Slane Cockagee Keeved Cider

Cockagee – Our somewhat unusual name is a revival of the once famous Irish Cider Cockagee first mentioned in 1664. Originating from the Irish language ‘Cac a gheidh’ which translates as ‘goose turds’ and refers to the yellow/green colour of the fruit from the Cockagee apple tree. In the same way that ‘Duck Egg Blue’ is a colour descriptive, ‘Goose Turd Green’ was once a common colour, although I doubt you’d find it on a Farrow & Ball paint swatch nowadays. This once famous Irish cider was often referred to as Champagne Cider and compared to the finest French wines. A description of the Cockagee apple from the 19th Century says…. "A very old variety of Irish origin but it’s real history seems lost. The flesh is yellowish white, firm and crisp. The Juice is moderately plentiful, of an amber colour and a harsh austere taste, and as a cider fruit it has long possessed the highest repute, being sold into the Queen’s household at £10 10s, the hogshead. This apple triumphs over all others in sauce, tarts and pies, as much as it’s juice does in cider."