The team at Dungarvan based Legacy Craft Cider are celebrating after scooping an impressive four awards in two prestigious accreditation schemes in the past number of weeks.
- Two gold stars award for Legacy Irish Cider – Medium at the Great Taste Awards
- Silver Blas Na hÉireann award for Legacy Irish Cider – Dry
- Bronze Blas Na hÉireann award for Winter special Legacy Mulled Cider
- Gold Blas Na hÉireann award for Longways Elderflower Cider also produced by Liam in Legacy’s Cidery.
Two Gold Stars at the Great Taste is a massive achievement for the team. The awards are the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme and Legacy was the only Irish craft cider to be awarded two Gold Stars.
The Great Taste awards saw more than 14,000 food and drink products from 109 countries assessed by 500 industry experts over the course of 89 days in London and Dorset.
Judges for the Great Taste Awards 2023 included more than 500 food writers, chefs, restaurateurs, and industry experts so this is a real testament to the quality of craft cider being produced by Liam McDonnell and the team.
The Blas awards, where Liam won three awards, are the biggest blind tasting of produce in the country and the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC, is now recognised as an international industry standard, and in a very competitive Craft Cider market it is a huge achievement to come away with a Gold, Silver and a Bronze.
Speaking after receiving the good news Liam McDonnell, owner of Legacy said: “We are just delighted with these awards. To receive this recognition from two world-renowned accreditation award schemes is a huge boost for me and the team, particularly James O’Donoghue our production manager, who is so passionate about every blend we bottle.
“I am the third generation of my family to work in the apple industry, my grandfather Wilsie McDonnell grew apples in West Waterford in the late 1950s, and my dad Pat McDonnell became a doctor in the study of apple production and developed his own Coronet miniature apple tree, so this award is a celebration of over 70 years of apple expertise in our family, and of course a massive thank you to all our customers for their continued support.
“Many people do not realise that craft cider is one of the most sustainably produced alcoholic drinks, we make our ciders like a good wine – fermented and matured for six months just like the good wine makers do, so you can enjoy your glass of Legacy knowing that you are making a difference.
To learn more or to purchase award-winning Legacy cider see www.legacyirishcider.ie
