About Us

The Temperley’s arrived at Burrow Hill in the 1960’s and began a life-time’s work of restoring and planting the ancient cider orchards around the farm. The families ancestors had been making cider in the village of Kingsbury Episcopi since the 1770s. Burrow Hill Cider and The Somerset Cider Brandy Company were born from Burrow Hill’s 300 year old cider making legacy.

Close-up of a weathered doorbell next to a brick wall and a sign that reads 'Please Ring for Cider' with an arrow pointing to the right.
Two ripe apples hanging from an apple tree branch in the orchards at Burrow Hill Cider Farm in Somerset.
An old photo of Julian Temperley, founder of Somerset Cider Brandy & Burrow Hill Cider, leaning on a black table, holding a glass, with a distillation apparatus and a wooden barrel in the background.

1960’s - Current Day

Apples are the starting point for everything we make and so we believe it is vital to know their origins. It has long been recognised that England has three 'vintage' cider apple areas where the soil and climate creates apples of a superior quality. The terroir of the orchards around the farm is acknowledged as one of these three unrivalled areas. The other two areas, Wedmore and Baltonsborough, are also in Somerset – the heart of the England's artisan cider world.

The art of blending the many different varieties is key to the art of both cider and brandy production. The cider makers use their skills to adjust the blend of fruit to ensure the final drink has a balanced and consistent flavour and is of the highest quality.

In 1989, we were granted the UK’s first ever full cider distilling licence. We have been distilling cider into Somerset apple brandy ever since, reviving an ancient craft of the West Country. 

Half of our cider is set aside for distilling. The resulting clear spirit, known as Eau de Vie or ‘water of life’, is trickled into small oak casks to mature into brandy for a minimum of three years. Our Somerset Cider Brandy is currently the only spirit in England to have a Protected Geographical Indication, or PGI.

We also make award-winning liqueurs and a range of fine ciders including an ice cider and perry. Alongside the cider orchards we grow 20 varieties of perry pear, Morello cherries, plums, elderflowers, quinces and lavender on the farm. The lavender attracts bees and is distilled for its essential oils for MAKE skincare. 

At Burrow Hill we are a small team, everyone works across all areas of farming and production. Many of the team have been working on the farm for over 20 years.

Matilda Temperley CEO of Somerset Cider Brandy & Burrow Hill Cider stands among piles of apples, with some apples falling through the air, during apple harvest on the farm.

Matilda

Julian Temperley in one of the apple orchards at Burrow Hill Cider Farm surrounded by apple trees with ripe red apples and green leaves, on a sunny day.

Julian

One of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider standing in a lush green orchard with blooming trees and pink blossom flowers on branches, under a partly cloudy sky.

Andy

One of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider smiling while talking on a landline phone inside a rustic store with wooden shelves and wine bottles.

Laura

Diana Temperley kneeling next to a small tree in one of the cider apple orchards at the Somerset farm, with more trees and fields in the background.

Di

Two women inspecting stacked wooden barrels inside a warehouse at Somerset Cider Brandy.

Paula & Truly

One of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider standing in front of a large pile of harvested apples outdoors, with a weathered building and blue sky in the background.

Nick

One of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider stands in an apple orchard surrounded by fallen apples on the ground, with a tractor in the background under cloudy skies.

Mitch

One of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider standing in a large outdoor apple washing station with water spray, surrounded by piles of red and green apples.

Matt

Four of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider in in a warehouse among stacked barrels pose for a photo, with one sitting on a barrel and the others standing or sitting around her.

Paula, Matilda, Emma, Sarah

A group of people stand next to the Cider Bus, an icon of Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Farm, and an iconic part of Glastonbury Festival.
Julian Temperley of Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider stands next to vintage copper distillation equipment in a distillery, holding a lever.
Visitors to Somerset Cider Brandy / burrow Hill Cider Farm with their dogs, enjoying the orchards.
One of the team from Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill Cider standing in front of a tractor filled with apples in an orchard on a foggy day.

Jason

A group of ten people standing and sitting on a large pile of apples in front of a green- and black-painted metal barn at Burrow Hill Cider Farm
Child walking through the orchards of Burrow Hill Cider Farm in Somerset with flowering trees and bright sunlight.

Sustainability

Cider Brandy is demonstrably the most sustainable brown spirit in the world when made from apples grown on traditional orchards. It uses less water and less energy than comparable spirits and orchards are a priority habitat because of their huge environmental benefits. Burrow Hill Cider and The Somerset Cider Brandy Company’s vision is long term, sustainable and small.
Read more.

Painting of a man and woman about to kiss, with a branch bearing red apples and green leaves overhead, set against a gradient blue and pink sky background.

Artist Collaborations

We have been fortunate enough to collaborate with many fine artists over the years, often trading art for cider. These include:
Paddy Mounter
Hilary McManus
Damien Hirst
Dame Elisabeth Frink
Patrick Reyntiens OBE
Sir Peter Blake

See more…