# #66 Julian & Matilda Temperley - Somerset Cider Brandy, Craft Distilling Since 1987, PGI, Apples, Agriculture Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-curious-bartender-podcast-7114149/66-julian-matilda-temperley-somerset-cider-brandy-craft-distilling-since-1987-pgi-apples-agriculture Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-curious-bartender-podcast-7114149/66-julian-matilda-temperley-somerset-cider-brandy-craft-distilling-since-1987-pgi-apples-agriculture.md Podcast: [The Curious Bartender Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-curious-bartender-podcast-7114149) Published: 2026-02-23T07:30:00+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jay--tris/episodes/66-Julian--Matilda-Temperley---Somerset-Cider-Brandy--Craft-Distilling-Since-1987--PGI--Apples--Agriculture-e3fdqco Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO7052804312.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-curious-bartender-podcast-7114149/episodes/66-julian-matilda-temperley-somerset-cider-brandy-craft-distilling-since-1987-pgi-apples-agriculture Duration seconds: 7646 ## Resource The Temperley family oversee the Somerset Cider Brandy Company, which became the UK's first independent distillery in living memory when it commenced operations in 1987. Thus, for almost 40 years, the Temperley family have been committed to reviving and preserving England’s traditional apple spirits. They have planted and maintained orchards with over 100 apple varieties, and earned a coveted Protected Geographical Indication for their cider brandy. Matilda handles day‑to‑day operations and looks to the future, while her father Julian draws on decades of craft knowledge and a passion for Somerset’s agricultural heritage. In this wide‑ranging conversation, we trace the fascinating history of cider brandy in England: how clandestine stills and museum licences paved the way for the Temperleys to become the country’s first licensed craft distillers. We explore the family’s deep connection to their land: planting pear and oak trees for generations yet to come, fostering a "if we don't grow it we don't use it" policy, and championing the unique character of Somerset’s smallholdings. Matilda and Julian explain the strict rules they set to mirror Calvados production, their use of Coffey stills to retain fruit character, and the impact of different casks, from sherry and port to locally coopered Somerset oak. Along the way we taste through their range, from perfumed eau‑de‑vie to five and ten‑year cider brandys, and the dessert‑style Pomona. We also discuss the romance and pragmatism of running a family farm, and hear how collaborations with whisky makers like Glenfiddich showcase the versatility of cider‑brandy casks. The episode concludes with reflections on the meaning of “craft,” the challenges of taxation and regulation, and what the future holds for Somerset’s a… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-curious-bartender-podcast-7114149/episodes/66-julian-matilda-temperley-somerset-cider-brandy-craft-distilling-since-1987-pgi-apples-agriculture/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-curious-bartender-podcast-7114149/66-julian-matilda-temperley-somerset-cider-brandy-craft-distilling-since-1987-pgi-apples-agriculture.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.