Highbank Orchard Farm Visit

This is the perfect time of year to visit a beautiful orchard – harvest time! Our second farm visit of the year will be to Highbank Orchard in beautiful Kilkenny. Members of Dublin Food Co-op have been invited for a tour of the orchard on Wednesday September 22nd, meeting at Highbank Organic Farm in Kilkenny at 1.45pm. The tour starts at 2 o’clock. As well as the tour we will be treated to a tasting on some of Highbank’s delicious produce like their ciders, juices and syrups, all made from their own apples.

Highbank Orchard have been supplying Dublin Food Co-op for many years, and their apple syrup, treacle and live cider vinegar are very popular with our members and customers. Their products are known internationally for their plentiful flavour and high quality. As organic growers for over 20 years, the Calder Potts family have been a long standing part of the organic movement in Ireland.

Some information from the farm 
Highbank Organic Farm in Co. Kilkenny was a 17th century farmyard and the present farm house was built by the Calder-Potts family in the 19th Century. The first apple orchards were planted by the family, in 1969, to compliment the hop gardens. The fertile Kilkenny limestone soils are uniquely suited to produce delicious apples and apple juice organically.

From apple to bottle, partake in living organic farming with a tractor train tour through the organic orchards, a visit to the distillery ending in our stone built 17th century mill with a sampling of our delicious Single Estate organic ciders, syrups and apple spirits. Your guide will explain the process that creates the distinctive flavours and character of our organic cider, apple gin and apple brandy, you will meet the owners for a chat on local history, and of course, The Highbank Story of five generations.

Highbank Orchards is home to the original and innovative and multi award winning Highbank Orchard Syrup. We also produce several delicious Apple juices, including our acclaimed non alcoholic Drivers Cider as well as Highbank Proper Cider and Medieval Cider, matured on their wild yeasts with no added sulphites. 2014 brought the addition of Dodonus – the smallest Distillery in Ireland which was built in the old Highbank Dairy and now produces Highbank Organic Apple Spirits – the first Irish and Kilkenny Organic Apple gin known as Highbank Crystal Gin (out of the rocks of Kilkenny), Highbank Orchard Spirit, Highbank Orchard Liqueur Brandey and Highbank Organic Apple Vodka.

Steeped in medieval history the 17th century stonebuilt coachyard with its small distillery offers a backdrop to tasting the organic orchard syrup,juices, organic ciders and apple spirits all produces directly from the orchards. Highbank offers an insight into a small scale Irish food producer adding value to product. Organic for over 20 years, the farm is full of seasonal wildlife.

In line with social distancing precautions we will have a maximum of 10 visitors, so please make sure to book your spot in advance. It is free for members of Dublin Food Co-op to attend.

Be sure to bring;

• Mask and hand sanitiser
• Water and food for the journey
• Shoes or boots suitable for the farm
• Suncream

We will meet at Highbank Orchard at 1.45pm, and the tour starts at 2pm. See you then!