"AppleCider" news and stories

Red cider apples. Photo: ipresents, Flickr.

• Would you reinvent your French onion soup with ... apples?
• Only in the wine world could evaluate a bottle that's covered in fungus to be a hot, high-priced commodity. This time around: bottles of Armagnac Vieux and Clos du Griffier cognac from the 1700s and 1800s.
• The perfect perks of fall: drinking, cooking and delighting in fresh apple cider straight from the mill.
• Product pick: Dr. McDougall's Chunky Soup.
• Recipes: Maple Pepper Bacon Strips With Boston Lager Glaze, Garlic Cheese Popovers, Salmon-Potato Cakes, Provence Fresh Herb Sauce for Dipping and Saucing

A new listing at Waitrose I believe - Somerset Pomona is a rather special apple based spirit made in .. wait I am sure you can guess.

Cider maker Julian Temperly brought two stills in France (Josephine and Fifi) and, taking skills from the Normandy Calvados makers and Scottish whisky producers, produces this blend of apple cider brandy and vintage apple juice. The apples are grown in the company's own orchards and blended with vintage cider. After two years maturing in small oak barrels the Pomona is bottled. It is excellent with a good cheddar.

Price at Waitrose is £7.99 for 50cl bottle but you can also order online direct (along with many other apple based brandies and drinks).