Kingston Black

I like dry ciders but this lacks a little bit of flavour and there are much dryer ciders out there just not in the sheppy's range. Good instant hits but it doesn't last. You need to keep drinking for the flavour which makes it a danger cider. Goes really well with cheese. Very light colour.

Given 4/5 by many and I agree. It’s the flavour and short length that leaves this just short of a 5/5. Bought this in the Pewsey (UK) Co-op along with the Sheppy’s 2021 Vintage Reserve. Very light in colour and very light in fizz, it almost has a champagne taste to it which lingers for about 5-10secs and then fades. It has a nice fruitiness to it but is just shy on a bit of complexity, body and depth. The apple taste is very sharp and velvety at the same time, slightly acidic - but fresh and crisp. It’s more medium-dry than ‘dry’ I’d say with a sourness that’s pleasant and vibrant. It’s short on length but there are some tingles that linger around the back of the mouth. On the nose, there’s more going on here than in the taste. Lots of floral hints, burnt orange, oak, earth, straw and a bit of toffee - it’s all over the place. Had me sniffing it for ages trying to work it all out! It’s 6.5%ABV so you need to keep an eye on it - during my tasting session ans review it went down like water and I’m sorry now that I didn’t purchase another. I’d definitely buy it again - and as some other reviewers have suggested, may try it with a nice strong cheddar. If the taste was more interesting and deeper, this single variety Kingston Black would be heading towards a 5/5 with conviction - alas, it’s a 4/5 from me but still a very worthy, drinkable and decent medium-dry cider.

Tastes more oak barrel than apple. Dry, light apple tasting, but has quite strong dry oaky taste.

Single variety cider, light amber in colour, and with waxy, herbal aroma. Light, crisp, dry, herbal flavour, with tones of liquorice. Perfectly drinkable and interesting cider, but, to be honest, I was expecting a little more from this.

(Tasted on September 27, 2023) Sheppy's Kingston Black Cider (500ml, 6.5% ABV). This is a single variety cider made from said "Kingston Black" Somerset apples, harvested from the company's own farm. It's a *dry* cider, which I had overlooked when I ordered a variety of English ciders (I personally prefer medium-dry and medium-sweet ciders). The aroma is fruity enough, though not abundantly so, and ever so slightly tart. Wee lemon and waxy notes, too. Clear golden colour (the apparent cloudiness just comes from the cold cider in the glass). Carbonation is light, and at the start again we have nice fruit, a mild lemony sourness and maybe a hint of herbs. This is a kind of cider that's closer to the "Äbbelwoi" (apple wine) that's so popular in the region of Germany where I live, in and around Frankfurt. Not quite as sour and in-your-face though, but certainly dry. I've been living in this area for over twenty years now, but I've never quite adapted to this regional version of cider. The finish is dry, too, with a hint of musty autumn leaves, leading to a lemony and somewhat nondescript waxy aftertaste.I do like it enough because of its inherent fruitiness, but I don't think I will order Sheppy's Kingston Black cider again any time soon. 7/10.

Dry cider with quite a tart bitter taste, not really much flavour which is a bit disappointing from Sheppys.

Light yellow colour, clear with moderate fizz. Single variety cider. Fresh citrus aroma. Citrus and herbal notes. Dry, clean and crisp.