Masham cider-maker wins first slingshot prize

Kingsley Ash of Thornborough Cider, near West Tanfield, received the very first Breakthrough Cider Maker Award from Barny Butterfield chief cider-maker at Sandford Orchards, the Devon firm that organised the competition.

Mr Butterfield said: “The Breakthrough Cider Maker Award is a slingshot prize to a cider-maker that the judges feel has the kind of promise, purpose and potential to go to the next level.

“The winners of these awards benefit from priceless help on the journey: mentoring, advice on strategy and branding, technical help with cider production and guaranteed listing in both on and off trade. This is an award with the kind of bankable bonus that doesn’t grow on trees!”

Thornborough makes small batches of dry sparkling cider from local apples using traditional techniques.

Mr Butterfield added: “Dry cider is harder to make well because sugar is so helpful at ironing out imperfections, so when dry cider is good, it’s brilliant!

“Kingsley Ash should feel rightly proud of his contribution to cider so far, and pretty excited about where he can take it.”