Entries have opened for Sandford Orchards’ 2023 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards, offering aspiring cider makers advice, guidance, and guaranteed on- and off-trade listings.
The Moons Cider team, winners of the 2022 award
This year, the competition is open to cider makers making up to 50,000 litres a year. The closing date for applications is 28th February.
“We created the Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards three years ago to support the future of our precious UK cider industry,” said Barny Butterfield, chief cidermaker at Sandford Orchards.
“We aim to seek out Britain’s most talented cider makers and provide them with invaluable exposure, mentoring, advice, and technical help, as well as guaranteed listings in both the on- and off-trade.
“Winning this award provides small-scale cider makers with the help and opportunities that they need to progress their business to the next level!”
The 2023 prize includes:
- business strategy mentoring with Barny
- a retail listing at Darts Farm, Devon
- on-trade listing with one of The Stable restaurants and The London Cider House
- £500 to spend with equipment and consumables supplier Vigo Limited
- mentoring from Sandford Orchards’ cider makers
- and a Sandford Orchards winner limited edition cider.
Two silver winners will receive a £200 voucher to spend with The Bag in Box Shop. Moreover, everybody who enters will receive thorough, detailed, actionable feedback on their entry.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of expert judges. “It was a real honour to be able to taste some of the more forward thinking and progressive cider makers at last year’s Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards,” said Tom Oliver, owner of Oliver’s Cider and Perry and one of last year’s judges.
“The amount of discussion that ensued between the judges was a great indication of the quality of the cider, but also of the many aspects that cider makers need to cover.
“They must want to grow, whether it is in size or quality, must give great attention to labels, both legally and design wise. They must leave the judges feeling that they really do want to ‘make a go of things’. If you think, as a maker, this is you, then this is the award to go for.”
Barny added: “I am so proud that Sandford Orchards has been able to make these awards a reality. It feels great to be able to give something back to the industry that has given me so much.
“Bringing cider makers together is always brilliant for sharing ideas and dreaming up plans which we all hope will bring the joy of cider to more and more people. By supporting the energetic future of cider across the country, we hope to reach out to curious wine, beer, and spirit drinkers, and grow the love for this marvellous drink.”
• To enter, and find out more about the awards, visit sandfordorchards.co.uk/cider-awards/
