Introduce Kentish Pip to our readers.

Kentish Pip, the family-run craft cider business, combines traditional skill with modern innovative thinking, taking consumers on a journey of discovery into the world of craft cider making. While remaining true to its heritage, Kentish Pip is a brand that plays far from the rule book, continuously evolving to meet the demands of the contemporary cider-drinker looking for exciting flavours and quality craft brands.

Produced by the Mount Family who have been growing apples for over 100 years and producing high-quality cider since 2012, Kentish Pip ciders are distinguished by apple variety and cutting-edge production techniques which all take place on-site at Woolton Farm, near Canterbury in Kent. The farm was founded by Herbert Mount, who started growing fruit over a century ago. Fast forward to today and it has diversified into a thriving mixed crop farm and successful drinks business.

How do you set yourself apart from other UK Cider brands?

Cider always sold itself on tradition, rustic and artisan, and also pigs for some reason.  For us none of this was relevant; for us it was about great quality drinks that people actually want to drink and enjoy drinking. We have brought in different styles and flavours distinguished by apple variety and quality natural ingredients, presented in a format 330ml can which was how we wanted to drink them

The cans are so unique! It’s great to see innovative branding in the cider market, what inspired the move to this style of can design?

We wanted each label to reflect the style and inspiration behind each drink.  Skylark was our first sparkling cider, we were newbies in the cider game and feeling ambitious dreaming of where things might go.  The illustration is from the perspective of a young person sitting in an apple tree gazing out at the starry night sky with endless possibilities ahead. Craftsman, our original cider, shows the gnarled hands of a real craftsman.  The artist, Johnny, was sat at the kitchen table with Mark Mount (Kentish Pip’s founder) and picked up on this. A lifetime of work on the farm is shown in his hands.

What’s the most common challenge you face in producing a drinks product in the UK?

There is a lack of knowledge and appreciation of quality cider in the general public.  The law permits very low-quality ciders with as little as 35% juice made with imported concentrated juice and packed full of artificial flavourings and silly amounts of sugar. These flood the marketplace and are marketed as real authentic products, sold in high volume, which can depreciate the public view of cider.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day is never typical – that might be a cliche but it’s pretty true. Being the MD of a small tight-knit team means mucking in wherever needed. If I’m not in the office, you’ll find me in the cidery in my wellies helping out with pressing. No two days are ever the same, so early starts are often helpful to get through emails and admin tasks. The business works seasonally; being based on the farm means your day can be dictated by the weather, by machinery, by the fruit, before you even get into scheduling. We’re constantly developing our products in our quest to be the best we can be, so there’s a lot of team discussion throughout the day on everything from recipes to branding.

What can we expect to see over the next couple of years from Kentish Pip Cider?

We don’t want to give too much away but customers can expect innovation. A big part of the Kentish Pip brand is the artistry that goes into everything we do. Cider is an art form, not a formulaic product, and the guys in the cidery constantly work to push the boundaries beyond what’s expected. We currently have a team competition to create the newest limited-edition batch; the most innovative (and tasty) wins. There are some seriously interesting ideas (and mixes) being blended in there so watch this space…