Why do We Use Original Oak Vats in Dowd's Lane?
The Bulmers Vat House in Dowd's Lane was commissioned in 1936, with the majority of Vats built in oak, handcrafted by coopers. The apple pressing is done using the traditional 'cheese' and is one of the core skills of a cider-maker. At Bulmers, the very same presses used to make Bulmers 50 years ago are still used today. This accounts for the consistency in quality of Ireland's most popular cider. Bulmers Original Cider is fermented in the Vat House between 18 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius for a period of eight weeks. The fermentation process in the oak vats provides the distinctive and unique Bulmers taste.
Dowd's Lane provides the character of Ireland's favourite cider - Bulmers Original Cider, and is therefore a closely guarded secret.
What Makes Irish Cider Different From Other Ciders?
Bulmers Original Cider is fermented in the Vat House at Dowd's Lane, between 18 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius, maturing for a few months with samples drawn off and laboratory tested for purity and alcohol content. They are then put through several filtering processes. Other ciders are pasteurised as opposed to using a filtering process, and do not ferment in oak matured vats, which adds significantly to the blend.
Does Bulmers Use Irish Apples?
Bulmers Original Irish Cider is Ireland's biggest purchaser of Irish apples. The entire harvest from Bulmers' 250 acres of orchards, together with the total harvest of cull of apples in the Republic of Ireland plus a substantial portion of Northern Ireland's crop, is required for the Bulmers cider products.
17 varieties of apple are grown in the Bulmers' Orchards in Clonmel and are used to make the famous Bulmers brand. The 17 varieties of apple mature at different times of the season, thus allowing the orchard managers to pace the harvest and produce sufficient varieties to make up a traditional blend like Bulmers, throughout the year.
