The results are in for this year’s Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards and the 2023 gold winner is Ganley & Naish with silvers being awarded to Palmers Upland Cyder and Tinston Wines and Cider. The Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards, now in their third year, are remarkable awards that offer aspiring cider makers advice, guidance and guaranteed listings in the on and off trade and truly support the future of cider in the UK.
Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards and founder of the awards comments: ”After the success of the competition last year, we were thrilled to see even more interest in the awards this year. We had a total of 24 entries, from counties all across the UK, with all styles of cider being represented. Naturally sweet to single variety, session ciders to bottle fermented. The judges were so impressed with the quality of the ciders entered, which is a real compliment to the standard of cider now being produced in the UK.”
The esteemed panel of judges included renowned drinks writer, Pete Brown, cider producer and director of The Cider House London, Mary Topp, 2020 Masterchef Professionals winner, Alex Webb, food and drink editor for Hearst Magazines, Emma Franklin and Sandford Orchards’ Barny Butterfield.
Ganley & Naish’s winning cider, Hell and High Water (ABV 5.5%) is a single variety, Browns apple cider in a 440ml can. A medium dry, sparkling cider that the judges described as unique, beautiful, impressive and drinkable. They said: “ This is a crisp and gently complex cider with a lovely sweetness to acid balance. Ridiculously moreish, light on the palate -fault free, an amazing single variety with an apple notoriously difficult to nail down! The branding is sensational, breaks the mould and brings a contemporary and classic feel to an amazing drink”.
Andy Jenkins at Ganley & Naish was delighted to receive the gold award and comments: “To get this cider out had been very trying; covid, new packing type, new branding, new artwork, working with new people and building those relationships. So to win this award, with a product I am incredibly proud of, has made it even more special and rewarding.”
Ganley & Naish’s prize package includes a £500 Vigo voucher, a listing at their local Stable Pizza, a listing at The London Cider House, a Sandford Orchards collaboration limited edition cider and a visit by Sandford Orchards’ cider makers to offer practical help and advice about set up.
The gold and silver winners will all receive mentoring from Sandford Orchards’ cider makers, a 12 month listing at Darts Farm, Devon and a listing on www.sandfordorchards.co.uk. In addition, the silver winners will both receive a £200 voucher from Bag in Box Shop UK
Barny adds: “The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards are nothing like any other cider competition. It’s the competition that I wish I could have won when I was starting out. Without a budget, without much help and support it can be really daunting trying to get started in any career, let alone cider. It feels great to be able to give something back to the industry that has given me so much. This is an award with the kind of bankable bonus that doesn’t grow on trees! We are keen to ensure that all these cider makers go on to fulfil their part in our quest to bring the joy of cider to as many people as possible!”
Sandford Orchards would like to thank the generous sponsors of this year’s competition: Vigo Ltd who are providing a £500 voucher for the gold winner, The Stable and The London Cider House who are giving the gold winner a listing and The Bag in Box Shop who are giving away £200 vouchers to the two silver winners.
The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards were launched by Sandford Orchards at the end of 2019 and aim to recognise and celebrate excellent quality whole juice ciders from around the UK. For further information on the Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk/
EDITOR’S NOTES:
- Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. They press and ferment whole juice from the finest locally grown bittersweet apples and age it to perfection to create beautifully balanced and naturally refreshing cider.
- Sandford Orchards’ range of ciders includes session ciders, flavoured ciders, fine ciders and vintage ciders.
- For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk email cider@sandfordorchards.co.uk or follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
You can find an image here.
For further information, photography, samples or an interview with Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards, please contact:
Kath at RAW Food and Drink PR
Email:kath@rawfoodanddrinkpr.
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