It’s a FAMILY affair
Little wonder Armagh became known as “The Orchard County”. It is here that Mac Ivors Cider has its roots.
Our farm was established in 1855 in the townland of Ardress. Our cider takes its name from our Cider Maker, Greg Mac Neice’s grandmother Annie Mac Ivor.
Greg’s father Sammy still works in the Mac Ivors orchards. The family work both orchard and cidery in a sustainable way. Plant and wildlife diversity are central to their ethos, as is encouraging the preservation of old apple trees that act as an effective carbon sink.
Making Cider with Heart and Soul
Here at Mac Ivors, we love apples. Cider making is all about the apples and maintaining their delicate flavour and aroma through the fermentation process. It is about taking different apple varieties and producing a balanced blend that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
Together with our local growers, we choose not only what varieties we pick for Mac Ivors Cider, but crucially when they are picked for optimum ripeness and how they are handled at harvest time.
Culinary apples
Armagh’s famous Bramley apple gives a crisp bite to our cider.
Cider apples
Michelin, Dabinett and Harry Master’s Jersey are all types of bittersweet cider apples grown on our farm. They are highly astringent but impart a rich depth in a cider, as well as tannins for a long finish.
Dessert Apples
Heritage varieties like Worcester Pearmain, Laxton Fortune, Lord Lambourne and more modern varieties such as Elstar, Golden Delicious and Jonagored give our cider a light, fresh finish with their sweet, fruity flavours.
Our People
Making great cider takes great people. We are lucky to have a team of passionate people who love to make great-tasting cider. Let’s raise a glass to them!
Our Process
Our cider making process is beautifully simple. We grow and pick the best apples and squeeze out all that sweet juice using our big shiny press. We then add natural yeast to the juice and let nature do the rest, turning our farm pressed juice into delicious cider. When the cider has matured for at least six months we blend it and package it so that it is ready for market.
ECO CONSCIOUS
MacIvors not only produces exceptional cider but also contributes positively to the environment. This dedication to green practices reflects their mission to create a sustainable future for cider making.
Cider & Food
Cider and food are a match made in heaven, after all, cider is apple wine. The natural fruitiness and crisp finish of Mac Ivors works well with everything from pork belly to delicious pizza. Who would have our thought our Medium cider would work really well with a Thai green curry?
