Ciderniks is a small cidermaker based in Kintbury in West Berkshire. Ciderniks’ ciders are made with pure apple juice with nothing else added apart from a special yeast to ensure a reliable fermentation of the juice.

Ciderniks’ ciders are made with pure apple juice with nothing else added apart from a special yeast to ensure a reliable fermentation of the juice, especially when the weather turns colder. The strength of the ciders produced is, therefore, dependent on the percentage of sugars in the pressed apples. Wherever possible, apples are sourced locally. The mixture of apples used will produce a distinctive taste each year. Most juice will be allowed to finish fermentation. This tends to produce a drier cider – those who prefer a sweeter taste may wish to try adding a small amount of sugar before drinking.

Ciderniks is part of the West Berkshire Cider Makers.

The current ciders available include:

• Combe Raider (ABV 6%) made from a mixture of apple varieties, including some cider apples. Combe Raider was pressed in the autumn of 2008 and is currently maturing, although initial tastings show a well developed, refreshing cider in the making!
• Yellowleg (ABV 6%) is a dry refreshing cider, with a hint of citric, made from a mixture of apples sourced in Inkpen. The name is derived from the old nickname for the Inkpen clayworkers and reflects the colour of the workers' legs after a day's work in the clay pits, rather than anything else more sinister!
• Yarlington (ABV 7%) is made from a single variety cider apple, Yarlington Mill, and was made in 2005 from apples sourced from a certified organic orchard near Leominster. Yarlington has a surprisingly dark colour and a distinctive taste – you’ll either love it or hate it, but the long maturation has produced a medium cider with a soft taste.
• MXD (ABV 6.5%) is a medium dry cider, a blend of Yellowleg and Yarlington which keeps some of the distinctive taste of Yarlington, but is a little drier.

Ciderniks, 7 High Street, Kintbury, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 9TJ