Small-Batch Ciders from the Garden

One of the things we cherish most at Highraven is keeping our connection to family traditions alive, and for us, that starts in the garden. Both of our families are lucky enough to have fairly large gardens, complete with apple trees and a variety of other fruits. In fact, our cider journey began with apples from a small tree in Marten’s parents’ garden, and we’ve decided to continue that tradition by crafting small batches of cider (and cider blends) from family-grown fruit.

Recently, Marten’s sister moved to a small town in the south of the Netherlands, where—lucky for us—there’s another apple tree growing in her garden. Nanda’s parents, who live up north, have an abundance of fruits in their garden, from which we recently crafted our first batch of apple-plum cider. This experimental blend was a fun challenge, and we’re letting the bottles sit for about six months to develop their flavor before we give them a taste test.

Making these small-batch ciders is truly a labor of love. While the process takes quite a bit of time and makes for a messier kitchen than we’d like to admit, we absolutely enjoy the creativity and experimentation that comes with it. There’s something special about using fruit from trees that have been tended by our families for years and turning that into something we can share and enjoy together.

We’re really excited about how these new batches are shaping up so far, but like with all things cider, patience is key. We’ll keep you posted on the results! In the meantime, if you’re curious about tasting one of these experimental batches, don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’d love to share this journey with you.

Until then, cheers to family traditions and new flavors!

– Marten & Nanda