Amanda & Philip Saxby produce their eponymously-named cider on their farm in the small village of Farndish, near Wellingborough.  Saxby’s Cider is made with love in the Crafty Pig Cider House, available as traditional still or medium sparkling cider. The husband and wife team is very proud that the medium sparkling cider is a finalist in the ‘New Local Drink of the Year’ category in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2014/15.

As a farmer and cider enthusiast living in Northamptonshire, Philip always wondered why more cider was not produced in his local area; it has good conditions for growing trees, sandwiched between the big cider producing powerhouses of the West Country and the East coast. After painstaking research into cider-making and producing, Philip came up with a blend which incorporates the best of both worlds: a blend of dessert fruits from the east and dry cider apples from the west to produce a perfectly balanced cider that he enjoys drinking, being after all the chief taster!  Philip then planted an orchard on their farm and stocked it with the varieties needed to produce great cider.

This was in 2012, the year of the Queen’s Jubilee, and hence it has been named ‘The Jubilee Orchard’. The old-fashioned varieties chosen have some wonderful names: Black Dabinett, Kingston Black, Yarlington Mill, King of the Pippins and Michelin. In 2013, Amanda & Philip also used apples from other farmers in Herefordshire and blended them with their own; however, as their trees grow the ultimate aim is 100% selfsufficiency. 

Saxby’s Cider is craft-made using a traditional rack and cloth press. The cider is allowed to ferment slowly over the winter to produce the fullest flavour. It is clean, crisp and very refreshing with a very appley aroma and taste.  In 2013, Philip made a traditional, still dry cider and a medium sparkling cider; plans for this year’s production include fruit-flavoured cider and a bottle conditioned variety.

Amanda & Philip will be having a stand at the new Thrapston Farmers’ Market on Saturday 6th September, and you will also be able to sample the delicious cider for yourself later in September at the Geddington Trundle, see page 64, and Brigstock Beer Festival, see page 82.

SAXBY’S CIDER

Crafty Pig Cider House

Farndish, NN29 7HJ

Tel: 07966 558 186

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


 

Northamptonshire Apple Delights

Northamptonshire Apple Delights

Northamptonshire Apple Delights

Northamptonshire Apple Delights