Description:

France has begun to produce its own whisky especially in Brittany. But an enterprising Scot who has lived in Normandy permanently for more than ten years is posing a challenge to French cider and Calvados producers in the region with his range of ciders, pommeau and Calvados.

Ted Mclean and his wife Julia have 250 apple trees in their three hectares of orchards at Blangy-le-Chateau in Calvados in Lower Normandy. They are now producing some 600 bottles of Calvados per annum as well as cider, pommeau, poire and eau de vie of cider.  Originally Ted had the idea of producing Normandy’s  iconic apple spirit with  a view to defraying  some of the horrendous costs of renovation of their lovely 17th century Norman  manor house which they bought in 1976, by bringing in extra cash through what was literally a hobby at the outset.

Now their products, under the label ”Le Gars Normand”, are becoming well-known in the region and further afield. He supplies local outlets and restaurants as well as displaying at Farmers ‘Markets.

One of Ted’s specialities is hot, spiced, cider on the lines of the traditional Vin Chaud. This is something which could go down well in his native Scotland, a country he loves but finds too cold. He also likes to add a little calvados to his medium-dry cider or blackberry juice added as an aperitif .

Ted has reasonable hopes of a decent apple crop this autumn although there have been long spells of hot and dry weather with little rain.