I recently met the farm's owners, Julie and Rod Calder-Potts, who gave me an insight into their business – producing fantastic apple-based products, from juices, to ciders and their award-winning Highbank Orchard Syrup. Their ethos is plain to see - they adhere to strict organic standards and don't use any chemicals on the apples, or herbicides or chemical fertilizers.
After the apples have been harvested, they are then used to produce a variety of products, all of which are made on location at the farm. They have also recently launched Ireland's "smallest legal distillery" where it produces an organic apple liqueur drink, with an apple gin, apple schnapps and orchard spirit to follow this year.
After our tour of the farm and distillery, we settled down for a cider tasting in the comfortable environs of the Highbank Café.
They produce four cider catering to a variety of tastes – and all delicious in their own way. The Proper Cider caters for the diehard cider-enthusiast, which has no added sugar, sulphates and is gluten-free. It's a crisp, refreshing treat. The Medieval Honeyed Cider would appeal to a sweeter tooth, while the non-alcoholic Driver's Cider is fanatically thirst quenching. They also have a Vintage Dessert Cider – a strong, sweet cider which is a great after-dinner option.
The Highbank Orchards Organic Farm is located in Farmley, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny. For further information call 353 56 772 9918.
For stockists visit highbankorchards.com
Twitter: @highbankorchard
Facebook: www.facebook.com/highbankorchards
Sarah McIntyre
