Two heads are better than one, goes the old adage, and the Cranes Raspberries & Pomegranates Cider that we sent our members in their July 2020 Gin of the Month box proves that two flavours can be better than one, too!
Meet the twins behind Cranes Cider, and discover how this dynamic duo work together to create amazing flavour combinations.
It Takes Two
As twins, Dan and Ben Ritsema were inseparable growing up – but, ironically, it would be a bit of time apart that would inspire them to co-found a cider company.
“I was down in Exeter enjoying the abundance of cider they had to offer, while Dan was up in Leeds drinking anything he could get his hands on.”
To compensate for the more, ahem, unhealthy aspects of the student lifestyle, Dan started researching super fruits. He fell in love with cranberries, with their tart taste, high nutrient content and antioxidant-rich flesh. When Ben and Dan returned home after graduation, they shared their new areas of expertise with one another.
“As twins do, we brought these two things together to create Cranes.”
Using Ben’s newfound knowledge of fruit cider – including the shockingly high sugar content hiding in every pint – and Dan’s new insight into superfruits, the brothers set out to build a brand with a big difference: a lighter, lower-calorie drink built on cracking flavour combinations.
“We wanted to create a healthier alternative to the leading brands. Utilising the natural sweetness from the superfruits enabled us to develop our naturally light ciders.”
This unique approach has allowed the Ritsema brothers to craft a range of ciders boasting 30% fewer calories and 40% less sugar of leading ciders. And, while working together has had its challenges, being brothers in business has been a serious boon.
“You can be completely honest with each other about whether you think their idea will work or not. Maybe sometimes too honest! We’ve grown up together, so there are no ego battles or office politics between us.”
This is especially handy when it comes to trying out new, unusual and amazing flavour combinations. Like Ben and Dan themselves, the flavours that come together in Cranes Cider range make each other even better.
Their Cranberries & Limes flavour is a tart alternative to sweeter ciders, while Blueberries & Apples gives the classic cider flavour profile a fun twist. But it’s the Raspberries & Pomegranates Cider in our July 2020 Gin of the Month box that really captures the taste of summer.
Stock up at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda and Ocado and serve over ice with a raspberry or two for the ultimate refresher on a sunny summer day.
plus all of your
plus all of your
plus all of your