New yard development on the farm is complete

Our yard has finally been smartened up. We think you’ll agree it looks great! We are now planning to hold regular events here to make full use of its loveliness, the first of which is National Apple Day Party on 20 October 2018. Click on the link for more info.

Very definitely the ‘before’ photo

A very lovely new shiny yard

Those apples won't pick themselves!

We have two orchards on the farm heaving with apples and they’re ready for picking and pressing. Can you help us? All volunteer apple pickers will be very welcome and will be treated to soup for lunch and a free Saxby’s Cider t-shirt as a thank you for your help.

Please contact us on cider@saxbyscider.co.uk if you are able to spare a few hours.

Apple picking times and dates we are booking now!

Monday 24th September 9 am - 12.30 pm
Monday 24th September 1 pm - 4.30 pm
Tuesday 25th September 9 am - 12.30 pm
Tuesday 25th September 1 pm - 4.30 pm
Wednesday 26th September 9 am - 12.30 pm
Wednesday 26th September 1 pm - 4.30 pm
Thursday 27th September 9 am - 12.30 pm
Thursday 27th September 1 pm - 4.30 pm

Lunch will be at 12.30 pm - 1 pm for both our morning and afternoon volunteers

'Bucket for a bottle' is back in 2018!

We are after your apples again this year and you can play your part in next year's Saxby's Cider production.

This is Simon. Simon joined us in September and is in charge of pressing this year. And he wants your apples. Bring them to the farm from September 24th and as long as we’re still pressing we’ll take them. This will be until approximately the end of October.

Here’s what to do:

1. Pick your apples - any varieties will do apart from crab apples. You’ll know when your apples are ripe and ready because they’ll start to fall from the tree or will come off the branch easily when gently twisted.

2. If you would eat the apple, we want it. A little bruised is fine, just no rotten apples please.

3. Bag or box them up. Please use breathable containers otherwise the apples will rot quickly.

4. Bring them to the farm as soon as you can after picking. We will be accepting apples during our shop opening times which are Monday to Saturday, 10am – 2pm.

5. You’ll find a big, wooden apple crate outside our shop on The Cider Yard, Grange Farm, Farndish, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7HJ.

HERE’S WHAT WE’LL DO

1. Fill our bucket with your apples.

2. For every full bucket of good, rot-free apples you bring to us, we’ll give you a 500ml bottle of Saxby’s 3 Point 9 Cider.

Saxby's Cider win more great awards in 2018!

The original and best! Saxby's Original cider has won a Great Taste award in 2018. The judges said it had "a light, crisp taste" which is high praise since many highly respected cider making experts deliberate over the entries.

Saxby's Rhubarb cider has now won a Great Taste Award in 2017 and 2018. And with comments such as "really nice fresh, prickly rhubarb flavour" with a "tart, pungent nose" you can see why!

Introducing the new Saxby's Cider 'The Cider Hog'

Say hello to our new mobile bar - The Cider Hog. This is an original 1957 Dodge 500 and its previous life was working on an apple farm in America. It's a real beauty!

We have 12 dispense taps and a fantastic cellar and cooling system which means we can keep on pouring you lots of delicious pints of Saxby's Cider at some great events around the country.

Give us a shout if you'd like us to bring The Cider Hog to your event and spread the love for Saxby's Cider: cider@saxbyscider.co.uk  01933 353666

---

Saxby's Original Cider wins a national drinks award

We are very proud to announce our Original cider won gold at the Quality Drink Awards in 2017 presented to Philip at the Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane in London in November 2017. Our cider beat an entry from the UK's largest independent cider maker!

Three Great Taste Awards for Saxby's Cider

They say good news often comes in threes, and that's definitely true for local cidermakers, Saxby's Cider. Based at the family farm in Farndish near Wellingborough, Chief Cidermaker and owner Philip Saxby and his team are currently celebrating a trio of Great Taste Awards - often described as the 'Oscars' for fine food and drink.

Saxby's Rhubarb Cider

Saxby's Plum Cider

Saxby's Limited edition Cider

To make the 2017 Awards, Great Taste Judges, who are experts from the world of food and drink, blind tasted 12,500 products over 62 days. The national winners are people who genuinely care about the quality and taste of the food and drink they create. And that's certainly the case with Saxby’s Cider.

"Saxby's Cider is pressed each Autumn right here on our farm. We have our own orchards, there's no rushing - just carefully selected English apples, slowly matured and expertly blended.

Our Rhubarb cider was described as 'nicely balanced' and our Limited Edition cider as 'full flavoured'. The Judges particularly liked our Plum Cider which was awarded a 2-star award. The Judges said it was 'crisp, refreshing and very drinkable'. We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

All our cider is made with love. We like to think you can taste the difference, and we're extremely proud to have not one but three of these prestigious Great Taste Awards."

A fantastic Rhubarb Gin Fizz cocktail

How to make Rhubarb Gin Fizz Cocktail courtesy of The Carriage House in Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire. Its truly delicious, but don't just take our word for it. 

50ml Warner Edwards Distillery Rhubarb Gin
25ml Lemon Juice
15ml Sugar
Drop Grenadine
Top up with Saxby’s Rhubarb Cider

Garnish with Grapefruit, Lemon, Rosemary

Enjoy!

For more information on The Carriage House, click here.

Saxby’s Cider new trailer bar’s debut at Althorp Food and Drink Festival 2017

It was an exciting weekend for us all on the farm as we took our sparkly new trailer bar out for its very first trip. We are now able to serve chilled sparkling ciders and still ciders on tap for the first time. Look out for us a other events later in the year, such as Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and the Foodies Festival at Alexandra Palace in London.

Photograph courtesy of Charles Ward Photography.

Northampton Chef, Adam Church’s 'best gravy ever' made using Saxby’s Original and Plum Cider

Thank you to Adam Church, chef and co-owner of Bread and Pullet British Tapas restaurant in Northampton, for this amazing recipe for gravy. A delicious addition to your Sunday (or even Christmas) lunch, or serve with individual Yorkshire Puddings as Adam does in his restaurant.

Bread and Pullet Saxby’s Cider Gravy

6 white onions, finely sliced
2 bottles Saxby’s Original Cider
2 bottles of Saxby’s Plum Cider (gives a nice sweetness and richness)
1 sprig thyme
1.5 litres beef or veal stock (can be bought from a farm shop, we make our own)
1 tbsp redcurrant jelly

Instructions

1. In a heavy based deep pan, sweat off the onions in 2 tbsp of oil, until soft and translucent for about 20 minutes.
2. Stir in the thyme.
3. Add all the Saxby’s Cider.
4. Reduce the cider and onions by half.
5. Add the stock again reduce by 1/3.
6. When the gravy is reduced and shiny, stir in the red currant jelly and then you’re left with the best gravy ever!

Click here to find out more about the Bread and Pullet.

Visit them at:
176 Wellingborough Road
Northampton
NN1 4DZ