Sunday 18 September 2016

Apple of the eye...

For some years, since we used to toddle across The Channel to Normandy, for holidays and fun, we have been huge fans of the Regional Nectar, Calvados.

From the cheapest to the very expensive, we've long celebrated the time of year with apples all over the garden, with a few small bottles (they usually appear as 500 cl for some reason), and it is almost a rite of passage to toast the harvest in a most appealing way.

But this year, it seems that our Tesco doesn't seem to have any, and we're having to explore other grocers to locate a fair-priced bottle...

During one such foray, we discovered this, and without further ado, grabbed a couple of bottles.


Now you'd both know, that Scrobs is not really an alcopop type of person, but a good cider is well worth the few extra pence, and a Henry Weston's Vintage bottle is an investment I'm making quite regularly for this season.

And this Jim Beam is a great substitute for the non-existent Calvados! The trouble is, it's too easy to finish a bottle, and I like a good Bourbon as well, so when all the apples have gone, it'll be just Beam, I suppose...



7 comments:

rvi said...

It is abundantly clear that this is just the French farm persons taking great umpage at our Brexit vote.

We should stop sending them our jellied eels and black puddings... That'll learn 'em.

When I worked in Gay Paree many years ago, one of my colleagues came from Menton in the deep south. Every time he went there for a break, he always returned from his son's farm with a car load of home made Calvados - for distribution to a few selected mates. Goes very well with fresh baked baguettes and goat cheese :-)

A K Haart said...

Apparently you can buy Calvados from Amazon, but I don't know if the prices are reasonable.

Scrobs. said...

They can have all the jellied eels and black puddings they want, as far as I'm concerned Reevers!

I did try to make my own using a strong yeast and apple juice from a grocer, but it was never the same, and anyway, Mrs O'Blene has forbidden me from buying a still...

Scrobs. said...

The last time I checked, Mr H, it wasn't a bad deal, but I think you needed to buy a larger quantity than that nice banker, Mr Lloyd, would let me borrow...

Thud said...

Scrobs..there may or may not be a still here, it may or may not produce a rather decent apple brandy...perhaps we need to figure out a way for you to try this alleged beverage?

Scrobs. said...

Thud, that's very decent of you...

This post has become somewhat irrelevant now, as Mrs O'Blene and I ventured forth yesterday and actually found a new stock in the very Tesco where we had searched last week!

The apples in our garden are nearly ready now; just a few more days and we'll fire up the juicer...

rvi said...

For German car lovers everywhere!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0KtnWtajUVwcEtabVZlaDhTMW8/view?pref=2&pli=1