Thistly Cross Online

The whole world is turning Ginger..

peterstuart — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:36:00 +0000

Hot Off the Press!

Now, at Thistly Cross we have many friends and let’s hope that remains to be the case as the Cider travels further afield! If you’ve been out and about at events this year in Scotland, you’ve been likely to discover some chilled Thistly on tap in the beer tent. ( It’s all about promoting small makers and well made drink.)

We’re looking forward to bringing in the foremost Craft Cider from the USA – JK’s Scrumpy next year, and are not above championing some of our UK compatriots! On that note, please see the article below. It’s a few months old now and I have been sitting on it, wondering if we should have some fun with the contents…? We’d have a hard time proving that Thistly Cross Ginger was the first Ginger infused cider ever, ever ( first sold at The Sheep Heid Beer Fest, summer 2009 ) and lack the enthusiasm / legal fees to blah de blah. So sit back, read, enjoy and count the typo’s!

( Dedicated to Shona from Stirling who is having difficulty fulfilling her TC Ginger Cider longings..)

Brothers launches ginger cider brand

From The Publican

By Claire Dodd Claire, 24-Feb-2011

Cider brand Brothers has entered the booming alcoholic ginger drinks category with a new cider-ginger hybrid drink. Brothers Ginger Cider – the first drink to combine ginger with cider, rather than beer – uses a base of Brothers Bittersweet Apple with added ginger extract.

It is described as having a smooth flavour with an aftertaste of fiery ginger heat. Managing director Matthew Showering said the product was inspired by a Somerset tradition where pubs would stock ground ginger for drinkers to add to their cider, which would then be heated. It is recommended to be served chilled.

Showering said: “Our customers wanted us to go one step further to see if we could deliver a refreshing ginger flavour but with their favourite cider taste, so we did.

“The flavour fits with our proposition and is relevant, distinctive, fun and exciting and above all delivers something new to the cider category.”

The cider is the latest ginger-based product to hit the market following Halewood International’s highly successful launch of Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer in February 2009. Frank’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer from COS Brands (the company behind Kopparberg), St Helier Ginger Beer Shandy and Hollows Superior Alcoholic Ginger Beer from premium soft drinks maker Fentimans all launched last year.

A Thistly Xmas Gift

peterstuart — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:13 +0000

A Thistlytastic Gift ( for you and a friend..)

At this festive time of charity, generosity and giving, it is important to remember that the best present is the present we buy ourselves. With Scrooge McCider’s Christmas Offer, we will include a free six bottle carrier with every on line purchase from www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk for the month of December. Buy a case of 12 – Gift 6 bottles – and have six left over for yours truly!

FREE 6 BOTTLE CARRIER WITH EVERY ORDER!

Julia — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:32:32 +0000

All orders between now and Xmas will receive a free Thistly Cross carrier which can hold up to six bottles – perfect for a Xmas present!!

Strawberry Red

peterstuart — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:32:28 +0000

Our popular Strawberry Red Thistly will be available in new wee bottles from the beginning of December 2012. If you’ve tried this delicious refreshing drink, you’ll know it packs a super strawberry punch! This comes at a price, though, and we’re hoping that the 330ml bottles will help Thistly Cross Strawberry to find it’s way into a whole number of new venues and pubs. Get in touch if you’re particularly keen to drink it somewhere special…

Grand Cidermakin’ Weather

Julia — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Cool nights – long ( for this time of year) sunny days, perfect Cidermakin’ Weather..

Peter’s Pub for the Day

Jo — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:33:36 +0000

Friday the 3rd of June and summer arrived in Scotland. It turns out it was the only day of sunshine we were to have but it was glorious. We had invited the pubs, bottle shops, delis and restaurants that stock our cider to come down to our Cidershed to see what we do and drink some cider with us. It was our way of saying thank you for their support in making us the company we have become. There was food, cider and Thistly Bombs (The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, is responsible for this creation. Danger). The unofficial title became “Peter’s Pub for the Day”: we have often loitered in others premises and it was our chance to repay the favour!

We cracked open some cask experiments we’ve been playing with to get some real time market research/ be over-excited kids in a sweetshop. Good to get to know our customers, laugh, get sunburnt and find out what we can be doing better for them. The ideas have been brilliant and Thistly Cross will continue to get more exciting and boundary breaking in our conscientious, slightly eccentric way.

Thank you to all who came. It was a great experience for us and one we look forward to repeating.

Post written by Jo.

Cidershed Thoughts

Julia — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:57:21 +0000

Firstly welcome to our site which is painstakingly being built around our everyday activities (today- strawberry pressing, installing cider into a bar, picking up the new bottle shape, talking to exporters about ciders). Over the next few weeks we’re going to tweak the site and make it live up to the stuff that we put in the bottle.

In the interim, here is a date for your diary:

Saturday, 4 June, 2011 at the Cidershed and our farm: The Cider & Beer Fest. Good food, great beer from around the Isle, the cider goes without saying, and an nineteenth century battle re-enactment complete with muskets, red Indians and gunpowder. More to follow…