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Even though Magners, the Irish cider brand which is called Bulmers in Ireland but not in the countries it exports to (even though Bulmers is an old English cider-making company - it's something to do with the original Magners joining forces with Bulmers in the 1960s and adopting their name but then realising they couldn't call it Bulmers if they exported it, so reverted back to Magners - and there was a Mr Magner in the first place, in case you're interested) refuses to sponsor the Collings & Herrin Podcast in the accepted way of giving us money to have their name on it, they do keep teasing us with free alcohol, even though we are both trying to drink less. And they sent me a box of Pear Cider, which purists might call "perry" but that reckons without the stupidity of members of the public, who understand the words "pear" and "cider" but not any other words. I first tasted this on my recent birdwatching trip to Norfolk, mainly because I saw the picture of it in a pint glass with loads of ice in it, we were in an impulsive mood and it was to be our first drink of the evening in a village pub after a long day's birding.
The idea of having a pint of beer with ice in it is so bizarre - only the other week I ordered a bottle of beer in the BFI bar and they gave me one with a glass that had ice in it, thus revealing that the beer was not chilled; I refused the drink on those grounds - but I am a sucker for low-temperature liquid refreshment. The pint of Pear Cider tasted good that night in Dersingham. So, I was happy to get this unexpected Pear Cider windfall: 12 pint bottles. A barbecue yesterday seemed the perfect place to try it out, so I took the box along. (I owe Richard six bottles of Pear Cider now, of course, or cash equivalent.) Anyway, here is the Pear Cider news:
The Pear Cider tasted nice, chilled, and with loads of ice in it. This way, it's kind of self-diluting, a bit like alcohol squash. I drank a few bottles of it during the afternoon and early evening yesterday, and it suited a sunny English afternoon among friends and family. Other guests looked at my glass full of liquid and ice and asked me what it was, and I told them. In a few cases, I convinced them to try one, as if I was working for Ian Magner or Ian Bulmer. But it doesn't taste like having a pint. It doesn't really taste like an alcoholic drink at all. It tastes like pop. Watered-down pop. Now, this might lead you to imagine that it's like an alcopop, and that it sneaks up on you and gets you drunk without you noticing. It doesn't. At 4.5% it's pretty weak, and, what with all that water you consume simultaneously, I can confirm that even after a few pints of it, you are not drunk.
So, it was pleasant to drink, and sociable, and looked nice, and sounded good with the ice cracking in the glass, but it left me feeling disappointingly sober at the end of the afternoon. And yet unable to drive home.
They should market Magners Pear Cider that way: all the inconvenience of alcohol, but none of the effects. I wonder if they'll send us any more? (Magners didn't ask for anything in return for the free 12 bottles; I just thought I'd review it anyway, as I should be working.)
posted by Andrew Collins @ 10:34 AM
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24 Comments:
I wonder if Richard Herrin was asked , and then turned down, an offer to do the Magners adverts?
(Mark Watson is very good in them, but I feel ashamed to say this is the first time I've seen him on TV.)
Ah yes, completely failed to make the connection between Mark Watson and Magners (that advert's really working on me, obviously). It's probably the first time most people have seen Mark Watson on TV - that's why cool, lesser-known comics say yes to adverts.
Actually, pear cider and perry are two different things. The former being cider flavoured with pears. The other a proper drink.
Also, although they are the same company both Bulmers and Magners are available in bars round these parts (and quite a few pubs I've been in in elsewhere). Dunno the difference.
While Im at it: Much as I'm not a fan of Quentin Letts, I think you're wrong about the connotations of 'Gorbals Mick'. 'Govan Mick', I'd maybe have gone with you.
Pedanthony,
Glasgow
I'll bow to your greater local knowledge, Pedanthony, but isn't the Gorbals a traditionally Irish Catholic enclave (or was)? I've been to Govan. First time I'd encountered the chip shop with bars over the counter and a little gap through which to exchange money and chips. I expect it's all been "regenerated" now, has it?
Govan's still waiting for the promised goldrush. Despite the BBC moving in there (well, greater Govan). It was one of the big contradictions that the Catholic area had the Rangers ground and Celtic were East-end (when the teams were founded, not so now).
Im aware of no real denomination segregation in the Gorbals. However, I do know it's been used throughout my life as a shorthand for the mental reputation of Glasgow. Largely, I suspect, cos it sounds funny. (OK, and yes, it WAS completely mental.)
Would Richard be more willing to advertise Bulmers if they changed a consonant?
Of course, if the perception outside Glasgow is otherwise, it does show Letts up for what he is.
@Mr Goodtaste
A career in post-watershed advertising beckons.
Magners pear might be quite nice, but the apple one just tastes like every other cider out there, which isn't a good thing.
I don't think any drink should have ice in it.
anthonyqkiernan:
"Actually, pear cider and perry are two different things. The former being cider flavoured with pears. The other a proper drink."
Magners themselves, and their entry on Wikipedia, call it a
'perry (marketed as "Pear Cider")'
It's no wonder people are confused! If the people who make the stuff can't make up their minds, the rest of us have no chance.
