Our Ciders

Rat-Tale comprises a blend of local bittersweet and bittersharp apples that are grown within the Parish of Rous Lench. For over twenty years it has been the traditional drink at the annual Rous Lench Pig Roast held on the Village Green. Rat-Tale can vary from batch to batch depending on the proportion of apple varieties but generally it is a clean full-bodied drink with light aroma, smooth mouth –feel, and a short after taste.

Allotment Cider is made with apples from young Dabinett, Michelin, and Kingston Black trees. They are planted on the Rous Lench Parochial allotments which have been in existence since the early 1800s. The blend used for Allotment Cider is mainly Dabinett and the famous Kingston Black. The taste is clean, fresh and smooth with a slight flowery aroma.

This single variety Cider is made from the famous vintage apple, Kingston Black. This bittersharp apple, originally from Somerset, is recognised by many as one of the best with which to make cider. Unfortunately the trees tend to be biennial and even on an on year are poor bearers and susceptible to disease. But scarcity adds to the esteem in which it is held. It produces cider with a deep red colour, a soft rounded mouth feel and is full of flavour.

This is a large commercial orchard in Worcestershire standing on the edge of the Lenches Ridge and overlooking the River Avon. Many varieties are grown including Browns, Dabinett, Michelin, Vilberie, Kinston Black, Brown Snout and others. Selected apples from this busy orchard are hand-picked and blended into Avon Ridge Farm Cider. Always present is the heavily tannic Vilberie which gives the blend its characteristic oak-like and drying after taste.

A single variety cider made from Somerset Redstreak apples.  These apples are sourced from Stocken Orchard, managed by the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust. Redstreak is a bittersweet apple, high in tannin, and producing a very flavoursome standalone cider. The cider is crisp and the tannins are soft rather than harsh. Most people believe that there is a strong apple flavour with an interesting after taste.

This Perry is made from the fruit of just five large and ancient trees of the variety Thorn. The trees stand high on Cowsden Bank in Worcestershire on a glorious south-facing spot with expansive views across open countryside towards the Malvern Hills. These pears mature between late August and early September. Picking timing is short and critical but the well worth the effort. The single variety Cowsden Bank Farm Perry is super crisp and dry and comparable to Northern European white wines.

Radford Orchard is made from large standard trees planted in the 1920s for contract to Bulmers. This small orchard which is neither fertilised nor sprayed produces an excellent crop of cider apples every two years. The orchard comprises sweet, bittersweet, bittersharp and sharp cider apples. Taste can vary each year depending on which of the apples are abundant and which are scarce. Radford Orchard Cider is generally pale orange and mildly tannic. It has a full smooth mouth-feel with a subtle woody taste.

We also sell Caney's Cider in 500ml bottles.