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Discover Craft Cider with Crafty Nectar

An introduction to Crafty Nectar, a UK purveyor of craft cider flights and subscription boxes. Includes a review of three different ciders.

Three bottles of craft cider from Crafty Nectar.

The apple is the king of fruits and plays an important part in the UK culture. Turning it into craft cider is a venerable tradition, complete with a whole slew of rituals, including wassailing. Virtually every farm had an orchard and labourers of yore were often paid in cider.

In Cornwall, cider runs in the veins. It was the first alcoholic drink to pass my lips. I remember feeling very grown up when visiting my uncle as a child and being able to have a glass of sweet woodpecker cider with my meal.

Later as a teenager, Cornish scrumpy was the booze of choice: it was a bit rough and ready, but hey, it was great for parties. Thankfully, things have moved on since those days and there is now a burgeoning industry in creating premium craft ciders, both in Cornwall and the rest of the country.

Update November 2024

When I first wrote this post Crafty Nectar offered my readers the chance to win a discovery box of six craft ciders. That offer is no longer valid, nor the 10% discount on all their cider flights and subscription boxes. However, the company is still going strong. Indeed they’re now brewing their own cider too.

Crafty Nectar

To this very day, I’d rather drink a good quality cider than wine or beer. Cue Crafty Nectar, a cider subscription club with a difference. It’s the club to belong to if you want to discover exclusive artisan craft ciders.

Experts look for juice quality and content and only select those with no concentrates or artificial flavourings. You can choose from 3, 6 or 12 bottles a month and subscribe for one, three, six or twelve months. Your membership will also support small cider producers, which has got to be a good thing in my book.

I was hoping for some tasting notes to help me on my way, but when I unpacked the craft cider box, it was just three lone bottles. Oh well, I thought, I’ll just have to work it out for myself and reached straight for the bottle opener.

Craft Cider Bottles

Lancombe Rising (5%, 37.5 cl)

This Dorset cider ferments slowly and matures in the bottle, which results in a natural sparkling drink. Hence Lancombe Rising – geddit? It was dry and sparkling and left the palate feeling clean. It’s a good one to drink with dinner.

Lancombe Rising Craft Cider

CT and I shared the bottle as an accompaniment to a hearty lentil bolognese and it went down very well. Lancombe Rising is produced by West Milton Cider Company and it won Supreme Champion in the Royal Bath & West British Cider Championship 2017.

The Rouge (4%, 50 cl)

The red, referred to in the name of this limited edition cider from Colcombe House in Herefordshire, comes from rhubarb and strawberry. I’m particularly interested to try this one as I have a penchant for rhubarb.

The Rouge Craft Cider

Rhubarb and strawberry are a classic combination and I can see that it might work well in a cider. I’m looking forward to trying it.

Grey Heron (5.5%, 50cl)

We also haven’t yet tried the Grey Heron craft cider, but I like the idea that it’s a single orchard origin.

Grey Heron Craft Cider

It’s hand crafted by Perry’s in Somerset from their own farm apples; the varieties are Redstreak and Dabinett. They bottle this sparkling cider young and according to the label it has a sweet fruity taste.

Leftover Craft Cider

If by any chance you have some craft cider you’re not so keen on or are unable to finish, you could try making this almond apple cider cake. It’s a particularly good one. Alternatively this recipe for mulled cider is nice and warming on a cold winter’s night.

I was sent three bottles of craft cider to try. I was not expected to write a positive review and all opinions are, as always, my own. Thanks to my readers for supporting the brands and organisations that help to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging.

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317 Comments

  1. Cider is one of the few things I actually enjoy drinking – I dont like the taste of beer/lager/ale but cider is delicious – I love you can get so many different flavours

  2. I do like a cold glass of cider in the summer, though currently being pregnant means I’ll have to wait till next summer now – though my boyfriend can still indulge 😉

  3. always liked cider. when I was a student years ago at Lancaster University we had a college called Pendle. Their bar sold half pints of cider with blackcurrant and a shot of pernod – a Pendle Witch. I promise you can’t drink many

  4. I really like cider, NOW, my first experience was with White Lighting at 15, I now do appreciate a good cold Cider

  5. I like a drop of chilled cider but my boys are avid drinkers of cider this sounds very good fingers crossed

  6. After a hard day’s work, there is nothing better than a glass of crisp cold cider – so refreshing.

  7. Cider has grown on me with age. I am starting to notice the different tasting notes involved and enjoying experimenting with different blends.

