There are some emails that you receive as a blogger that you end up reading and re-reading to check that they’re really true. The one that came from Weston’s Wyld Wood Cider asking if they could send me some cider to review was one such email. Some people may think me a bit queer, but to be honest when I go one a rare night out to the pub I’m someone who is much happier ordering a pint (or half pint) of something to drink than a glass of wine – although don’t get my wrong, I do love wine too, but it’s just a preference thing. When Mr C and I moved to St Albans years ago I discovered my love of real ale and from many many summer afternoons spend at local beer festivals I also then discovered my love of cider and perry. There’s something just so refreshing about a proper cider and it really is a true taste of summer as far as I’m concerned.
Weston’s certainly didn’t hold back in making sure I had plenty to taste in order to write my review and I was pretty gobsmacked when the delivery man arrived at my door with two large, heavy boxes. In the first were several bottles of their classic Wyld Wood Organic Cider, whilst the second contained four three litre boxes of the Wyld Wood Organic Still Cider.
The Wyld Wood Organic Cider was exactly as a good cider should be in my opinion – crisp, refreshing, sharp and fruity. It is described as an “intensely fruity cider, matured in oak vats from apples grown in organic orchards” and it really was perfect on a hot summer evening, and at 6% ABV it’s certainly got a bit of a kick to it.
The Organic Still Cider was a bit different though. I’m not used to a still cider and to be honest as you go in for the first sip of a glass it’s almost a bit confusing at first when you don’t get the fizz on your tongue when you’re expecting to. It’s refreshing to drink, but being still it does lose a bit of the crispness I thought. Mr C initially thought it was a bit like a glass of normal cider that had been left to go flat, but since then he’s gone back to it time and time again to drink and it appears to have grown on him.
I really liked the taste of the still cider, but for me the problem was that it was just so easily drinkable, which can be a bit dangerous when it’s also 6% ABV!
On a practical level the 3l box was perfect for going in the fridge and allowing us to just go and have a small glass whenever we wanted. It did demonstrate to us that our kitchen fridge is rather small though. The box would also have been ideal for taking along to a BBQ or to a festival. Mr C is also very keen that I point out how good the tap on the box is too – far better and easier to use than the ones we remember on wine boxes.
If, for whatever crazy reason, you decide you don’t want to just drink the Wyld Wood, Weston’s have pulled together a series of recipes that include their cider. In my mind chicken or pork cooked in cider is simply delicious.
We really enjoyed Weston’s Wyld Wood Cider – perfect when relaxing on a summer’s afternoon. And with the way that the hot summer weather is continuing through September, and possibly into October it looks like this year’s cider drinking season is set to continue. Cheers!
Disclaimer: We were sent a selection of Weston’s Wyld Wood Cider for the purposes of this review.
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