Fowey Valley Cider

Victorians once took spring boat trips up the river Fowey to see the valley in apple blossom, and this is one of the few orchards left from that era. Twenty-five years of cidermaking have gone on here, all of it from fresh West Country apples, alongside a craft distillery in the same Lostwithiel building. The distinguishing detail is that the spirits are made from their own alcohol rather than bought-in industrial stuff.

Cider comes first, including Castledore in 330ml bottles that pours and pops like champagne, but the range runs a long way past it: gin, vodka, one, two and five year brandies, eau de vie, pommeau, limoncello, rum from Caribbean molasses, creme caramel liqueur and Foy Gold single malt Cornish whisky finished in a cider brandy barrel. The shop and tasting room sit above the cidery. Use Google Maps, not satnav, which sends you to the wrong place.