  8. Perfect for the summer (a break from craft beers and pale ales), nice to see more artisan ciders on the market although I am more than happy with a bottle of Thatchers.

  9. i think cider is a great refreshing drink that’s even better when enjoyed relaxing in the garden

  10. I have always loved cider, but I don’t like the modern style flavoured ciders as they are just like sparkly pop, too synthetic and too sweet

  11. Love CIDER ! – massively underrated drink but at last its being taken seriously and more & more quality cider products are appearing

  12. My thoughts on cider are that my sister-in-law would probably kill someone to get some 🙂 She is dutch and loves English cider!

  13. Cider is so refreshing and there are so many interesting flavours about now it is like having a different drink every time

  14. Absolutely love cider and love trying new ones. Would be perfect for our caravan holiday.

  15. I love cider! It’s so refreshing, especially in the hot weather. I like sitting out in the garden with an ice cold glass!

  16. I love cider, but tend to try and avoid the major brands and look out for harder to find products like these ones

  17. Cider is more refreshing than beer and a longer drink than wine. Its perfect for summer festivals and just sitting in the garden. Love pear cider best

  18. I’ve only really started trying ciders in the last couple of years & I’m definitely more keen on the sweet, fruity flavours.. Perfect over ice on a warm day!

  19. hmmm this would be a nice chance to taste some alternatives to good old Strongbow! 🙂 Very keen on cider x

  20. Cider can be so complex. So many different flavours and textures. I have discovered some ciders that I really don’t like at all, but I keep trying them!

  21. the sun is out, weather is warm what a better way then to refresh yourself with a chilled cider

  22. Absolutely love cider, I’m drinking a Thatchers Haze right now. Can’t get enough of it!

  23. i love cider because its nice and sweet and refreshing especially on long summer days after a nice bbq with the family

  24. I love a nice cider, my favourite so far is Savannah, it reminds me of my late step dad as he recommended it in Nandos one evening and I remember spotting it for sale in Morrisons and surprising him with a few bottles, I always think of him whenever I drink it now and it makes me smile 🙂

  25. I think it’s quite a refreshing drink for chilling out in the summer and also fantastic warmed in the winter!

  26. I know cider can be drunk hot but to me it’s always made me think of balmy summer evenings sitting in the garden.

  27. I really enjoy cider especially chilled when it’s hot like it is at the moment. I don’t like ‘boozy’ ciders but the fruity ones suit me just fine.

    1. Making your own sounds good Anthea. I’ve inadvertently made some by letting unpasteurised apple juice sit in the bottle for far too long, but I don’t think that’s how your meant to do it.

  28. I like cider but my partner loves it! He would be over the moon if I won this box, and would enjoy trying them all 🙂

  29. I have fructose malabsorption so it doesn’t normally go down too well.. my partner loves it though!

  30. Cider is lovely, cool, crisp and refreshing, great for a warm Summer’s evening in the garden.

  31. We like a refreshing cider and I like a sweet one. We just had a toffee apple cider that was really nice.

  32. Cider is a very refreshing drink and flavoursome, I tend to opt for the dry variety. Today, there is a much wider choice of cider to choose from.

  33. I absolutely love Cider, especially all the new flavours! I always find it very refreshing and I often relax with a glass or two of the weekend.

  34. I tend to think of cider as a cooking ingredient rather than a drink, so it would be interesting to actually sip these specialist ciders from a glass instead of whacking them into a pork casserole!

  35. Love the summer when a cold cider is so refreshing, lets hope we have a long hot summer so we can drink more cider

  36. i enjoy a nice glass of cold cider in the summer but in the winter it is lovely when heated up too x

  37. Love Cider! Coming from the South West I remember when I went to uni up North my friends wanted me to bring back ‘proper’ cider.

