Cheshire Cider & Perry Made The Traditional Way

Introducing our 2012 Cider & Perry.

Because everyone has subtly different tastes and preferences, we have used our increased capacity this season to produce a range of ciders & perry. 

In our experience, most apples grown in Cheshire are cooking or eating varieties which, when used on their own, can produce ciders that are too sharp or lack enough tannin leaving them thin with no great depth of flavour.

By understanding the taste characteristics different fruit, and using vintage cider apple varieties such as Dabinett and Harry Masters’ Jersey, we balance natural sharpness and tannin to create variety within our ciders.  Using our experience, each season we create the right blend "on the press" which has allows the flavours to develop during fermentation.

Of course, because we use natural yeasts present on the fruit, different years can create subtly different flavours, as well as variations in the weather during the fruit growing season – hence why our range changes each year.  However, we always ensure our cider & perry delivers the depth of flavour, interest and quality you’d expect from a hand-crafted product.

You won’t find us making ciders with funny names, bright colours or with sweet fruity additives – just genuine, traditional cider made the way it’s always been.

“Cheshire Dry”
Available in 500ml bottles or on draught
7.0% ABV (typical)

Locally hand-picked culinary apples from orchards around Little Leigh are hand-pressed and fermented with traditional Dabinett and other cider fruit from Herefordshire.

“Dry” means that all the sugar has fermented, so there is no sweetness to mask the taste of the fruit.  However, we’re confident that our blend of apples delivers a smooth, rounded flavour without needing to add anything.

“Cheshire Medium ”
Available in 500ml bottles or on draught
6.0% ABV (typical)

Made from the same fruit as our Cheshire Dry, but with a lingering sweetness.  This cider will appeal to those who still want to taste the original fruit, but like something a little softer.

Each made from a single variety of vintage cider fruit, with just a small addition of Cheshire juice to provide a beneficial gentle lift of flavour.  These ciders will appeal to those who appreciate a dry, soft tannin traditional taste.  Available in limited quantities.

Ellis Bitter SV
Available in 500ml bottles - 6.0% ABV (typical)

Originally a Devon variety of cider fruit, but has expanded its range because of its suitability for cider production.  A good quality bittersweet apple with soft tannins that can be thin on its own, hence why we blend with a little Cheshire fruit.

Harry Masters’ Jersey SV
Available in 500ml bottles - 6.0% ABV (typical)

Traditionally a Somerset variety, but now planted widely because of its ability to produce a good quality single variety cider with soft astringent tannins.

“Cheshire Perry ”
Available in 500ml bottles or on draught
6.0% ABV (typical)

As far as we know, the only perry made in Cheshire from local pears.

This is a traditional perry, so don’t expect it to taste like commercially produced, sweetened, fizzy “pear ciders”.  Its overall flavour is more akin to traditional ciders with soft tannins.  It is classed as dry, with all the sugar having fermented to alcohol, however, there is still a hint of the sweeter aroma of pears. 

As with most traditional perries, this one's slightly cloudy - but then it usually is in Cheshire!