A Taste of Tradition: Higher Colston Farm Apple Cider Vinegar

Growing up on our small family farm, apples and cider have always been at the heart of my life. Whether I was sitting in the cool shade of a field freshly dotted with bales of hay guarding the bottles of cider, or being frantically walked around the garden as a tipsy three-year-old after sampling that very nectar a bit too eagerly, cider has always been woven into the fabric of my life.

But it wasn’t just the cider that made our farm special; it was the community that gathered in the cider shed every Sunday at noon. Local farmers and neighbours would come together, sharing stories and laughter, making the challenges of farming a little lighter with every glass of cider. 

When COVID put a pause on our gatherings, the barrels of untouched cider started to accumulate, and that’s when the idea for Higher Colston Farm apple cider vinegar took root. 

Our cider apple orchard, filled with traditional West Country apple trees, is a living tribute to my grandfather. These trees, with their twisted trunks and vibrant blossoms, have been carefully nurtured through organic practices, free from sprays and harmful chemicals. As a result, the orchard's rich and diverse ecosystem thrives, flourishing in its natural state. 

The story of our orchard began in the 1970s when my grandfather, a man with a profound love for the land and its fruits (namely cider apples), decided to plant these trees. At a time when many were tearing out their orchards in favour of what were then considered more profitable ventures, he saw the value in preserving this piece of rural heritage. His vision was not just about the apples, but about the community, the shared experiences, and the tradition of cider-making that these orchards represented.

Today, we carry on his love of the orchard, with not just scrumpy cider, but with Apple Cider Vinegar too. But before cider vinegar, there must first be cider. 

Our apples are carefully picked and washed before being crushed in a traditional Dennings apple mill, a fine example of local craftsmanship built just five miles away at the end of the 20th century. The crushed apples are then pressed using a double-screwed oak-beamed press, a technique that extracts the purest juice, rich with the flavours of our heritage apples. This juice is fermented and aged in old oak barrels, where it develops its distinctive, robust scrumpy character.

The cider-making process takes about six months, though we usually allow it to age for a full year before starting the vinegar process. The cider is then transferred from its barrel into another oak barrel containing a small amount of vinegar and our cider vinegar mother. 

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar are well-celebrated and incorporating apple cider vinegar into your daily routine, whether as a tangy addition to salads, a refreshing morning tonic, or a natural remedy, can bring a multitude of benefits. It is believed to help regulate blood sugar levels, promote healthy weight loss, and enhance heart health. Its natural antibacterial properties make it an excellent choice for boosting overall wellness.

I firmly believe that our apple cider vinegar is more than just a product; it’s a connection to our heritage, a commitment to sustainability, and a celebration of the timeless tradition of cider making.