seriously popular Somerset 10 Year Cider Brandy and Pomona that we have stocked for more than 7 years.
How is it best drunk?
We are still experimenting in how best to enjoy this drink, but our favourite technique so far is to serve it straight from the freezer in a small glass to compliment a citrus pudding, such as a lime sorbet. If you like the idea of Apple Eau de Vie then please do consider our Morello Cherries in Apple Eau de Vie also.
How is this made?
Our Apple Eau de Vie is produced at Burrow Hill Farm by Julian Temperley, a wonderfully passionate man who has achieved miracles to hold the first full cider distilling license in recorded history. Julian also produces our Somerset 10 Year Old Cider Brandy and our Somerset Pomona 20%. The process of making Apple Eau de Vie is complex. In the autumn Somerset vintage cider apples are gathered and pressed. The juice is fermented in huge oak vats and then distilled in two stills which Julian has given the names "Fifi" and "Josephine." The resultant clear spirit is known as Eau de Vie. The majority of this is matured in oak barrels to make his Somerset Cider brandy. However, we think it tastes wonderful at this stage too. After all it does translate as "Water of Life".