Producer Spotlight - Château du Breuil

Posted by Hannah Osbourne Tuesday 12th July 2022 0 Comment(s) Sláinte,

During Whiskey Live 2022 we had an incredible 106 stands with exciting brands from all over the world. We were delighted to be able to invite some brands we work with closely to exhibit with us - one such producer was The French Spiritery, Château du Breuil Normandie.

They produce approximately 420,000 bottles of exceptional Calvados each year. As such, they are the second-largest producer of Calvados Pays d'Auge, and we are delighted to stock them both in store and in our online shop.

After the excitement of Whiskey Live Dublin, we were delighted to have a moment to catch up with Cécile Lecerf Brand Ambassador to Chateau du Breuil.

· Hi Cécile thanks so much for chatting with us, how did you find chatting Calvados with our heavily whiskey-loving customer base at this year's Whiskey Live Dublin 2022?

Hello Hannah, it’s my pleasure. It was very enlightening. I learned a lot about spirits trends in Ireland. As an “oddity” among the exhibitors, a lot of people were intrigued by the shape of our bottles and stopped to ask me why we chose them for our whiskies. Surprise! It’s not a whisky, but a cider brandy from France. We were proposing four different Calvados to introduce a part of our range and show how ageing in wooden cask can change a spirit. While most guests were trying one younger and one older Calvados, I had the opportunity to do the “full Calvados journey” with a lot of participants.

Let’s not forget that Whiskey Live Dublin was also the occasion to introduce our Whisky Le Breuil. We had three types: Origine (Classic), Finish Oloroso (aged in Oloroso cask); and Finish Tourbé (aged in ex-peated whiskies cask). We had a lot of positive comments on these and the Sherry Oloroso version was the favourite of the fair. So if you have the occasion, please try it!

· For those who are unfamiliar with Château du Breuil would you mind giving us a little background, on what they do and where they are based?

Of course. Chateau du Breuil is a distillery located in Normandy and more precisely, in the heart of the Calvados Pays d’Auge appellation. The domain was created by the family Bizouard in 1954 who wanted to distillate its cider to produce a high-quality apple-brandy. Almost seven decades later, our cellar master, Mr. Philippe Etignard, is now the conductor of our Calvados and we propose about 17 different types to be sure everyone’s taste can be pleased. Among those, our Calvados V.S.O.P (one favourite in Ireland) has been awarded “Best Calvados in the World”.

Nowadays, Chateau du Breuil is turning a new leaf since welcoming new owners: The Dussart family. From their arrival in 2020, the distillery is now named “La Spiriterie Française” and we not only propose Calvados but also whiskies distilled in pot still alembics and a wide range of rums refined in our cellar.

· Talking to bars, trainings, travel all over the world - being a Brand Ambassador is an exciting job. What’s the experience like for you?

It is indeed quite exciting. Born in Normandy, I always wanted to promote this great region and its gastronomy all over the world. With this job, I can say “mission accomplished”. My favourite part is the exchanges I have with so many different enthusiasts. By every conversation I learn a little bit more: food pairing and cocktail ideas, new concepts of distillation or just personal stories of when and where people tasted an alcohol. Plus, working with very qualitative products which makes everything easier.

· What product do you find that people love the most when you’re hosting tastings and educating people about the brand?

That’s a difficult question. I think a majority of people tend to go for older Calvados but there is a significant amount of enthusiasts who likes younger ones for their vivacity. Taking this into account, I would say our 15 year old one is our best seller. Indeed, it has the perfect balance between freshness and acidity while keeping a certain complexity with savoury notes of ripe apple and wood spices.

· Calvados has been growing slowly with the Irish Market. For people new to it, how would you recommend they serve it?

Calvados is mainly known as a digestif served at the end of a meal. You can serve it straight in glass and let your hand warm it up slowly to let its complexity evolve. However, since summer is here – why not try it as a base for your cocktail? We have a simple and refreshing recipe to help you get you accustomed to its taste. For instance, the Normand Tonic, you just need 6cl of your favourite Calvados, a slice of lemon, ice and a tonic of your choice!

· And lastly, what's your personal favourite from the range?

My old-time favourite is the “Réserve des Seigneurs”, a unique blend of older Calvados (between 20 to 29 years) carefully selected to give this ample and savoury cider brandy. A perfect match between the generosity of a well-baked apple, caramel and sweet spices. If you enjoy Calvados with food, you can try a piece of dark chocolate or the famous Normandy dessert Tarte Tatin.

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