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The Cidery

The cidery is located at our orchard, meaning the fruit travels the smallest distance possible from tree to bottle. One of the major benefits of this is we can see the trees blossom, the fruit grow, watch it get picked and make its way into the juice press. It’s a full circle process which all occurs in one place, right here on the farm.

Our Cider Makers

Head Cider Maker - Kirk McDonald

Kirk McDonald
Kirk grew up in South Australia and after a career serving in the Australian Navy studied wine making. He’s made wine all over Australia, at places like Lindemans Karadoc as well as for small and large family wineries. Kirk has also spent time making wine for Jacques Lurton as well as running my own winery.  

“I’ve always had an appreciation for the complexity which cider offers. I was recently asked to name my favourite cider (outside of the fantastic Willies range) and I would recommend Domaine Dupont Cidre Triple – it’ll absolutely change the way people thing about cider! 
Cider has so much to offer, it can be complex or simple. There is a style for all tastes. At Willies our core range provides consistency and refreshment and comparing that to our Limited Releases showcase cidermaking techniques and single cider apple varieties. The range is fantastic.  
What attracted me to work with Willie Smith’s? The commitment to the best cider in Australia and the opportunity to blend different apple varieties is exciting, really, nature provides everything a cidermaker needs to make some exceptional drinks.”

Kirk McDonald

Assistant Cider Maker - Nathan Taylor

Awards

Award Winning
The Australian Cider Awards '22
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2022 Gold

Red Hills Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Apple Cider Contemporary - DRY
2021 Lucidity Sturmer Pippen Apple Cider
"Lovely colour, cheese and intense apple on the nose, yeasty apple aromatics, nice level of haze, well balanced, tannins well judged, displays solid mid-palate"

Shop Lucidity

2022 Silver

Red Hills Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Apple Cider Contemporary - DRY
2021 Senescence Keeved Apple Cider
"Excellent fruit: floral and fragrant. Intense tropical fruity esters, with balanced tannins. Generous and voluptuous. Let down a little by its length and complexity; keeping it out of a gold."

Shop Senescence

2022 Bronze

Red Hills Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Apple Cider Contemporary - DRY
Traditional
"Shows a muted nose and palate. Sound, with good sugar balance. Well made"

Shop Traditional

2018 Silver

Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Traditional Cider - Sweet
23 Varieties Apple Cider

2018 Silver

Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Traditional Cider Sweet
Kingston Black


2018 Gold

Bath & West International Cider Competition

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Kingston  Black
"Rich, inviting, spicy phenolic nose. EXCELLENT BALANCE of acid, mid palette fruitiness and soft, bold tannins. Brilliantly executed. Bravo"

2018 Bronze

Bath & West International Cider Competition

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
23 Varieties Apple Cider
"Soft, juicy, sherbet, clean. Needs a touch more complexity and fermented, funky character"

2018 Gold

Tasmanian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
23 Varieties Apple Cider

2018 Silver

Tasmanian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Organic

Shop Organic

2018 Bronze

Tasmanian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Whisky Aged 2017

2018 Silver

International Cider Challenge

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
 23 Varieties Apple Cider

2018 Silver

International Cider Challenge

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
 23 Varieties Apple Cider

2017 Best Cider

Australian Liquor Industry Awards

Willie Smith’s Organic Cider

2016 Bronze

Tasmanian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Whisky Aged Cider

"Cloudy pale straw. Balanced acid and tannin. Intriguing flavours of whisky and vanilla."

2016 Bronze

Tasmanian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
Bone Dry

Shop Bone Dry

2015 Best in Show

Australian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
18 Varieties

2015 Best Cider

Australian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
18 Varieties

2015 Best Australian Cider or Perry

Australian Cider Awards

Willie Smith’s Tasmanian
18 Varieties

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