Cider

You will find all of your favourite cider on Bottle Stop as well as some award-winning homegrown Australian and international products for the lowest price anywhere, guaranteed. We don't set the prices for our alcohol; we just find the lowest ones out there and match them. If you see any of our available cider range that we currently stock somewhere else for a cheaper price, then we'll match that price. That's a promise. Get the cheapest cider online with Bottle Stop and get it delivered direct to your door. It couldn't be any easier than that. We know, because we're trying to be the easiest and the cheapest alcohol delivery service in Australia.

If you already know your cider and what you like to drink generally then use our personalisation service and let us know what tickles your fancy. We'll specifically curate your online shopping experience to reflect your preferences and suggest some all-time favourites as well as some up and coming products we think you'll want to try. Your preferences can in fact, we encourage you to explore more than just our range of cider. Choose your favourite beer preferences, selecting something like boutique brewery or Australian beer producers, and we'll suggest some excellent ones to try. The same goes for the rest of our range including gin, tequila and mezcals, rum, brandy, whiskey, vodka, liqueurs, and everything else we have available to order online.

If you're not sure about your cider yet but you're keen to learn more and get your hands on some fantastic examples of this superior fruit flavoured beverage, then read on and we'll give you a brief history of where it came from, what we have available for you to try and how best to enjoy it.

What alcohol is in a cider?

Cider is one of the most ancient alcoholic beverages. It was originally made from tart and bitter apples that one day must have been exposed to some natural yeasts and yielded a much mellower taste experience as a result. It's hard to know exactly how cider creation was stumbled upon given the fact that apple varieties number easily into the thousands, with no two types exactly the same unless cloned for purpose. Although the origins are lost to history, the recipe thankfully isn't and Europe and America have both been perfecting this dazzling drink for centuries while other international producers are fast catching up.

The Greeks and Romans drank apple cider by the pint and even kids were given it for breakfast in the very olden times. It was usually safer to drink than the water and it's traditionally quote low in alcohol. The reason for this lies within cider's fermenting process. To make cider, you need to collect a lot of your chosen base fruit (traditionally apples and pears), mash it and pulp it, fold it into big squares called cheeses and then squeeze your folded pomace of every drop of juice it contains in a giant cider press. Then you need to collect all of the fruit juice that dribbles out of your press, introduce it to compatible yeast strains which will feast on the natural sugars in the fermented fruit and then once all the sugar is eaten and your gluttonous yeast have nothing else to eat, they will die off leaving you some much less sweet fruit juice, some ethyl alcohol and a few bubbles.

The process of fermentation is the same for almost all alcoholic beverages. Grapes are much higher in natural sugars than apples so when apples are fermented there is less for your yeast to feast on. The result is a naturally lower alcohol content than that found in fermented grapes. In fact, apple cider was traditionally made in apple orchards from the fruit too bitter to eat straight from the tree. Apples also have a high tannin content and various levels of acidity which all help to develop complex aromatics and notes in the final apple cider taste. It's also not traditionally a sweet tasting drink so to get that extra kick, most apple cider makers will add extra sugar for sweet cider as well as other flavourings like strawberry, blueberry, watermelon and blackberry into their final product. They can also do this to increase the alcohol content, reintroducing yeast with the added sugars to produce more bubbles and more ethyl alcohol.

In North America, cider actually refers to non-alcoholic apple juice with the alcoholic kind called hard cider in case someone accidentally tries to offer it to their kids for breakfast again. It's usually drunk in North America hot or at least warm and with a stick of cinnamon in it for sipping through lazy afternoons in autumn. Everywhere else in the world cider is the strong kind with some alcohol content in it.

Are ciders healthier than beer?

Cider, being usually a sweet drink, will be quite high in sugar when compared to other beverages so just because the primary ingredient in cider is fruit and they taste fruity, this unfortunately doesn't mean that they're necessarily healthier to drink than beer. However, the Somersby Lower Carb Apple Cider contains less calories than their traditional tipple so if you're looking after your diet sheet you might want to plump for a lower carb variation of this scintillatingly delicious drink.

When it comes to enjoying your favourite cider there are a few ways to ensure that you're exploring every avenue that your cider experience can really offer. Most ciders are like beers in that they're prepared and ready to be drunk straight from the bottle or the can. You can, however, get creative and we've put together some excellent starters here to get your taste buds watering.

A mimosa is traditionally made with a sparkling wine like Champagne, some orange juice and some triple sec but a cider mimosa swaps out your wine with your favourite sparkling cider instead. The rest of the recipe remains the same and you can choose what you like to garnish. Strawberry traditionally pairs well, which is why Rekorderlig is such a popular style. You will want a crisp tasting cider for this recipe to maximise the fruit combinations and leave a tingle on your tongue.

Sangria is another classically fruity cocktail that a cloudy apple cider or a pear cider is ideal for. We have plenty of pear ciders available that are perfect for this sweet summery treat. You'll also want a Pinot Grigio, some lemonade, lime juice, fresh mint leaves, sliced strawberries, oranges and limes. Put all of these ingredients in a fancy jug because why not make it an event? and let the flavours infuse. After about 15 minutes pour in your chosen cider and then serve over ice.

You're ready now to begin your cider discoveries. Our entire range of cider is available to order online and you will be getting the lowest price available because we guarantee it. Find anything we stock for a cheaper price somewhere else and we will match it. That's a promise.

Bottle Stop

Whatever you love to drink, you'll find it available to order online at Bottle Stop and conveniently delivered to your door anywhere in Australia. If it's the best beer from your favourite producers or boutique operations carefully crafting their own signature tastes, you'll find it at Bottle Stop. If you're a wine drinker, browse our extensive selection of wineries, varietals and blends. Our selection of spirits and liqueurs include the big name producers that everybody knows as loves as well as tasty varieties sourced from the finest producing regions around the world.

Our entire range of alcohol is available to order online for the lowest prices. We guarantee it. We don't set our prices; we just match the lowest ones on offer found anywhere in Australia. If you find our stock listed for a lower price anywhere else, then we'll match it. We also offer online-only prices that no one else can match across all of your favourites.

We are home to Australia's largest collections of craft and boutique producers which means that our range of beer, wine, spirits and liqueurs include selections plucked from the finest producers tinkering away quietly, developing the best craft beers, the smoothest whisky, in both local and far-off places that the big name alcohol distributors have never heard of. If you let us know what you like to drink, then we can personalise your shopping experience on Bottle Stop. We'll suggest recommendations that we know you'll love based on what we're drinking and loving too.

We are always open so you can enjoy ordering online 24/7. Delivery covers all of Australia with expected arrivals in the capital cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane within 3 to 5 business days. We are always looking to improve our delivery options and are constantly improving arrival times in more capital cities so you can get the best tasting beverages that you love delivered even faster.