The unique character of a single variety cider can be really distinctive and fascinating but relatively few apple varieties are considered well balanced and complex enough to make a really good SV cider.

One of the varieties that can truly excel in such a role is Kingston Black, a bittersharp cider apple with a natural balance of fruit, tannin, acid and sugars.

It’s not an easiest tree to grow, a strongly biennial in fruiting, prone to common apple diseases, the apples themselves are small and don’t usually fully ripen until November, but the cider they make is worth the effort!

Ultimately, it’s all about the maker working out what the best thing to do with a certain variety is; for the kind of cider they want to make, and how that season’s fruit grows. Indeed single variety ciders were the most prized in the 17th and 18th century heyday of cider in Britain...

Selection of 3 includes: 

Naughton Cider - Homage to Hogg 2023 - Fife, Scotland

Little Pomona - Kingston Black Pet Nat 2022 - Herefordshire 

Wilding Cider  - Kingston Black 2022 - Somerset