Pilton Cider, Stray Dog Cafe, 2022, Somerset

'One-Liner'
A cider made with a chef’s eye for the table – ripe orchard fruit, bright Brown’s Apple freshness and a subtle lick of whisky-barrel complexity.

Tasting Note
Rich amber-gold in the glass, with aromas of ripe apple, dried fruit and red berries joined by a subtle touch of sweet spice from the barrel ageing. The palate is rounded and gently fruity, with the naturally retained sweetness of keeved cider balanced beautifully by the fresher, sharper character of Brown’s Apple. Soft tannins give it shape, while the whisky barrels add a restrained layer of vanilla, dried fruit and savoury complexity rather than obvious oakiness. There is a lovely vinous quality to the texture, making this feel every bit as comfortable at the dinner table as it does in a cider glass. Medium-dry, fresh and beautifully balanced on the finish.

Country: England
Region: Somerset
Sub-Region: Pilton
Grape(s): Apples
ABV: 5%
Friendly: Vegan, Vegetarian

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
Stray Dog Cafe began as a collaboration between Pilton founder Martin Berkeley and chef Merlin Labron-Johnson, created for his Michelin-starred Somerset restaurant, Osip. It is a particularly food-minded take on Pilton’s traditional keeved cider: part of the blend spends twelve months ageing in small whisky barrels before being combined with naturally sweet cider from the following harvest, while Brown’s Apple brings the fresh acidity needed to pull everything into balance. The fruit comes from traditional Somerset cider orchards, many planted in the 1960s and 70s, and fermentation relies on the wild yeasts and slow, cool conditions central to Pilton’s approach. It is cider treated rather more like wine – layered, patient and built deliberately for the table.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Somerset pork chops with cider, mustard and caramelised apples
- Vegetarian: Sweetcorn, leek and cheddar tart
- Vegan: Roast squash, sage and hazelnut galette with spiced apple chutney