(Updated 6.3% version and review again on 27 April 2025 from my original review on 22 July 2023).
Lovely nose! Rich, thick fruity aroma. Rusty, faint orange peel and zest.
Taste? Again, rich, tangy, velvety, thick and wholesome. There’s an initial sharpness - but it’s not irratic - it hits and then disperses and unfolds with a silky smoothness that’s hard to find elsewhere.
In terms of length, it’s got that too - and it’s very rounded and full. This cider lingers and is medium-long in length and medium bodied with lighter tannins than some other dry ciders. The sharpness of the cider lingers in the aftertaste and the flavour just stays on and on. If the length was just a bit longer and fuller, this might have notched to a 5/5.
The front label says dry and the smaller back label describes the cider as craft medium-dry. For me, it’s slightly on drier side and therefore hits the spot!
Worcestershire ciders can be slightly harder to find outside of the county and are often jostled to one side by the dominating neighbour of Herefordshire. This Pershore effort however is rich and punchy delivering a well-rounded slightly sparkling dry cider that’s of worthy note. There’s a hint of caramel and sweetness in the aftertaste but it simply adds as complimentary rather than being obtuse to the initial taste and flavour.
Bursting with fruit and with an apple complexity that isn’t the most I’ve ever encountered - but complex enough, it leads me and pushed me to want to taste and review the other ciders in the range - Vintage, Medium and Sweet from this cider maker - and I will do!
I enjoyed this cider with some Fowler’s XXX’ mature, soft creamy cheddar.
This cider has a bite, great aroma, taste and aftertaste. At 6.3%ABV you couldn’t sink these all day - but as a one-off on a Saturday afternoon? It just has to be done.
4/5, although bloody close to a 5!
Reviewed on 22 Jul 2023
