For a long time, cider lagged behind British icons such as craft beer, gin, and whisky but that is changing. Over the last decade, modern British cider has generated more and more anticipation and interest, and competition is intense.
For those of you that want to explore the flourishing scene, or for those card-carrying cider guzzlers who want to try something different, explore our tried and tested Best British Ciders below, just in time for World Cider Day!
WHAT IS CIDER?
In a nutshell, cider is an alcoholic drink most commonly made using fermented apple juice, so similar to the winemaking process. However, because the fruits used contain less sugar, the alcoholic content normally ends up being lower. It’s been around since the Romans, but in the 13th century it really took off when people found out it was actually safer to drink than the water in many places!
Often more associated with beer, cider is more like wine in that the terroir, temperature, and apples (though not just apples!) create completely unique and varying regional profiles. From dry to sweet and modern to traditional, every cider is different.
It’s worth pointing out that in America, ‘hard cider’ is alcoholic but ‘sweet cider’ is often more of a fruit juice. France, Spain and the USA all produce fantastic ciders, but British Cider is some of the finest so let’s get stuck into the most common kind of cider you’ll find – apple.
APPLE CIDERS
Cornish Orchards Golden Cider
Cornwall produces some mouth-watering ciders, and this is a classical fruit-forward expression. Fantastically fizzy, a variety of bittersweet and dessert apples dominate this crisp and ultra refreshing cider. For a hot summer day, a chilled serve of this is perfection – clean, ridiculously easy-drinking and full of flavour.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £2
Henry Westons Vintage Cider
Since Henry in 1879, generations of the Weston family have been producing cider in the Hereford village of Much Marcle. They scooped a double gold for this Vintage and their cloudy version at the Cider Masters Awards last year, and for another cider, we’ll revisit later! This mellow but full-bodied blend carries an oaky, deep flavour that allows apple to be the star of the show, in a silky smooth medium dry mouthfeel. There’s a reason it’s one of the UK’s most popular ciders and at 8.2%, it really is dangerously moreish.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 8.2%
Find here: £2.10
Burrow Hill Sparkling Cider
Cider has been made at Burrow Hill for centuries and all this experience has led to huge success at the national championships. Behind that gorgeously designed bottle is a medium dry pour revealing red apple skins and autumnal notes of warming cinnamon and zesty orange. At the centre of it of course, is the apple, eleven varietals of which meld for a robust and bittersweet flavour. This also screams food-friendly and would be a great one to crack open at the BBQ. Burrow Hill is also home to the innovative Somerset Cider Brandy which is definitely worth a look and a try too!
Size: 500ml
ABV: 6%
Find here: £3.15
Gospel Green Brut Cider
Hailing from Hampshire, this is a premium pale gold cider made using the same production techniques as Champagne. Double fermentation adds new levels of complexity with tantalising elderflower and brioche supporting the zip of green apples. With fine bubbles, light acidity, and velvety smoothness, this traditionally made expression is a fantastic cider to try if you love sparkling wines and want something new.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 8.4%
Find here: £12.99
FLAVOURED CIDERS
Thatchers Blood Orange Cider
This is a stunning sweeter style of cider flavoured with natural blood orange for sweet, tangy, and floral feel. Sweet apples like Fuji and Gala have been picked to make this bottle of summertime that hits with flavoursome fizz before mellowing into well-balanced vibrance. Some flavoured ciders are sickly sweet, but even at 4% ABV, this gets it just right.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.30
Brothers Toffee Apple Cider
Brothers are relatively new kids on the block and have already built a reputation for experimenting with all kinds of curious flavours from Cherry Bakewell to Rhubarb and Custard. Beginning life as a stall at Glastonbury in 1995, drinkers wanted to buy the cider all year round and the rest is history. Their Festival Apple is the go-to cider for the upcoming festival, but it’s their Toffee Apple that we want to shout about. Undeniably, this is a sweet cider that won’t appeal to some, but we say give it a chance. There are still subtle sharp apple notes, but mostly it’s that instantly recognisable toffee apple flavour with vanillery cream soda. A far cry from traditional farmhouse apple cider sure, but for something totally unique as a treat, it’s delicious.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.45
Napton Cidery Recipe No5
For such a new producer, Napton has made a big cider splash. What started as a hobby making use of unwanted apples from the nearby village has become a top-class cidery on the national and even international stage. Recognized by the great taste awards and International Cider Challenge, their only fruit cider, blackcurrant, is dreamy. Fresh blackcurrants bring all the sweetness to a super elegant and refined cider.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £3.50
Lilley's Mango Cider
Somerset producer Lilley’s provides a fantastically varied range, but their Mango is a favourite of ours. It’s light and aromatic but with exotic mango sweetness providing great oomph. There is no cloying sweetness and certainly no blandness, just sunny refreshment, and fantastic natural flavour. It’s also a dream to wash down Indian food with.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.35
NO/LOW CIDERS
Westons - Stowford Press Low Alcohol 0.5% Cider
One of the highlights of the most recent Cider Masters was the high-standard of low-alcohol entries, and this Stowford Press cider has stunning depth of flavour and character, earning it the Gold medal (the latest in a growing list of gongs by the way). Bittersweet with apple and honey notes, it’s gorgeously smooth and refreshing and makes for the perfect summer sipping alternative.
Size: 500ml
ABV: 0.5%
Find here: £1.80
Prefer cocktails on a sunny day? Check out The Most Popular Cocktails for Summer here! Or how about combining the two with these glorious Summer Cider Cocktails!?