Constellation
UK, 4.5% ABV
 
As inevitably mentioned elsewhere in these pages, the transformation in the image of cider has been quite remarkable in recent years. The addition of a few simple cubes of frozen water has elevated cider from being the choice of one stereotype to a drink enjoyed by another, possibly more annoying stereotype who – in the adverts, at least – look as if they’d sooner exclaim, ‘Okay-yah!’ than, ‘Oo-ar!’ Take Gaymer’s Original, for instance. A £4million ad campaign featuring a series of bright young things enjoying life to the full made one thing very clear – this ain’t Olde English. ‘As good as it gets,’ claimed the ads, a bold – some might say ludicrous – claim, but full marks for having confidence in their own product. Launched in 2006, the brand is marketed in a chic-but-dull premium bottle, perfect for supping in a faceless trendspot. A relatively new tipple from a very old company, Gaymer’s Original is obviously produced by the Gaymer Cider Company – so, pedantry fans, why is there no possessive apostrophe on the new bottle logo if ‘Gaymers’ belongs to Gaymer? Gaymer still make cider using the traditional pressing methods that they have been using for centuries, and source English apples from their own orchards. Their bottles of Original are not as strong as some other ciders around, but it still tastes as any cider should and will no doubt always appeal to whichever stereotype the advertisers want money from. RM