Don Kavanagh is the editor of Thirst magazine.
"Apples be ripe, nuts be brown. Petticoats up, trousers down." That old Sussex folk song echoes around my mind whenever I think of cider.
I've written before about how much I love cider and I still think it is one of the most under-rated drinks around. Certainly there are more ciders on the market now, but I'm not sure people are drinking enough of them.
Perhaps it's image. Cider had a bad reputation in Britain, for example. It was cheap, strong and therefore a staple at any gathering of bench-dwelling winos. But that's a million miles from where it is now.
With so many brands it can be tough to decide, so why not try some? The English Corner Shop in Victoria St, Onehunga is a treasure. It imports farmhouse ciders from Britain and you can try them before buying, offering the chance to get some idea of which style you prefer.
Similarly, the Cider Shed just outside Warkworth is another gem. Well worth a visit for its cafe and fruit and vege shop, it stocks a great range of cider, including one they've made themselves.
The important thing is to try them, though. Drinking one and deciding that that is what cider tastes like is a mistake, much like sipping a bad pinot gris and deciding you don't like any white wine.
With flavours that cover every element of the spectrum from bright, fresh apple juice to dank barnyard straw, there's something for everyone.
Weston's Organic Pear Cider, $8.99
Brilliant English perry, with hints of smoke and flint on the nose over pear skin. The palate is more about pear flesh, and the sweetness is balanced by the natural acidity. A great example of how good pear cider can be.
Magners Original and Magners Pear Cider 568ml bottle, $7.65; Magners Original 330ml bottle $17.49 for a four-pack.
The one that kick-started cider's renaissance, this is classic stuff. It has a complex savoury apple nose followed by sweet red apple flavours and a crisp green apple acidity, wrapped up in foaming bubbles. Incredibly likeable and drinkable.
