We’d like to introduce you to Barny Butterfield, Sandford Orchards’ founder and chief cider maker. He’s somewhat of a cider superhero in our eyes (although he’d shrug off any such suggestion). Just like Peter Parker, Barny’s alliterative name is purely a front for his alter ego, Cider Man! Powered by his passion for this fabulous apple nectar, Barny is a man on a mission to bring the joy of real cider to the world and preserve its future for generations to come!
Deep Roots in Devon
Barny grew up in an orchard in Devon. His family home was in the middle of one and it seems that his heart has been firmly rooted in apple orchards ever since. Cider is the classic Devon drink that has been produced here for centuries. There was a time when every farmer and small holder had an orchard and made their own cider. In his youth, Barny was surrounded by this local industry that blends magic and history with science, he was inspired to make his first ferments in 1994, whilst still at school. In 1997, he headed to Birmingham University to study English and Philosophy, with a view to a career in journalism, but found it hard to leave Devon behind for good.
The Accidental Cider Maker
In 2000, Barny succumbed to the pull of the glorious Devon countryside and returned to Crediton. Whilst working on a farm here, he started to develop his skills in a hobby that kept himself and his friends in quality cider. Tapping into the local wealth of cider knowledge, he refined his recipe and the demand for his homemade tipple grew and grew. At this stage he was making cider in a shed as a top up to his day job, because he just couldn’t buy cider that was as good as the drink he was crafting. Eventually, it was clear that either his hobby or his day job had to go and he made the decision to put all his efforts into becoming a full time cidermaker and cider business owner.
Building a Business
Barny established Sandford Orchards in 2002 and, with limited staff (mostly family and friends paid in cider) and equipment, he started his ‘professional’ cider making career. Although the cider now needed to help pay the bills, Barny never compromised on his commitment to make top quality cider and in 2010 he won CAMRA Champion Cider of Great Britain. This threw his fledgling business into the spotlight and this recognition gave Barny the confidence to invest in and expand the operation.
Bringing History Back to Life
In 2014, Sandford Orchards took over the Ciderworks in Crediton, the oldest working cider works in the UK. Here Barny was able to breathe life into an historic building that was at the heart of the country’s cider industry during its heyday. The business grew beyond recognition and now produces over 7 million pints of cider per year. The fruits of Barny’s labour are stocked in pubs, hospitality venues and retail outlets across the country and beyond but Barny has never compromised his obsession for authentic cider. Sandford Orchards still presses real cider apples to produce fresh, not concentrated, juice that is cold fermented and allowed to mature slowly to create fabulous cider.
Preserving the Future of Cider Apples
You might think that Barny’s story ends there with an award-winning, booming cider making operation, but that is not enough for the man who has cider running through his veins. Barny’s expertise and enthusiasm for cider are second to none and he wants to use this to ensure that generations to come can continue to enjoy ‘proper’ cider. As part of this vision, Barny has been working with Bristol University to identify and preserve ancient apple varieties in his beautiful historic orchards. This ground breaking research aims to fingerprint thousands of cider apple trees in order to locate, propagate and save unique and threatened varieties.
Supporting Future Cider Makers
It’s not just the raw ingredients that Barny wants to protect for future cider drinkers. He is also committed to supporting the next generation of cider makers, potentially his competition of the future! In 2019, he launched The Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards, which offer aspiring cider makers the chance to win an outstanding package of support which includes advice and guidance from Sandford Orchards’ team. Barny sees himself as a custodian of cider knowledge that has been passed down by local experts throughout history and he wants to continue the tradition and share this knowhow with the next batch of cider creators.
Cider with Barny
Barny has come a long way since his experimental teenage cider making and on that journey he has acquired an understanding of cider that he continually wants to improve and share, in order to secure many more centuries of cider enjoyment for everyone. You can see and taste his achievements at the Ciderworks on one of our tours and tastings events. If you are in luck, Barny will be there to answer all your cider questions and to share his love for Devon’s historic drink. We can’t think of a better person to enjoy a cider with.
