Marvellous Magners (Other Ciders)

Member Name: ian22

Product:	Other Ciders
Date:	26/08/06 (182 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshing

Disadvantages: A bit pricey

I am not a big drinker of alcoholic beverages but do like the occasional bottle of cider. A colleague at work recommended Magners Irish Cider. Although I had heard of Magners, it was not a brand which I was used to drinking because I tend to buy brands like Strongbow and Woodpecker. However, on a recent shopping trip, I spotted bottles of Magners on the shelf so thought I'd opt for one of these instead.

PACKAGING

You can buy Magners in bottle or can format. I chose to buy a 568ml bottle from Tesco which cost me £1.99. The bottle is very traditional-looking. It is tall and made from brown glass, with an eye-catching green and yellow label on the front bearing the Magners name and company's logo. Magners is more than just a cider; it is an original vintage cider, as proudly stated on the front of the bottle.

WHAT MAKES MAGNERS DIFFERENT?

As you would expect from a vintage cider, a lot of time and effort has been put into making Magners taste great. But it's not just about time. Magners Irish Cider is one of the few ciders which can boast a unique blend of seventeen varieties of apples which are all harvested in the company's very own orchards. This clearly shows that they take the cider making process very seriously indeed, and are determined to stave off the competition from rival companies.

THE CIDER MAKING PROCESS

Before I give you my own opinions, let me give you a brief overview of the cider making process.

Before the fermentation process can begin, Magners select and grade the apples. Only the highest quality apples are used and these are then sent for pressing, where they are reduced to pulp and their juices extracted. Incredibly, the same presses used 50 years ago are still used today to make Magners! This shows the company's determination to keep the heritage and traditions of cider making alive.

After the pressing and extraction process, the juices are left to ferment for about eight weeks. They are then transferred to airtight vats where they stay for several months. Finally, the cider is blended for consistency, chilled and carbonated, before being sent out for distribution.

STRENGTH

Compared to other well-known makes of cider, Magners is not particularly strong at 4.5% vol. (many ciders are over 5%). But don't let this fool you. A few glasses can still affect you pretty quickly, so don't get too complacent when drinking this stuff...Believe me..I talk from experience!

MY OPINION

Magners Irish Cider is definitely one of the finest ciders I have ever tasted. In terms of appearance, it looks like any other cider at first glance. It is a deep gold colour with a slight cloudiness. However, if you look more closely, you will notice an uncharacteristic but charming pink tinge.

As you would expect from any cider, it has a distinct appley smell which wafts quite seductively from the bottle, but that's not all. There is also a natural, earthy aroma about the cider. I suppose this has come through during the fermentation process, but it gives the cider a nice unique character.

As for the taste..well this is definitely worth waiting for. It is a deliciously pure flavour with a crisp, refreshing taste. It is not as bitter and tart as other ciders I have tried, but still has a pleasant yeasty, oaky flavour which comes through in the aftertaste. According to the bottle, sulphites are used to preserve the freshness.

In my opinion, Magners is the perfect drink for a Summer's day and is best served chilled because this helps bring out the full flavour. I like it served with ice and a lot of pubs and bars will serve it this way.

My only advice would be to drink Magners sensibly. Although it is not as strong as other ciders, it still has a higher alcoholic content than some beers and ales, so it's best not to overindulge too much!

HOW MUCH..?!

Magners obviously varies in price depending on where you buy it, but as a guide, here are the current prices for Tesco and Asda, as taken from their websites:

568 ml - £1.99 (Tesco)
1 litre - £ 2.69 (Asda)
4 x 500 ml cans - £5.44 (Asda)

There is no denying that Magners is a little on the pricey side and probably more expensive than some other makes of cider. But who minds paying a bit more for such a premium vintage cider..?

CONCLUSION

I am very pleased I bought this brand and will definitely do so again. If you like cider but don't like it too strong, then Magners Irish Cider is the drink to try. It goes well with any meal and is a very refreshing drink, especially in the warm weather.

OTHER INFORMATION

It is produced by Wm Magner in Clonmel, Ireland.

For more information, go to:

www.magnerscider.com

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