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Henry Weston’s
Because there’s a lot to get through, I’ll structure this post by individual reviews, then my final thoughts.
Henry Westons has a classic look to it. If you asked someone to describe Cider, they’d probably give you a description similar to Henry’s.
It’s a lovely Golden colour. Like other Ciders I’ve reviewed, I liken it to a urine sample where you haven’t had a water since 9am and now it’s 7pm.
Henry’s is lightly sparkling with delicate bubbles floating up and gently sitting on the surface of the Golden Lake.
Standard protocal dictates I shove my nose in and give it a good sniff.
And boy did I regret the big sniff I took.
The smell of ethanol choked me out. If I had some warning, it would have been fine and I’ve certainly smelt some worse Ciders.
As I take my, now prepared, second take, I’m reminded of festivals.
Festivals, especially wet ones, are a fester of smells. Usually mud, body odour, terrible open-roof trough toilets and always Cider. Festivals are always memorable and usually pleasant to remember – almost nostalgic. This is how Henry Westons makes me feel. It’s an okay smell, it’s nothing groundbreaking, or nose-breaking (almost), but it’s nostalgic to me – and I like feeling nostalgic by the way.
As I lead the aroma down my nose hole once again, I’m met with apples, rather obviously. Not quite fresh, crisp apples, but perhaps older ones. Older in a good way. Mature apples that carry a few stories with them.
As most of us know, smell plays a big part in the overall flavour of what we eat and drink. The tasting experience of this Cider follows suit from the smell.
It’s quite a sharp, medium-dry start. You can definitely taste the alcohol in this one. This is followed by quite a pleasant fruity finish. It’s quite interesting. The Cider almost changes personality. It goes from being somthing that’ll put hairs on your chest, to something pretty juicy.
It’s definitely a clean, better second half to the palate and if I had any historical football (Soccer) knowledge, I’d use the help of a famous match to get this metaphor to across.
I’d also say it’s like an apple pie, but the apples are slightly aged. Not dirty or rotten apples, that would be an insult! But as previously mentioned, mature, well experience apples.
Yes, Henry Weston’s is a vegan friendly cider.
Yes, Henry Weston’s vintage is gluten free.
Woodgate Vintage cider
For those of you who don’t like reading, don’t worry, the Woodgate section will be a lot shorter. This is because I was surprised at how relatively similar they are.
As you can see from the picture, the Ciders are pretty much identical. Henry is on the left, and Vintage on the right.
Both sit with a proud Golden hue. Vintage does however have less bubbles. So if you loves Bubbles, as much as Bubbles in Pixar’s 2003 Classic, Finding Nemo, then you’ll want Henry.
On the nose, Woodgate is more gentile, hosting a weaker smell of alcohol. Taking a big waft didn’t give me any shock value, or much value.
The mouth has a similar tale to the waft intake. Because it smelt less strong, it tasted less strong.
It was way more watery. This made it drinkable, but for the wrong reasons. Don’t get me wrong, there was a traditional apple quality to the taste but it felt diluted.
Yes, Woodgate Vintage Cider is a vegan friendly cider.
Woodgate vintage cider is gluten free!
To conclude, Henry Westons just feels like there’s more love and care put into it, and that’s what I had hoped. If Lidl, or any supermarket was able to pull off the exact same taste as Henry Westons, I would have been disappointed.
Henry Westons is an absolute classic. Yes, it’s not the nicest, or most complex Cider, but you know what you’re getting, you feel comforted and safe. For a Cider that’s under £2 a bottle, it’s a bargain.
So Henry Westons may not be the King of all Ciders, but it is the Daddy of them.
Woodgate, I salute you for trying, and for almost £1 a bottle, I’ll shake your hand. You gave it a good go and you know what, I’ll drink you again, I’m sure, but for now…I’m drinking Daddy.
If you love Cider as much as us, you can learn everything there is know about cider here in our Cider 101 guide.
Henry Weston’s
8.2/15
Woodgate Vintage
7.3/15
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