Magners Cider: How is it made? Why is it called Bulmers in Ireland? Take a look!

We are so excited to include Magners Original Irish Cider in Craft Gin Club’s July 2023 Gin of the Month box! Not only is it delicious served over ice but it’s fantastic mixed with gin too - what would July and the rest of summer be without cider, after all?

That’s why we just had to take a deeper dive into what makes this apple elixir so special. In this feature, you can find out how Magners cider is made, why Magners is called Bulmers in Ireland and some scrumptious ways to drink Magners.

Scroll down to reveal all!

How is Magners cider made?

Magners Original Irish Cider is created using 17 different varieties of Irish apple, all grown in the same orchard in Clonmel, County Tipperary.

The fresh apples are pressed to release their juice and that apple juice is then left to ferment and matured in vats for up to 18 months.

Once the cider has matured to that full flavour we all know and love, it is bottled or canned and sent around the world.

What alcohol is in Magners?

The alcohol in Magners comes from the fermentation of apple juice. During that process, natural yeast eats the sugars in the apple juice and converts those to alcohol and carbon dioxide.

It’s an age-old process used to brew alcohol for centuries.

What percentage of alcohol can be found in Magners?

Magners has an ABV (Alcohol By Volume) percentage of 4.5%. That means that one pint of Magners is 2.6 units of alcohol.

Where is Magners cider made?

Magners cider is made in a town called Clonmel, which is in County Tipperary, in Munster, the Republic of Ireland. That is why it is often referred to as Magners Irish Cider.

Who owns Magners?

The Magners cider brand is owned by the C&C Group. They are an Irish company that was formally known as Cantrell & Cochrane Limited before that, and they were the soft drinks and cider arm of the Guinness and Allied Breweries before that.

The C&C Group specialise in the manufacturing, marketing and distributing of cider and beer across the globe.

What is the difference between Bulmers and Magners?

The only difference between Bulmers Cider and Magners Cider is the name. They are identical in every other way and even made by the same company.

The cider is called Bulmers in the Republic of Ireland and Magners in the rest of the world.

Why is Magners called Bulmers in Ireland?

If you are Irish, you may very well ask, “Why is Bulmers called Magners in England?”.

The cider was originally invented and produced by a man called William Magner in 1935, in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland.

In 1937, William Magner sold 50% of the company to the already well-established cider producer, H.P. Bulmer.

Together they grew the production of their cider and “Bulmers” cider became popular across the Republic of Ireland.

In 1946, H.P. Bulmer purchased the remaining 50% of William Magner’s cider company and remained the company Bulmer's Ltd Clonmel. However, in the 1960s, H.P. Bulmer lost a court case with Guinness and Allied Breweries over a pear cider he had created to rival their Babycham.

As such, H.P. Bulmer had to hand over Bulmer’s Ltd Clonmel to the Guinness and Allied Breweries group.

Guinness and Allied Breweries (now the C&C Group) saw the success of Bulmers in Ireland and wanted to export it to the rest of the world, however, only H.P. Bulmer had the rights to market British Bulmer’s cider abroad.

Therefore, Guinness and Allied Breweries had to come up with a new name for the cider for the international market. They went back to its roots and called it Magners.

And that is why the cider is known as “Bulmer’s” in the Republic of Ireland and “Magners” to the rest of the world.

How do you serve Magners?

The classic way to serve Magners Original Irish Cider is to simply pour it over ice and enjoy.

Once you have given that traditional Magners serving suggestion a try you simply must give our amazing Gin, Cider & Limoncello Mimosa a go.

It’s a stunning mix of gin, limoncello and Magners Original Irish Cider that no cocktail or cider fan will be able to resist. Find the full recipe here…

What flavoured ciders does Magners make?

Magners have a range of ciders. Magners Original is the classic Magners apple cider, of course, but their Rosé and Dark Fruit ciders are worth a try too. They are delicious!

Magners Rosé Cider

With its pink hue and sweet, flavoursome palate, this cider can hold its own against any pink wine or gin.

It’s great served over ice with slices of apple, to garnish, and it’s just as good in a gin cocktail like our Pink Apple Highball. Find the recipe here!

Magners Dark Fruit Cider

Fruity and bursting with fabulous berry and blackcurrant flavours, this jammy cider from Magners is bubbly and luscious and perfect for a hot summer’s day.

Served over ice, it is a real treat!

Where can you buy Magners?

In the UK, Magners cider is available to buy in most major supermarkets, including Tesco, Asda and Morrisons.

Magners Original Irish Cider is also available to buy as part of Craft Gin Club’s July 2023 Gin of the Month box (while stocks last). Check it out, here…