Their story
Prior's Tipple is produced by Isaac Nixon from Keepers Cottage on Stanway Hill, in the Cotswold village of Stanway, Gloucestershire. Each autumn, fruit is picked by hand from neglected orchards in villages around Stanway, pressed on a traditional screw press, and left to ferment with wild yeasts before slow ageing. The cider is not certified organic but is made from 100% undiluted, unsprayed apple juice with no added sulphites or artificial yeast, beyond a small amount of sugar. Alongside cidermaking, the business carries out orchard restoration work, from planting and tree selection to pruning and management of old orchard sites across the region.
No orchards of their own; fruit is hand-picked from neglected orchards in villages around Stanway. The business also does orchard restoration and management work for others.
What they make
- Prior's Tipple Cider medium/dry, bottled, 6.5%
- Vintage Cider dry, aged, blend of vintage bittersweet varieties, 7%
- Draught Cider medium/dry, still, cloudy, 6.5%, 25L keg
- Bottled Perry sparkling, 7%, 750ml
- Draught Perry still, light, 7%, 25L keg
Visiting
No visiting or shop hours published; sold through pubs, farm shops and delis rather than direct farm sales.
Where to buy
- Hillers Farm Shop, Alcester Stockist
- The Fleece Inn, Bretforton Stockist
- Broadway Deli, Broadway Stockist
- Chadbury Farm Shop, Evesham Stockist
- Millets Farm Shop, Evesham Country Park Stockist
Available online via a third-party retailer, Cideronline.net; sold through around 20 pubs, farm shops and delis across the Cotswolds, plus a few in the South East and South West.
Their events
Attends regional festivals including the Worcester CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival, Pershore Plum Festival and the Golden Cross Cider Festival.