Which Cider Comes Thirst?

As part of a rotation on features during my training scheme I carried out a number of consumer tests. This one was hooked on the fact that fruit cider sales had soared in the past year. I collected a mix of own-brand and branded cider for Gilly Goolden to taste test.

WITH brewers warning of a beer shortage as stocks of vital CO2 gas run low, thirsty Brits are switching to cider during the heatwave - with Aldi and Lidl reporting sales on the up.

THEA JACOBS asked TV drinks expert Jilly Goolden to test 12 fruit ciders and to mark them out of five for fruitiness, and pick the best of the bunch with an apple score.

Brothers Toffee Apple (Tesco, £2): "The smell of toffee and cream hits you from a couple of paces. It tastes curiously like liquidated toffee apples with sweet caramel notes, so a four for fruit. It's a perfect dessert. I love it but couldn't finish the bottle."

Rekorderlig Botanicals, Rhubarb, Lemon and Mint (Waitrose, £2): "Smells like a dentist's mouthwash, tastes like a sore throat remedy. A lemony buzz only merits a two as it reminds me of a lozenge."

Kopparberg Mixed Fruit (Tesco, £2.20): "This is a syrupy pink colour and has an intense liquidised fruit pastilles scent, you could smell it a mile off. Its heavy-handed fruit taste that I'd rate a four drowns the drink. Quite sickly."

Alska Nordic Berry (Aldi, £1.49): "It is the colour of cherryade and although it claims to be all-natural it seems to come from a sweet counter. The alcohol content is totally concealed by an over-intense dollop of sweetness. But top marks for its fruit taste."

Old Mout (Tesco, £2.20): "This pastel lemon-coloured drink smells a little like Play-Doh. It's chunkily fruity - three and a half - as you can definitely taste the kiwis but they dominate the lime. There's a nice after-taste."

Waddlegoose (Waitrose, £2.29): "A pretty shell pink colour and smells a like malt loaf. It's zippy and refreshing. Apple leads in the flavour medley while blackcurrant is the standout berry. I'd give it a two for fruitiness. It's refreshing and very summery."

Sotma Mixed Fruit (Lidl, £1.49): "Neon pink and it smells like fruit salad past its best with a heavy dollop of tinned pineapple, which is not in the ingredients. So a four for fruitiness. It tastes much better - it's similar to fruit pastilles but with a little chemically sting in the tail."

Bulmers Crushed Red Berry and Lime (Asda, £1.81): "Looks like a vivid melted ice lolly but smells a bit like melted plastic. Fresh and zippy to taste, it has a powerful berry ripple running through and a tart lime finish, worthy of a fruity four."

Alska Passionfruit (Aldi, £1.49): "A pale lemony colour and smells like cream for a baby's bottom. It's fresh and - dare I say it - cidery, with a very pure passion fruit addition. A lovely drink but it's not a perfect marriage, so two and a half for fruit."

Smirnoff Raspberry and Pomegranate (Asda, £2.03): "Smells like pure bubblegum and is the colour of pink nail varnish. You can definitely taste the raspberry and feel the vodka. Full marks for fruit. It hits the spot for me but a bit sweet."

Rekorderlig Passionfruit (Tesco, £2.20): "Water white and smells like traditional cider with a hint of blueberry muffin. A two for fruit. Drier than some of the others, it is smooth and refreshing. I can take or leave the passionfruit, so it's a little 'so what'."

Sotma Strawberry and Lime (Lidl, £1.49): "The colour of a nice bottle of rosé wine but it smells like strawberry ice cream. It is very fruity, a solid four, yet it is more like a chemical interpretation of strawberries. Reminds me of an adult version of Tizer."