Cider Voice

Cider Voice 45 - The Soul of the Apple in Liquid Form - Eleanor Leger from Eden Specialty Ciders

The team welcome a transatlantic cider rock star to the pod for this episode as they're joined by Eleanor Leger, co-founder and owner of Vermont's @edenciders
We talk about all things ice cider and how Eden experiment with this magnificent dessert cider style. Plus the economics of fine cider, and how Eden have diversified over the years whilst staying true to their full juice roots.
Having experimented with British varieties we talk about the different flavours they produce in American terroirs, which leads us to a discussion of the new frontier of propagating wild American apples for cider.
Finally things get extra serious as Eleanor demonstrates the massive impact that climate change has had on not only her orchards, but the very styles of cider she can make.
An absolutely brilliant chat with one of the most significant figures in aspirational cider.
Albert is lightly chilled @rosscider@adamhwells cools off @cider_reviewJustin breaks the mill @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 44 - It's a magnum ... in a bag - Beatrix Swanson

It's the 44th episode of Cider Voice and in Albert's absence thanks to his exciting new role we have a huge question: do we finally have a 13th listener? To celebrate we're joined by whisky writer and new Cider Review contributor Beatrix Swanson.
Bea talks to Justin and Adam about growing up in Germany's apfelwein country and how she joined the cider community. We extol the virtues of the bagnum and ponder whether cider and perry might be the ultimate drinks for Gen Z.
Since, like all the best people, Bea's come to cider from whisky, we also turn our attention to the vital question of the perfect whisky and cider pairings, whilst Justin worries that he might need a bigger bottle rack.
A really fun episode chatting to one of the most exciting new voices in cider.
Albert has a new job @rosscider@adamhwells has a new whisky @cider_reviewJustin has a new mouthful of pasta @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 43 - 60 Bottles is Macro - James Finch of Chapel Sider

Well, it's another Albertless episode, but that doesn't hold Justin and Adam back from interviewing the once and future Cider Critic James Finch of Chapel Sider and Cider Review fame!
They discuss Chapel Sider's origin and future, James' love of orchards, and the vicissitudes of cider writing and advocacy, along with a bit of a retrospective on Cider Review and how it came about. Not to mention the legendary Fine Cider Fridays 👀
What's next on the radar for James? Will Justin keep asking questions he asked ten minutes ago? Will Adam survive the brutal summer heat of Ireland? And, most importantly, will the guys avoid the Wrath of Albert by managing to wrap in less than an hour?!
Find out at CiderVoice.com, or wherever you pod!
Albert is on paternity leave @rosscideradamhwells in spoiling in the heat @cider_reviewJustin is forgetting what he's asked @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 42 - The British Pome Championships

With the whole CV team back together again we thought about doing an earnest and serious conversation about apple and pear varieties. But with all the sport on we changed our mind and turned it into a knockout tournament to discover the greatest (British) cider apple or perry pear of them all. 
Pitting 32 contenders against each other, Adam tasks Justin and Albert with finding the ultimate.Thorn vs Bulmers Norman?Egremont Russet vs Yellow Huffcap?Moorcroft vs Kingston Black?Stoke Red vs Butt?Which will be left standing at the end?
Get ready for an extreme fund of sporting metaphors:What are the Gareth Southgate and Andy Murray of perry pears?Who is the Joe Root of Cider Voice?Which matchup is like Hamilton winning Silverstone for the 9th time?And which round do our judges just want to dispense with?
Featuring Justin’s pomological insights like ‘Coppy sounds a bit like cuppy’ and Albert’s true feelings on Bisquet, the biggest question of all is will the final go to penalties? Want to know the greatest apple or pear? You'll have to listen.
Shoutout to Swedish cidermaker Hjulsjö 103
Albert's the midfield general @rosscider@adamhwells has a vicious backhand @cider_reviewJustin's dug in @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 41 - My Chair is Collapsing! - Felix Nash of Fine Cider Company

In this episode Justin and Adam demand the finest ciders available to humanity and they want them here and they want them now, so who better to speak to than Felix Nash, founder of the Fine Cider Company.
We talk the 10-year development of Fine Cider, the ways Felix has found to bring restaurants round to the concept, parallels with and differences to fine wine, the new Fine Cider Shop in London and the importance of getting the public on board via events like the upcoming Stockport Cider Salon.
Shoutouts primarily to tomoliverscider
Albert makes fine cider @rosscider@adamhwells writes fine words @cider_reviewJustin's feeling fine @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 40 - I've got to order a new pair of trousers - Tom Oliver of Oliver's Cider and Perry

