Purbeck Cider is a signature taste of Dorset. It is the vision and passion of Joe Hartle, Cider maker and farmer who launched the company on his family’s farm at Kingston near Corfe Castle. He makes the finest premium cider using 100% single pressed British apples from some of the county’s long forgotten trees, including those on their orchard. No artificial flavours, additives or artificial flavours are added to produce a range of naturally delicious ciders with the flavours that every apple had intended.
Curious to learn more Laurence Civil met with Ben Maguire their Head of Sales to talk Purbeck.
“Initially I tried a pint of their Purbeck No. 10 after a long dog walk in the New Forest,” says Ben, “which most certainly whet my appetite to know more. I then met founder & MD Joseph Hartle for a walk around one of the beautiful orchards down at the Cider Farm and from then I was hooked. There’s sustainability at their core, an incredibly passionate team and a stunning range of products.”
Joe is very much a man focused on the craft of cider making whereas the more extrovert Ben makes him the perfect spokesman for the cider. Joe is passionate about the brand and is totally committed to create it as a Dorset legacy.
Joe is Dorset passionate committed to a sustainable growing range. His parent’s own Purbeck ice cream which is run from the family farm.
I tasted each of their three Dorset range, home to their iconic premium ciders.
Dorset Blush is a softly sparkling with a British hedgerow berry kick. Pink coloured, On the nose aromas of sweet apple and a hint of the hedgerow. In the mouth sweet crisp apple followed by subtle summer berries. A refreshing daytime outdoors drink.
Dorset Draft is mouth wateringly moreish and a deliciously crisp medium cider with sweet apple notes balanced by a culinary influence. I enjoyed the sharp clean taste, easy comfortable drink that doesn’t dominate the palate.
Purbeck No 10 was originally created in 2017 to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary. Flavours were blended to deliver a hint of toffee apple on the nose with a bittersweet yet rounded taste and clean caramel finish.
After swallowing each three, my mouth felt as fresh as before drinking.
I then progressed to tasting three of the Character Ciders
It’s a business where raising sheep and making cider are intertwined. Muddy Scamp was named after Joe’s first sheepdog. It’s made for the traditional cider enthusiast with a deliciously natural, bittersweet apple taste with surprisingly smooth fresh woodland taste. Its gentle in the mouth and I found it paired nicely with a mild Indian curry.
Dandy Dab a single variety of Dabinett apples that makes a well-balanced cider with an unmissable depth of flavour. Bubbly golden I found this to be a summertime comfortable drink.
Katy & Perry was my third taste, a medium sweet combination of Katy apples and Perry pears. A fruity smell that tasted blind was reminiscent of a white wine. It’s one of Ben’s success stories as its currently being poured on British Airways short haul flight throughout Europe.
If you fancy a glass as you fly through the sky here is the link. BA High Life Shop | High Life Cafe Food & Drink Purbeck Katy & Perry Cider 330ml | Duty Free Goods Online | Buy On Board Online | BA Speedbird Café | BA High Life Shop Highlifeshop.com.
The Kings Hill Collection is their latest innovation. Using their cider to create a wine similar to Champagne in 75cl bottles. They used On-leaf Dabinett, a well-known cider apple that gives a good depth of flavour and rounded finish. Fermented using the wild yeast from the leaf and bottle aged using methode Champenoise, a second fermentation to create the carbon dioxide to give the juice a subtle dry sparkle with the earthy notes of the Dabinett. This is a limited-edition small batch production.
The Purbeck experience doesn’t stop with what can be poured into a glass. Travel down to their Lower Bushy Farm. Nestled on the edge of their working farm is also home to our orchards.
In early 2021, their Taproom gave them the chance to showcase all of their produce Originally it was designed to house their press. It then dawned that it would be a nice opportunity to open it as a bar for visitors to taste the cider in its home and get an insight into how the apples are pressed. Surrounded by stunning countryside with an abundance of bridleways, cycle paths and walkways to explore, it’s a beautiful part of the world for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.
The new apple press will greatly increase productivity this year, being capable of processing eight tonnes of apples an hour. Previously it was just one tonne an hour.
Finally, they held their first ever cider festival on Sunday 13th August 2023, named Cider Sundae because of its family links with Purbeck Ice Cream, which was also selling strongly at the event.
Purbeck, the perfect Dorset cider
The Purbeck Cider Company Ltd.
Lower Scoles Farm
Kingston
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 5LG
Web order and wholesale enquiries:
admin@purbeckcidercompany.co.uk
01929 481 500
The Dorset Cider Farm
Lower Bushey Farm
Corfe Castle
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 5JP
shop@dorsetciderfarm.co.uk
07892 952 404
A discovery journey with Laurence Civil of his best tasting experiences 
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