Magner's cider or the Emperor's New Clothes?

[Globalti]

We decided to buy a bottle of this to see what all the fuss is about. The label claims it is made from a blend of 17 different apples - industrial apple slurry in other words? After a couple of mouthfuls I threw mine down the drain; it has virtually no flavour apart from a sulphury taint from the preservative, it's almost flat and worst of all it has a worrying orange colour. Presumably it is drunk on ice to disguise the fact that it doesn't really taste of much. The best description we could think up was alco-pops crossed with Irn-Bru. Truly disgusting and now I read on the web that sales have slumped - I wonder why?

When you search for reviews it's obvious that some of the reviews on Ciao were written by marketing executives working for Magners.

Anybody else tried it?

 

[longers]

I tried it once and came to the same conclusions you did - especially about the ice to disguise lack of flavour.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I love good cider, its almost the only alcoholic beverage I drink in summer. I most certainly do not drink Magners. It bears as much resemblance to cider as tea does to dog snot. It could only have been developed to sell to spotty teenagers with more money than taste buds. As they seem to take ice with anything, flavour is completely superfluous and an unnecessary expense for the producers.

 

[domd1979]

On the subject of bottled cider, how long does it keep for...? I've got a random bottle in the cupboard that's probably been there for 5 or 6 years now...!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Ah sure it'll be well off now. I'll take it off your hands for a small consideration

 

[domd1979]

Its a bottle of Minchew's... 8.4%...

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Lucky man domd1979. I think the answer to your op lies here: http://www.minchews.co.uk/cyder.htm

 

[Fnaar]

Magners is evidence that advertising sometimes works... who the f*ck drank cider with ice before? Where was the Irish cider industry? I had never been aware of it! Tchoh!
Mind you, I'll drink anything, me, so a glass of Magners is OK by me....

 

[HLaB]

I like a pint glass of Ice with my Magners, its really refreshing but I not fond of too many and I guess its best when you are thirsty; I prefer Guiness for a session. BTW Magners is called Bulmers in Ireland.

 

[Fnaar]

I like a pint glass of Ice with my Magners, its really refreshing but I not fond of too many and I guess it best when you are thirsty; I prefer Guiness for a session. BTW Magners is called Bulmers in Ireland.

Don't Bulmers also make woodpecker cider?

 

[longers]

Great link Gerry, on-line Cyder ordering come next pay day? Yes sir!

 

[domd1979]

http://www.minchews.co.uk/products.htm - Yarlington & Stoke Red, 2001 vintage - that's the stuff. I might have to consider treating myself to cracking it open at some point then!

Bought it on-board a train at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway whilst sampling some top haulage (37215 for any cranks...!).

 

[surfgurl]

See if you can get some Brothers cider. It's sold in bottles in some of the big supermarkets. Lovely stuff, especially the festival strength, about 7%.
We've got a couple of cider farms nearby. I've just started working at a pub in town which serves cider from one of the local places. We have to use different glasses for the cider as it scratches the glasses.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Aspalls is my favourite, but difficult to get round the wilds of Lincolnshire. Watch the "premier cru" version though. For some reason, I fell over having indulged in it.

 

[Rob S]

.The label claims it is made from a blend of 17 different apples

If your chicken nuggests bag label said they'd come from 17 different chickens you'd steer well clear!!! Irish cider my arse!!

Bulmers pear cider is nice though