Nothing on the nose other than a bit of fresh apple and very faint floral hints. The neck label boasts that it has a fragrance of orchards in the Autumn, but that’s pushing it in my mind.
The colour is of this cider looks like a champagne and nowhere near as much fizz as a bottle of bubbly. It’s a golden hue that’s light in colour but not light on taste.
This cider is punchy even though it’s ‘only’ 4.8%ABV. It’s dry and I like that, and it’s on the drier side of medium as well. The length is fairly decent with a touch of bitterness and astringency to hit the spot. It lingers around and is refreshing. The ‘problem’ is, the dryness keeps you coming back for more! Wahey!
The cider swirls around well on the palate with wholeness and with a sharp apple bite. It satisfies and lingers with a fresh citrus aftertaste that’s very welcome and balanced. It’s medium in body and lacks a bit of complexity - but you can’t have it all as it’s a bit watery.
This cider is not all that dissimilar to Aspall’s draught (only this one’s much drier and nowhere near as sweet). But texture-wise, it’s very similar and would pair well with a good cheddar cheese.
3/5. It’s not bad by any means, but it isn’t remarkable either.
Reviewed on 11 Jun 2025
