About Us

Mac’s Ciderie was established in 1995 with the planting of a cider orchard on Slieve Gullion, Co Armagh.
The first trees planted were from Brittany (France) as these were assumed to be suitable for the Irish
maritime climate. Over time traditional Irish apple varieties were added to the orchard, along with
cider varieties from England. The orchard is approximately ¾ of an acre in size and has always been grown

under organic regulations.

Initially our knowledge of cider making was very basic. We were founder members of the Armagh
Cider Producers Association and collectively over time the quality of the cider improved. In 2006 the
association was recognized by Customs and Excise (UK) and as such was entitled to produce and sell
7000 litres of cider without paying duty. While this was not enough to run a commercial ciderie, it
was enough to determine whether or not the cider maker could walk the walk.

Cider is a traditional alcoholic product produced all over the British Isles which goes back thousands
of years. Fermented apples produce approximately 7% alcohol which sterilized water. As long as
the alcohol was greater than 3% the water was safe to drink and the alcohol itself also provided
energy. Thus people performing hard, labor intensive tasks, could fuel themselves with diluted cider.

However, traditional cider makers did not have access to sugar so the taste of traditional cider was
very different to the factory ciders of today. Traditional cider is like black coffee, an acquired taste.
But like black coffee, the taste experience is much superior when sugar is excluded. Humans will find
sugar under a rock and lock onto the sweetness to the exclusion of everything else. Regardless,

our intake of sugar has increased year on year since the 1600’s hence the sweetness in the

modern factory ciders.

Macs produces four ciders to reflect the modern range of tastes.

The traditional dry cider does what it says on the tin, no prisoners.

The 401 cider (Belfast Scrumpy) is a recipe from the early 1900’s when the Bramley apple was
available for cider making. The Bramley yielded significantly more apples than other varieties in
production and therefore became a major component of Armagh cider. The Bramley is an acidic
apple and this was reflected in the taste. However, cheap high alcohol cider mixed with Belfast
‘drinking’ water kept people working, refreshed and energized. Mac’s sweet cider is back

sweetened with apple juice to raise the sugar levels in the cider for those who need it.

Mac’s Lyte is a 3% cider (diluted with the necessary amount of apple juice required to reduce the
alcohol). This produces a very pleasant refreshing drink after a bottle of which you can still return to
you work; (after one bottle of the other ciders, your grounded!).

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Mac’s Ciders can be purchased in the Vineyard on the Ormeau Rd Belfast & Murphy Bros, Carrickasticken.