Before I post my visit recap of CiderWorld 2018 I would like to share with you a review of cider that was available during CiderWorld at CiderKultur’s stand, a recently launched German webshop with craft cider.
Highbank Orchards is an organic farm based in Farmley, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny, Ireland run by Julie and Rod Calder-Potts. The apple orchards were established in 1969 and have never seen any type of chemicals. Products offered by Highbank Orchards are strictly organic. Moreover, for their ciders, they use only apples and eventually honey for the Medieval Cider, which I’m going to review in a sec. They even don’t use sulphites “for freshness” how many cidermakers do. Today I give you the Medieval Cider from Highbank Orchards. 
Company: Highbank Orchards
Place of Origin: Farmley, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
Ingredients: Irish organic apples with organic honey
ABV: 6%
Package type: 500 ml clear glass with crown cap
Recommended type of glass: pint glass or white wine glass
Appearance: it tries to escape the bottle after opening. Pours a hazy deep amber with a huge short-lived white head. Medium to high natural carbonation. Body is medium.
Aroma/Nose: the nose is tannic and smells lovely with notes of buckwheat honey, light caramel, red apples, overripe and baked apples with cinnamon.
Taste: it starts medium with low acidity. Red apples, overripe apples, some earthy notes, light smoky note, cinnamon and a strong astringent taste on the mid-palate. It finishes dry with a strong lingering astringent taste, a light cinnamon flavour, lightly chalky taste, distant lemon and a light note of buckwheat honey.
Overall: when I read that the Medieval Cider is made with honey I wasn’t really looking forward to trying it as I don’t have a sweet tooth. But the review had to be done. So I tried it. And, WOW! This cider is excellent! It starts with a gentle lick of sweetness, which is still within a palatable range to me. Then you experience a strong lingering tannic kick, which I always love in cider, with a touch of red apples. The addition of honey gives extra flavours to an already tasty cider made from cider apples. Well, I’d prefer it would taste a bit less sweet but for all of you looking out for an ultra-tasty sweet cider, this is a great offering. It will go well on a summer afternoon but also in the winter due to the cinnamon flavour. You’re gonna love it! 5/6
Availability: from their online shop and on their organic farm. In Germany exclusively from CiderKultur. In the Netherlands from Ciderwinkel.
Price: Medieval Cider from Highbank Orchards was a sample provided by CiderKultur.
Cider Explorer 
I love the cider color! There are few ciders that are that dark hue that I haven’t enjoyed. It looks like rich tannic bittersweet apple goodness. I’m guessing the honey was added post fermentation as the ABV is pretty low. We have a number of ciders here in the U.S. that add honey either pre or post fermentation. The pre ones can be pretty boozy, like 11%. mmm
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