  38. There is nothing like a refreshing cold cider on a hot summers night, never tried any craft ciders before though

  39. I’ve always loved cider as a summery drink (especially those with a berry note in them!) but discovered mulled cider in the winter this past year – wow! Cider all year round from now on!

  40. I love cider. Especially on a sunny day. It’s very refreshing. Only problem is you end up drinking it like pop xx

  41. I absolutely love cider. It’s a very refreshing drink to quench the thirst (especially in warmer weather).

  42. Cider is something I tended to drink a little more regularly when I was younger. However, I still like a glass of a decent cider on a nice hot day.

  43. I have never been a big drinker of alcohol, but one of the things I do love in the summer is a nice cold proper cider.

  44. Oh I do love cider sometimes, especially on a hot summer’s day with a few ice cubes. Very refreshing 🙂

  45. A nice glass of cider, from Somerset, tastes refreshing, whilst you are sitting in the garden with a good book on a pleasant Summer’s day, listening to the comforting lilt of birdsong.

  46. On the first warm day of summer I always sit in the garden with a lovely refreshing glass of cider. It’s my summer tradition.

  47. I love a nice cold cider on a hot day. There are so many different ciders to choose from so I think there is one to suit everybody its just a case of finding your favourite

  48. Although I am not a big drinker, I do enjoy the odd glass of iced cold cider. It reminds me on summer picnics.

  49. I love cider as a refreshing drink in Summer…. I really like the fact that companies are experimenting with flavours too x

  50. I love love love cider, in summer when it’s cold
    I love dry drinks and they are so refreshing

  51. Cider is my favourite drink. The best but most lethal I’ve had was a still farm made scrumpy from near Tutbury Wells.

  52. theres nothing finer on a nice warm day than cracking the BBQ out and getting a nice cold Cider from the fridge!!

  53. Me and my husband love our ciders. We go camping alot throughout the year, all across England, Wales and Scotland and always stop off at the local cider farms and try their ciders. We’ve tried some good and bad but that’s the enjoyment of trying something new!

  54. What a treat thus would be for my husband on a hot summer day…. after he’s mowed the lawn of course

  55. Cider is my drink of choice – just find it so much more refreshing than other drinks – some great flavours too!

  56. I didn’t used to like cider and then the flavoured ones came out and I discovered a taste for it, now I can have any type of cider and find it refreshing x

  57. I, personally, don’t drink cider but my son does, he loves trying new flavours and brands, and his 21st birthday is coming up soon 😉

  58. Personally I love the fruity ciders Elderflower and lime being my fav, but also love a cold tasty cider in the summer

  59. I absolutely love cider, especially on a lovely sunny day in a pub garden. So many different flavours and always fresh.

  60. A colleague once said to me: “You can tell who’s been in a RockSoc at uni by the amount of cider they can put away.” And there I was thinking that it was the band shirt that gave it away … However, I did discover cider at Cambridge RockSoc, because I needed a drink I could afford to keep ordering all night so I could carry on rocking out to all that great music. Back then, it was usually Blackthorn. Now my knowledge of different ciders has grown considerably, but I can still often be found drinking cider in rock bars.

  61. I love cider, probably my favourite alcoholic beverage. I love a ice cold glass, especially different fruit varieties.

  62. I love cider. It is so refreshing. Especially now the spring is here and we can nearly envisage sitting outside as a relaxation after hard works of the day.

  63. Honestly the best alcoholic drink I have ever tasted and I could drink more of it than any other alcoholic beverage as it doesn’t taste bitter/too strong!

  64. I love cider because it helps me get my five a day: Apples from cider, grapes from wine…That counts, right? 😉

  65. The perfect drink for a warm summers evening. So good to see that there are some excellent craft ciders on sale in the supermarkets these days.

  66. Cider is definitely my favourite warm weather drink- it reminds me of sunny days in gardens! It would be lovely to expand my repertoire!

  67. I love a nice half glass of cider in the summer. It’s fruity and fizziness is really refreshing, but I enjoy the still cider more as it tastes less processed 🙂

  68. I’m quite new to it but after having a few varieties I really like it. It’s very refreshing and nice to drink on a summer evening.