With Adam still MIA, Justin and Albert make it all the way to the top, sitting down with the godfather of aspirational cider, Mr Tom Oliver @tomoliverscider.
Drawing on Tom's wealth of knowledge and abundant wit we chat adventures in America, ordering everything on the menu and the increasing importance of aspirational cider on keg.
As a kindred Herefordshire cidermaker Albert and Tom compare notes on the importance of the stamp of the maker, the recent inaugural edition of Cider School, pride in Herefordian produce, collaboration and the upcoming Apple Fest.
A privilege, as ever, to talk to one of cider's most important characters.
Ciders by @chapel_sider and @hudsonvalleyfarmhousecider 
Albert makes cider @rossciderJustin leads tastings @justinwellsjustinAdam can't think of a single Tom Oliver pun @cider_review
(Ed: why didn't he just write, Adam wants some more @cider_review?)

Cider Voice 39 - I Missed The Train Because of Sneezing! - Alison Taffs, The Hop Inn, Hornchurch

Absolute cider royalty comes to the pod this week as Justin and Albert are joined by Alison Taffs, head honcho at multi-award-winning might-as-well-keep-the-trophy cider pub The Hop Inn.
We talk about Alison and Justin's shared background as drama students at Mountview, and how that armed them to become tasting host extraordinaires, we touch on managing alcohol intake when working in the drinks industry and Alison schools us on what makes good hospitality.
Only momentarily distracted by Justin looking up directions to the Hop Inn on his phone, we learn how to build the ultimate cider list as a pub and how gaining confidence with tasting notes can help drinkers, producers and hospitality staff.
Ciders by @gospel_green
Albert lords the land @rossciderAdam hops in @cider_review Justin is on heavy antihistamines @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 38 – 'You're Stealing My Show Now' – Seminal Ciders 4: Natalia Wszelaki (Cider Explorer)

In the latest instalment of 'Seminal Ciders' Adam catches up with someone who's been writing about cider even longer than he has – Natalia of @ciderexplorer.
Based in Germany, Natalia's been covering the continental cider scene since 2017, shining a light on central European cider cultures as well as countries whose cider doesn't always get a spotlight.
We talk about the cider that got her started, the current state of German cider, the magical event that is @CiderWorld, the first cider she ever gave full marks, the bottle that persuaded her perry could be good and more!
Featuring ciders from Poland, Germany, Austria, France and Croatia: @cydr_ignacow @gutshof_kraatz @blakstoc @Jerome.forget61 @kertelreiter_cider @buzdovan_craft_cider
Albert explores apples @rosscider@adamhwells charts words @cider_review Justin may be some time @justinwellsjustin

Cider Voice 37 - Everybody has a river in their garden with loads of otters - Gabe Cook, The Ciderologist

Albert and Adam sit down to chat with Gabe Cook aka The Ciderologist on everything from his origins in the cider world, to the state of bittersweet cider, to education in cider and perry and the way forward. Part trip down memory lane and part assessment of the current British cider scene.
Join Gabe's substack: https://theciderologist.substack.com/
Sign up for the Certified Cider Professional Programme here: https://www.theciderologist.com/pages/certified-cider-professional-programme
BBC Natural World: Wye, Voices from the Valley (2007).
Albert grows weird apples at @rosscider@adamhwells assesses weird apples for @cider_review (and has written a book!)Justin drinks the weird apples (@justinwellsjustin)
 

Cider Voice 36 - Pour tannin directly into my mouth

Albert’s away again so it all goes off the rails – Adam’s distracted by how good a cider is and Justin’s gone for a sauna.
But then we rein it back in and chat about Justin’s first experience leading a cider and perry tasting – ‘an introduction to Herefordshire.’
We talk what he served, what he learned, preferences and preconceptions and and Gin Pear/Cookie Dough Affogato.
Planning a tasting with some of your own friends? This is the episode for you.
Albert toils @rosscider@adamhwells spoils @cider_review (and has written a book!)Justin broils @justinwellsjustin