Two years ago, I tasted a cider that gave me as much pleasure as fine Champagne. I was in Chez Felix, a delightful bistro in the picturesque French city of Troyes, and the cider in question was made by Bruno Farine. I loved it so much, I returned a year later for more of the same. And the following year, I was so entranced that I dragged my family to visit Bruno himself at his cider barn in Moussey. It was my own personal heaven. But Bruno’s work aside, can cider really soar?
Well, yes. And much as I love Bruno and his amazing ciders at less than €3 (£2.60) for a 75cl bottle (seriously, drive over there and stock up), the good news is that right here in the UK we have incredible orchards, apple varieties, resources and talent. Tom Oliver’s ciders blow my mind. Batch L1708 of his Bottle-Conditioned Medium 2014 Cider (4%) haunts me in a very good way, and is recommended right – 100 per cent juice, no filtration, preservatives or pasteurisation.
West Milton Cider Co produces Lancombe Rising (5%), which is another of my all-time favourites, brimming with vivid fruity flavour thanks to an ancient and slow fermentation technique called keeving – visit westmiltoncider.co.uk and secure your stash.
There’s nothing finer to sip with a pork pie picnic.
For a taste of cider as you may remember it from summers of yore, one of the best out there for me is Janet’s Jungle Juice (6%) from West Croft Cider – buy yours online at westcroftcider.co.uk and revel in its splendour.
Just go easy – it can creep up on you.
Another of my summer treats is to sip local cider in spectacular places, for instance Charlie’s Cider at the Square & Compass in Worth Matravers, Dorset, lures me back time and again. It’s a marvellous experience in every tantalising regard.
And while you can usually find great cider locally, I’ve also picked out some nationally available options above.
But if you’re crossing the Channel to France this summer just book yourself in to visit Bruno – his booze is as magical as he is.
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