ONE of Suffolk's most famous brand names has picked up a string of top honours at an international awards ceremony.

Elliot Furniss

ONE of Suffolk's most famous brand names has picked up a string of top honours at an international awards ceremony.

Varieties produced by Aspall Cyder, based in Aspall, near Debenham, bagged the titles of world's best cider, world's best dry cider, world's best speciality cider and world's best medium cider at the World Cider Awards 2009.

The awards were set up in 2008 to draw attention to the vast array of exceptional ciders on the market and, once again, Aspall products have come up trumps.

Aspall Premier Cru, the company's flagship cider, was named the best in the world for the second successive year, as well as grabbing the best dry cider accolade.

Other varieties from the range were also singled out, with Aspall Organic Suffolk Cyder named the top speciality brew and Aspall Draught Suffolk Cyder (bottled format) scooping the world's best medium cider.

Barry Chevallier Guild, Aspall partner, said: “To win the World's best cider award with Aspall Premier Cru for a second year running is phenomenal.

“We are delighted with these exceptional results which we believe reflect the fact that quality has, and always will, come first and foremost for us.”

The only titles Aspall did not win - best sweet cider and best perry - were collected by Gaymers, although Aspall does not have any varieties that can compete in these categories.