Cranberry Cider to launch in West Country for Christmas

This Christmas, the South West will be the first region in the UK to witness the launch of an innovative cranberry flavoured cider. The new cider is part of a range of West County Ciders under the ‘Norcotts’ brand name launched earlier this year. Norcotts Cider with Cranberry is a refreshingly fruity mix of traditional apple cider, blended with real cranberry juice for a sharp and tangy burst of flavour and a festive rosy colour. The Cider makes an ideal Christmas tipple and is best served chilled with any type of Christmas fare or can also be blended with Christmas spices and heated to create a delicious mulled Cranberry Cider.
The Norcotts Cider range is the brainchild of cider specialist, Honiton-based Chris Norcott who has been working in the commercial cider industry for several years. Earlier this year, Chris decided to invest his hard earned skill and knowledge into his own range and in April, the Norcotts Cider range was born.
Chris’s strategy has been to design a cider range that has all year round appeal to help build cider consumption outside of the traditional summer period. The development of fruit flavours has therefore been a major consideration for the range. Chris comments: ‘As you would expect the Norcotts Cider range incorporates a traditional apple and pear cider. These have their own unique recipes and are made by local craftsmen. But additionally, I have developed three flavours which have more of a seasonal focus - Elderflower, Raspberry & Orange and Cranberry.’
The Norcotts Cider range aims to capitalise on the fruit cider sector of the overall cider market – an area that is experiencing rapid growth. ‘But a good fruit cider is not easy to achieve’ continues Chris. ‘Many of the mass produced fruit ciders already out there are just too overpowering. It’s been a painstaking process trying to get the balance of the Norcotts Cider flavours just right. The recipes I have perfected for the range to my mind are spot on, offering punchy, fruity flavour without cloying sweetness.’
Norcotts Cider with Cranberry and the rest of the Norcotts Cider range is available in 500ml stylish glass bottles and can be enjoyed this Christmas at premium bars, clubs and restaurants and purchased from farmshops and selected independents across the West Country. Further information available about the range is available from the Norcotts Cider facebook and twitter pages and from the website at www.norcottscider.co.uk
Norcotts Original and Pear are 4.5% ABV and the three fruit flavours are 4% ABV.
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Further press information from: Heloise D’Souza, DSouzaPR, Tel: 01460 239299/07770 988 612

NORCOTTS MULLED CRANBERRY CIDER
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 x 500ml bottles of Norcotts Cranberry Cider
1 x cinnamon stick
Half an Orange
12 cloves
Heaped tablespoon of sugar
Remove the lid from the Cider approximately one hour prior to reduce the level of fizz. Empty the cider into a large pan and add all the ingredients. Heat gently over a low heat until hot. DO NOT BOIL.
Leave to steep so the cider can absorb the delicious Christmas spices and flavours.
Decant into glasses , add some festive cheer and enjoy!