In celebration of British Cider Week (25th April – 5th May), Devon-based Sandford Orchards is launching a brand new cider, which was created in collaboration with Somerset’s Ganley & Naish as part of their prize for winning the Breakthrough Cider Makers Awards 2023. The new limited edition High Tides Cider (ABV 5%) will be available in 500ml bottles from Sandford Orchards, Ganley & Naish and selected retail outlets.
Ganley & Naish x Sandford Orchards High Tide (ABV 5%, 500ml bottles, RRP £2.75) is crafted from a blend of wild-fermented early bittersweets and Browns apples. This medium cider marries the signature characteristics of Ganley & Naish and Sandford Orchards to create a beautifully balanced cider.
Barny Butterfield, Chief Cider Maker at Sandford Orchards comments: “High Tides is a lovely cider that really incorporates both makers’ styles into the bottle. The apples really shine in this blend. Browns bring acidity, Dabinett brings tannins on the finish and the vintage bittersweet apples help to give the cider tonnes of body and structure.”
The chance to work with the team at Sandford Orchards to produce a collaboration limited edition cider was part of Ganley & Naish’s prize for winning the 2023 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards. These awards, set up in 2019 by Sandford Orchards to support emerging producers, recognise and celebrate excellent quality whole juice ciders from around the UK. The winners also benefit from an invaluable package of guidance, vouchers to spend with suppliers and opportunities to have their cider sold by new retailers and venues.
Andy Jenkins, Chief Cidermaker at Ganley & Naish comments: “It has been a fantastic experience to see how a cider maker with the same ethos produces and packages cider on a much larger scale. Working alongside the team at Sandford Orchards, we carefully blended Sandford, Ganley and Naish cider to achieve the perfect balance. This has been an eye-opening experience—one that I will take back to our cidery to help us improve and refine our craft.”
Ganley & Naish Cider was founded in a back garden in 2011 by two friends, Steve and Andy and has been steadily growing ever since. They champion sustainability, organic, provenance and terroir and their ciders are all vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. They proudly display all the ingredients on their labels with all their ciders containing at least 90% juice.
Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. They take a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.
British Cider Week celebrates the depth and diversity of British cider. The week features events across the country hosted by a wide range of producers, from new young startups to traditional producers with generations of heritage.
For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on X, Facebook and Instagram. For more information on Ganley & Naish please visit www.ganleyandnaish.co.uk. For more information on British Cider Week please visit www.britishciderweek.org.uk.
