Craft cider & cider spirits

Choosing a craft cider

A craft cider is pressed from whole apples and fermented slowly, so it tastes of the fruit rather than sugar and flavouring. Supermarket ciders are cheaper, so craft cider earns its place on flavour, apple variety and how it is made. Big Nose and Beardy makes the cider here in Sussex, with dry styles such as Little Terror and King of the Castle, medium sweet ciders such as Little Digger, and Turning Japanese, a medium pyder. Mixed batch cases and a bag in box let you buy by the case. Every bottle here met our standard on ingredients and transparency.

Vintage cider and cider cases

A vintage cider is made from one harvest, so the label carries the year and each batch reflects that season's apples. Big Nose and Beardy dates its ciders, including single batch releases and its yearly dry and medium ciders. A cider case is the easiest way to keep a favourite in stock, and a three bottle taster gift pack is a good way to find one. A cider gift subscription sends new batches through the year.

Cider brandy, apple brandy and cider spirits

Cider brandy and apple brandy are spirits distilled from cider and aged in wood. Big Nose and Beardy makes Spirit of Cider and an oak aged Spirit of Cider, distilled from its own cider in Sussex, and Sussex pommeau, a blend of apple juice and cider spirit aged in oak. For craft spirits with a lighter strength, Quarter makes London dry, three grain and blanco agave spirits, plus gin and vodka bundles, for anyone who wants to cut down without giving up the ritual.

Mulling kits and gifts

Big Nose and Beardy makes a cider hot toddy and mulling kit and a home cider mulling kit, which turn a bottle of cider into a warm winter drink, plus a Bignose and Beardy gift hamper. Spices for mulling sit in Spices & Seasonings, cheese and chocolate pairings sit in Gift Hampers & Boxes, and Low & No Alcohol has alcohol-free spirits. Food & Drink Gifts has more ideas. You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol, so please drink responsibly.