Producers

Kilmegan Cider

Founded in 2013 Kilmegan Cider is already internationally recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s premium craft ciders.

Irish Quality Food Awards and Great Taste Awards in 2015 were followed by further success in 2016 by becoming the first cider to win an International Cider Challenge. This achievement was eclipsed a few weeks later by the results in the British Cider Championships held at the Royal Bath and West Show in Somerset, England. With more than 600 ciders entered in what is recognised to be the biggest cider competition in the world, Kilmegan Cider won the Dry category and went on to be crowned Reserve Supreme British Cider Champion for 2016.

Each autumn, carefully selected varieties of apples from counties Down, Armagh and Tipperary are pressed using an old traditional Rack and Cloth press at the cidery outside the seaside village of Dundrum in County Down. The juice from these apples is fermented and then matured for up to twelve months before bottling. Using 100 per cent juice in the fermentation and sweetening process gives a natural, clean, crisp finish to all their ciders.

Other than small quantities of sulphites used at the initial juice stage, no other chemicals are used in the production method. Suitable for vegans, all the ciders are gluten-free. It’s not filtered or pasteurised and is naturally carbonated through bottle conditioning. They are stocked in off licences and good restaurants, bars and hotels across Northern Ireland.

Scrumpy-licious!

What They Do

Craft Cider

Products

Kilmegan “Real” Cider 6.8% abv. A 100% pure juice cider. This is a fully dry, naturally carbonated cider. Classic cider notes on the nose with a crisp, clean finish. Perfect with Seafood, Pork, Pasta and cheese. Kilmegan “Farmhouse” Cider 5.9% abv. A 100% pure juice cider, sweetened with late season eating apple juice. Hints of grape and caramel on the nose, soft tannin mouth feel, followed by a soft caramelised apple finish. Perfect with Shellfish, barbequed food and cheese. Kilmegan “Wild Elderflower infused” Cider 4% abv. A lightly carbonated, medium sweet, Cider has been quoted by many as “Summer in a glass. Full sweet apple flavours with hints of honeydew melon, concluding with a subtle floral finish. Perfect with barbequed food and salads.

Awards

Gold Star Great Taste Awards 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 2x Bronze International Cider Challenge 2018 (Dry & Elderflower) 1x Silver International Cider Challenge (Dry) 2019 1x bronze International Cider Challenge (Farmhouse) 2019 Belfast Beer and Cider festival- Cider Champion 2018 Great Taste Award 2020- 2* for apple juice, 1* for Wild Elderflower-Infused Cider

Where To Buy

Wineworks, Saintfield and Newtownards; Neill Wines, Groomsport; Barbican Wines, Newcastle; Donard Wines, Newcastle; Bin 34, Castlewellan; Vineyard, Belfast; Milestone Rathfriland; Dundrum Inn, Dundrum; Balloo Wines, Killinchy. Restaurants include Deanes Eipic, Deanes at Queens, Shu, Grand Central Hotel- Belfast; No 14 at the Georgian House, Comber ; the Speckled Hen, Lisburn; the Slieve Donard, Newcastle; the Culloden, Holywood; the Poachers Pocket, Lisbane; Balloo House, Killinchy, Buck’s Head, Dundrum; Mourne Seafood, Dundrum; Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle; Rayanne House Holywood; Villa Vinci, Newcastle; Brunel’s, Newcastle. Distibutors: JN Wine Crossgar. They also distribute locally themselves.

Address

Kilmegan Cider
40 Kilmegan Road
Dundrum
BT33 0NP
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Contact Information

Telephone 077 5138 0353
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