  69. Ive only really liked cider since ive tried the fruity flavours. Anything strawberry, raspberry goes down a treat

  70. I really like cider, especially when it’s ice cold in a tall glass with ice. My husband is a massive lover of cider and is always scouring the supermarket shelves for different flavours to try. The one thing that worries me with the amount of cider he drinks is the sugar content. His stomach is definitely growing!

  71. Cider is like tea in that there are now so many fantastic producers out there that anyone who says they don’t like it probably hasn’t tried any of the great new varieties..

  72. I’m not a big drinker but when I do have a drink I love cider as it’s sweet and refreshing. It’s something I enjoy outdoors in summer time.

  73. I love trying new ciders. The Rouge sounds really good! Another way to use cider is in a slow cooker with gammon and a roughly chopped onion topped up with water. When its cooked ditch the onion and liquid and you are left with sweet tasting gammon. It’s lovely!

  74. I love cider, it was one of the first alcoholic drinks i actually liked (particularly berry flavours). Cider has alot of good memories for me!

  75. I love cider, but have to say, I haven’t drank it for a long while. I feel that it’s very hit and miss and would love to see more micro brewery ciders available in supermarkets etc. Sometimes I find it super sweet and overpowering – I am not really into sweet things.

  76. We love ciders in our household and we are all different in our choices. Cider is a perfect drink for my husband because it is gluten free and he is Coeliac. He prefers the still ciders.
    I prefer sparkling, light ciders and I also prefer a cider that is not too strong in alcohol too.

  77. I do love a nice dry cider every now and then, its not my first choice of drink if say we go out as it can get a bit too sickly for me but my husband loves it

  78. I have loved cider for more years than I am willing to divulge and really love that their are so many different craft ciders around to try now.

  79. I love cider, its definitely my choice of tipple. I have tried a home brew kit which was ok but never tastes quite the same. I particularly like the mixed fruit ciders

  80. Great article. It definitely piqued my interest in trying these ciders….. I especially liked the link for a cake recipe too.

  81. Cider has changed over the years It’s no longer boring and strong. It’s now more adventurous fruity and more fun to drink with lots of flavours to try. My favorite is Brothers Toffee cider.

  82. I love a dry cider that actually tastes of apples (or other fruit) rather than the metallic tasting Strongbow, Magners etc that you get on tap in most pubs so tend to look out for smaller breweries or cider festivals in pubs so that I can try different brands.

  83. Cider rather than beer, always! I can’t wait until the weather improves and I can sit outside to drink a craft cider.

  84. I don’t drink a lot of alcohol because I hate the taste so for me cider is the perfect replacement! Fresh, fruity and makes me think of summer 🙂

  85. I’ve been off the booze due to pregnancy until last week. Cider was the hardest thing to miss out on when it was the tail end of summer – just one bottle in the sunset. Can’t wait for some nice weather and apple tipple!

  86. I love cider, usually the traditional apple ones. I often have it with a meal instead of wine.

  87. Lovely to drink on a warm summers day… preferably in good company and overlooking a fab location!

  88. I really enjoy cider, especially in the summer as it tastes so great sat in the lovely, sunny outdoors 🙂

  89. I like all the varieties you can get now expanding the use of peoples favourite fruits and not relying on apple

  90. I love ciders, both still and sparkling. They must be ‘real’ with no added sugar and preferably no preservatives.

  91. I like the occasional craft cider on a balmy summer day but it’s not my drink of choice. However, I always have a few interesting bottles of cider in because we have quite a few friends who are real fans and appreciate coming round and having a choice of something that tastes better than the mainstream.

  92. Cider is my favourite alcoholic drink, i like the flavour especially fruit cider and it is so refreshing!

  93. I like pear ciders but I’m not keen on apple cider – I’d love to win these for my sister & her boyfriend who live near Brizzle and LOVE cider!

  94. We love trying new cider, we have a local cider festival every year and it’s so much fun trying the different varieties and flavours.

  95. A nice cold glass (or bottle) of cider is a refreshingly complimentary way to enjoy a drink, especially at meal time.. Will try any cider and have not done so with this brand, so winning would be an introduction..

