The Cider Workshop | Whats Yours? - Cider Workshop members UK cider favourites

Whats Yours? - Cider

Aspells Organic Cyder

AndrewLea –

JezH – One of the finest ‘Eastern counties’ style ciders – and very available too!

Tim - Yes Aspells is another of my favourites.

Bridge Farm

DickDunn – Nigel Stewart, of Bridge Farm. More excellent cider and more education!

Burrow Hill Cider

MarkShirley - My favourite English cider would have to be Burrow Hill Dry, preferably served in a Burrow Hill branded paper pint 'glass' at the Farmers Bar, Three Counties Show, whilst watching the livestock competitions. Context is everything isn't it, though sadly you'll not find Burrow Hill at the Farmers Bar anymore. This cider is uncompromisingly tannic, and always in excellent condition.

SimonMcKie - Definitely Burrow Hill Dry (as my own is excluded)

DickDunn - My first must be Burrow Hill. In a blinding stroke of good luck, the very first cidermaker we visited on my first UK trip was Burrow Hill and Julian Temperley. I was so startled by what I was tasting, I had the unusual sense (for an American) to shut up and listen, while Julian held forth on English cider. I'm quite sure that the path of my life since then would be quite different, if my first real cider had been any other, even one of exceptional pedigree.

Burrow Hill Stoke Red

SimonMcKie - For special occasions Burrow Hill sparkling Stoke Red made by the English Method (or the champagne method as it used to be known before James Crowden's discoveries).

AndrewLea - Don't tend to do 'favourites' in anything (as a scientist I spend most of my time sitting on the fence weighing things up and deliberately not being judgemental), but I think Julian Temperley's Burrow Hill Stoke Red is one of the finest too. Seems to preserve the fruit character. It is actually made by the champagne / traditionelle method (with disgorging) rather than the English method (which doesn't disgorge).

Cider by Rosie

DickDunn - Rose Grant in Dorset is not only an exceptional cidermaker but one of the most amazing recent success stories. I distinctly remember Rose describing herself early on as making some number of jars of cider; she is now a craft cidermaker of exceptional skill, up to the excise- free limit and supplying her area with the best of cider. Cider by Rosie is a prize wherever you can find it.

TimWale -

C.J.’s Welsh Cider

RayBlockley - I do like C.J.'s Welsh cider - incredibly rich and a superb natural colour (eat your heart out Thatcher's Cheddar Valley).

Dan Y graig

Tania - I also thought Dan y graig was quite unusual and more-ish - it has a real savoury note to it (does anyone who knows more about the chemical or cider apple blends side of things know what gives it this flavour note?) - it's not as dry but sometimes I find that 'easier drinking'

Dunkertons Black Fox

AndrewLea –

RayBlockley - Bottled cider, for locally available it would probably be Dunkerton's Black Fox

Gwatkins Yarlington Mill Cider

Tim - Oh, I forgot to mention Gwatkins Yarlington Mill Cider from Moorhampton Park, Abbeydore, Hereford. Tim

Hecks Farmhouse Cider

DickDunn - Hecks, when I can manage not to make too many wrong turns in Street, wonderful selection and since we like the self-catering experience, the associated farm-shop invariably provides us with part of our dinner.

Henney’s

AndrewLea -

New Forest Cider – Snakecatcher Cider

JezH – This is really my ‘local’ cidermaker, but Snakecatcher is always a good bet in my house. Its pretty strong stuff (I seem to recall in excess of 7%). This is the one I would buy (if only I could get there more often!)

TimWale –

Olivers Bottle Fermented

AndrewLea - Tom Oliver's Herefordshire bottle-fermented *can* be very fine and as good as a French example such as Dupont (occasionally available in the UK), with just the right amount of 'old horse' character, and a fair bit of residual sugar.

Orchard Pig

MattHelliwell - My current favourite is the Orchard Pig available, remarkably enough, in one of my local shops in Camberley in Surrey.

Perry’s Premium Vintage Farm House Cider

JezH – I spend a lot of holidays in Charmouth, Dorset, and this is one of the choices at the local shop! However, it is a great (and after a hectic day with the family on the beach :-) it is very refreshing. At 6% vol. its one I would recommend.