Hi Andrew
I'm still working at The Swan (yes, it's me again, hello), and we sell Bulmers (apple and pear) by the bucketload. We're not allowed, due to some strange legal reason I'm not clear on, to sell Magners.
I don't have a problem with Magners/Bulmers at all, but I'm amazed at the power of advertising. People have come in, ordered a bottle of Magners, and when told we don't sell it but do sell Bulmers, have actually left in order to find somewhere that does sell it. Assurances that Bulmers is exactly the same cider from exactly the same company have fallen on deaf ears. Just goes to show the effect of aggressive marketing. It's like the iPod of the drinks industry.
@Rick
This reminds me of the Volic Challenge adverts currently running. The dubious benefits of drinking your own body weight in water aside, I'm sure you'd benefit just as much by taking the 'Tap Water Challenge'.
Rick, to your comment earlier re Magners and Bulmers being the same....This is categorically not the case in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Magners is Bulmers in the Republic of Ireland and the 2 are absolutely identical in all but name. In GB, Magners is in direct competition with Bulmers. Magners is owned by Irish based C&C Group whilst Bulmers is owned by Scottish & Newcastle's parent company Heineken UK.
I think Magners is matured for well over a year and made from mainly fresh pressed apples, where as Bulmer sis mainly concentrate and in and out in a couple of weeks. I know what I would prefer....
I'm sure you do 'anonymous'.
Magners is far too sweet. Would rather have one of the generic barrelled ciders TBH. And, I aint too keen on them.
Apparently there aren't enough perry pears grown to sustain any large scale commercial market of the stuff. (According to Oz Clarke and James May - officially 10% more reliable than the Wiki.) Westons do an organic one(flat, comes in a massive wine box type thing) that if you're really lucky to live near a decent real ale pub, they might have occasionally.
Mmmmm. Wish I wasn't at work.
Apropos nothing; I once went for an interview where the agency wouldn't tell me anything abotu the job but covered my travel for me to be able to catch a CAthal Coughlan gig in Ireland and a Handsome Family gig in London. When I got there it was probably the pinnacle of the evil corporate empire to my (at that time) thinking. One of my favourite interviews ever:
"So, Mr Kiernan, why do you want to work for Basterds Inc?"
"I don't. See you later."
They offered me the job.
I've reached a year of not drinking booze. You're not helping, Collins.
@Anonymous
Blimey... I stand corrected! It seems the situation is far more confusing than I thought!
I know what I'd prefer too, but then again I've had an aversion to drinking cider ever since an unfortunate projectile vomiting incident brought on by over-indulgence in Strongbow at New Year when I was 17. The smell of cider never fails to bring up the memory. Working behind a bar doesn't help...
If it's strength you want, you should go for 'Brothers' pear cider. They make it in traditional 4.7% or a brilliant 'festival strength' 7%.
You see hundreds of people carrying around 2 litre plastic bottles of the stuff at Glastonbury. Really does make for a most amusing afternoon! (Provided it's not muddy. You don't want to be smashed on cider in thick mud. Not a good look).
And we are not even touching on the whole Blackthorn saga that is gripping the westcountry at the moment...
Blackthorn? Ugh! Green Goblin is the way forward. Well in the absence of a really intriguing scrumpy at the local beer festival. Cider is a good drink. How sad that so many are put off by previous intense vomiting incidents. I must admit though, I was surprised to find myself liking it served with ice after years of drinking it 'naked' (or, in my yoof, 'black') but more shocking things have happened at sea.
That reminds me of a beautiful dish (If only there were photos that did it justice.)
Perry jelly with summer fruit
Recipe here, with a little discourse about perry
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/perry-jelly-with-summer-fruits-and-elderflower-icecream-452817.html
There's a photo of the dish here, but it's way too small (scroll down a bit)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/menu_final_winnerstwo.shtml
Here's a pic by a Flicker user who hasn't mastered the difficult art of food photography, but to whom we are in debt anyway:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_m_b/3190900463/sizes/l/
If there were a better image available I could show you that it looks like summer on a plate, in jewel form. If I could find perry I'd make that dessert.
For the classic tale of the Gorbals area I'd recommend 'No Mean City' by Alexander McArthur and H. Kingsley Long. Anyone read it?
apropo of nothing, 'the incredable human journey' ep 3 28.10 in, carving of a Lion man!!!!
backtoblack
Just to add the confusion, Magners/Bulmers are also responsible for Ritz-- which they market as "The Perry, made from pears, naturally"...
At my first year at university I developed a taste for Woodpeckers cider with ice(don't know if they still make it) and was widely pilloried by my mates for putting ice in alcohol.
It seems I was just ahead of the curve by some 7 or 8 years.
I think I may be entitled to some sort of recompense form the Magners/Bulmers empire.
If you are listening Bulmers people.If I don't get a 12 pack of that pear stuff by this time next week you will be hearing from my solicitor.
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