  96. I love what I call proper cider not commercially produced stuff and i do for dry/medium rather than sweet

  97. Not a lover of cider but my hubby is he likes to try different brands so this would be great for him.

  98. My thoughts on cider has to be i like the taste of it although if i had a choice between a glass of red wine or a cider then i would pick a glass of wine for sure.

  99. i have always drank cider and it’s great to see how much it has progressed from the strongbow or blackthorn days!

  100. I love cider but really only drink it in the summer as it’s so refreshing and great in a big glass with lots of ice

  101. Cider is my sister’s favourite drink so I would gift it to her if I won.She has helped me a lot so she deserves it.

  102. I drink a variety of alcoholic drinks and, as I live in Bristol, I sometimes indulge in craft ciders and beers. I’m far from an expert but I love trying new ciders and new flavours – I have a pretty broad palette and enjoy most ciders from sweet to dry plus a variety of fruit flavours :o)

  103. Love cider ’cause it always reminds me of summer. Nothing feels like one of those carefree nothing to do days in a park like a glass of cider.

  104. I like a cheeky cold cider especially on a summers day. I really like the fruity ones but will drink any lol

  105. Cider was the first drink my dad bought me in a pub when I was just 16 (!) and imho its the ideal drink to serve with cheese fondue

  106. I love cider so much, it’s definiely my go to drink! It’s so easy to drink, especially still ones, and I love Wetherspoons cider festival because they have so many to try!

  107. I love trying different ciders. My favourite is probably pear cider. But I love any cider best on a hot summer’s day – which seems like something I haven’t experienced for a very long time!

  108. Cider is one of my favourite drinks. I like trying different types and different brands. It is very refreshing with ice in the Summer months.

  109. I think cider is becoming more popular these days and there are lots more varieties to choose from, this is really nice to have a subscription box of different ones to try out. I really like the look of the cake recipe too!

  110. I`ve tried a few of the well-known ones from supermarkets but am sure there are so may more to discover that cover a wide scope of styles and flavours

  111. i like cider i enjoy a thatchers gold dash of lemonade and ice on a summers da yand think the fruit ciders are delicious

  112. Cider is delicious but only if it’s a quality brand.. like this one.
    Definitely a fantastic choice for the summer garden days

  113. I never drink draught or cheap cider, but I do like a really good quality one – especially in summer. I don’t think there’s a more refreshing drink on a hot day!

  114. I love a nice cold cider in the evening watching a film under blankets or out in the garden in the sunnier weather.

  115. I love that the craft Cider movement are creating all kinds of new and refreshing flavour combinations

  116. This would be perfect. I love cider. Ever since going down to Somerset to see it made. So many varieties available.

  117. Nothing better than an ice cold cider. Especially on a warm summers day. Love trying all the different flavours.

  118. You know, most people don’t know the difference between apple cider and apple juice, but I do.
    Now here’s a little trick to help you remember:
    If it’s clear and yella’, you’ve got juice there, fella!
    If it’s tangy and brown, you’re in cider town.

  119. I love ice cold cider in the summer. Love going to cider festivals with my husband and trying all on offer x

  120. Cider is perfect on a hot Summer’s day! Also love it mulled in the Winter. So many great types out there.

  121. Personally I can take it or leave it but my hubby loves it, and loves trying new and different versions. That’s why I am entering to try and win a treat for him!

  122. Cider is so refreshing on a hot summer day. To be honest, it’s refreshing on a cold winters day too. Basically it’s just a pleasant refreshing drink.

  123. I love cider, especially ice cold in the summer as a long drink over ice, and as an accompaniment to barbecue food. Cider always feels lively, and fun, so is perfect for garden entertaining…. Although when I was in my teens we used to drink it every weekend. Nowadays, it is good to try out lots of differing flavours, and enjoy and appreciate the labour of love of the many craft and artisan drinks available now.

  124. Cider is my go to favourite – crisp and cool for summer days and spiced and full-flavoured in the winter

  125. I LOVE cider, especially now that (hopefully!) warmer weather is coming. Nothing better than a bottle of good cider while sitting in the garden! Thanks for the chance!