Triple Gold for Somerset’s Orchard Pig

Orchard Pig partners Neil Macdonald (left) and Andrew Quinlan with their Gold Award winning cider and apple juices.

Notable successes for Orchard Pig - who produce farm pressed Somerset Cider and Apple Juice at West Bradley near Glastonbury - have come in this year's Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

The Guild is the UK trade association for anyone making or selling top quality local, regional and speciality food and drink and Orchard Pig picked up three gold awards with its Medium Sparkling Cider, Apple Juice and Ginger and Sparkling Jonagold Apple Juice .

Said Andrew Quinlan:'It’s the first time we have won three Golds in one year and we’re absolutely thrilled. The Fine Food Awards are a real benchmark of quality, because each product is tasted by several judges, and Gold Stars are only awarded when everyone is in agreement, so we are honoured to have made the grade once more. We may only be two and a half years old but we are getting a reputation for innovation.'

The organisers say that over 6000 products were judged over an intense two-month period.  Before gold is awarded, a minimum of eight experts, often 16, taste, discuss and agree. For two- or three-stars, up to 20 judges must unanimously agree an entry has achieved absolute perfection. Over 350 experts including key buyers, retailers, chefs and food writers blind tasted entries to ensure they are fairly and independently assessed. Every entry starts with 25 points and marks are deducted when faults are identified and constructive feedback offers suggestions to the producers how entries could be improved.

Equally delighted was Neil Macdonald:'It always comes down to the quality of the raw ingredients and we’re improving on that year by year in our orchards.  Our techniques and understanding are getting much better too so its great to see that someone thinks we’re doing it right!”

Fresh ginger was infused with apple juice to make Apple Juice and Ginger - a completely natural product with no added sugar and no concentrates, as are all of The Orchard Pig’s products. 

'Sparkling Jonagold Apple Juice, another Gold Award winner, is a favourite with adults as well as children.  As the first company in the country to make it - people said it couldn’t be done with a cloudy juice - The Orchard Pig is quietly pleased, and smiling broadly,' said Neil.

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