Best James Cocker Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 33 - "Entire Lot of Grass Clippings" 41:43

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6+ y ago41:43

41:43

We sample Turners Medium Cider, Dorset Nectar's Old Harry Rocks, Dragon Tears from Green Valley Cyder and a Normandy Perry from Templar's Choice. Niall is tested with a Mystery Cider and a Mystery Let's Branch Out, plus a discussion on leaves!By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 32 - "I can't believe you’ve never had kola cubes" 40:02

7y ago40:02

40:02

We're back! After a brief hiatus, we return to try Dunkertons' Kingston Black, Harry Taylor's Crooked Branch, Oliver's Fine Perry and Himachal Indian Cider. We have a chat about some things that have been going on in the world of cider since our last show and Niall is challenged to a game of "Mystery Let's Branch Out".…

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Episode 31 - Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla 40:29

9y ago40:29

40:29

We’re back and sampling a dry cider from Robinsons, a medium cider from Laurence’s, a hopped cider from Olivers and a strong cider from Orchards of Husthwaite. Niall tackles cider news, and we discuss some recent correspondence.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 30 - Thirty Ciders and a Happy Ending... 59:11

10y ago59:11

59:11

In this special show we try multiple ciders including Loch Ness Cider's Vintage, a Whisky Cider from Gordon Castle, Ashridge's Deven Blush, Himalia 2013 from Butford Organics and Breakwells Seedling from Dunkertons. There's also a staple of cider news, the cider quiz returns, Niall's tested with a mystery cider, we bring back Let's Branch Out and p…

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Episode 29 - Lazy Scottish Sugar Substitutes 39:36

10+ y ago39:36

39:36

We taste Waulkmill's Muckle Toon Rosie, a keeved cider from Pilton, Lazy Jacks American Style Cloudy Cider and a cider sweetened with stevia from Laverstock Park Farm. There's a bunch of cider news, including a mention of One Direction and we have a chat about some of the best places in Edinburgh to find proper cider.…

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Episode 28 - Dry Australian Willies 37:16

10+ y ago37:16

37:16

We're joined by special guest Hugh Mckellar of RealCiderReviews.com who brought us some Australian Willie Smiths cider to try. We also sample Perry's Barn Owl from Somerset and Sampford Courtenay from Devon. There's a bit of cider news and some general cider chat!By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 27 - Crouching Bumblebee, Hidden Dragon 38:57

11y ago38:57

38:57

In this episode we check out the 2013 Kingston Redstreak from Once Upon a Tree, Planetbee from Tom Oliver, Ashton Brown Jersey Cider from Ross on Wye and Bolée D'armorique Cidre Brut. We also have some cider news, and pub chat.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 26 - Jingling Cider Snobs 45:26

11y ago45:26

45:26

Oldfields Orchard Medium Sweet, La Ferme de Kerloïck and Tricky Medium Dry all get sampled. Plenty of cider news including items on Polish cider, pub awards, Aspall and the brits becoming cider snobs! We talk about some Edinburgh pubs and cider festivals, and a listener has a new jingle created for us!…

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Episode 25 - Festival of Puffins 52:05

11y ago52:05

52:05

After a slightly longer interval than usual, we're back! This time with a Dunkertons Breakwells Seedling, Puffin from Perry's Cider and Oliver's Classic Perry. A decent dose of cider news including talk of Orpens cider, CAMRA's championship results and some "spider"! We also talk about pubs in Southside, and some upcoming Edinburgh cider festivals.…

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Episode 24 - Dry Royal Papal Flush 47:02

11+ y ago47:02

47:02

We try Tutts Clump Special Reserve, Dunkertons Dry Organic and a Burrow Hill Perry. Plenty of cider news including some discussion on festivals and the Queen. We also have a lengthy discussion about our Cider League Table, and have some interesting correspondence.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 23 - Supermarket Sweep 42:01

11+ y ago42:01

42:01

We try 4 supermarket branded ciders, including a medium dry still cider from Tesco (by Westons), a cloudy still from Waitrose (by Westons), Tillington Hills cider from the Co-op, and a french cider from Sainsbury's. We have a chat about cider in Canada, and try a banana beer and a coconut beer from Mongozo (one of which erupts).…

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Episode 22 - Vintage Cider Shambles 41:25

11+ y ago41:25

41:25

Four vintage ciders are sampled: Sheppy's 2012 Vintage Reserve, Thatchers 2011 Vintage, Aspall's Vintage 2012 and McCrindle's 2012 Vintage. Niall tries his hand at cider news as well as his first quiz, and we talk about the perfect Edinburgh cider pub crawl.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 21 - Full of Cider, Free of Gimmicks 37:40

11+ y ago37:40

37:40

After last month's global failures, we come closer to home with 4 decent UK ciders: Newtons Golden Blush, La Mare Branchage, Sandford Orchards Devon Red & a Medium Sweet Tricky Cider. The quiz makes a return, and James has a show affecting announcement.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 20 - Global Disappointments with a French Approval 44:53

11+ y ago44:53

44:53

4 global ciders are sampled: Crushed Pear Cider from Montheith's in New Zealand, Lucky Duck Cider from Australia, a red thing from the Netherlands, and Cidre Artisanal Le Brun Biologique from France! A bit of cider news, and some Christmas cider chat.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 19 - Pigs, Perth & Punch Discovery 41:47

11+ y ago41:47

41:47

We try a Scottish cider from Cairn O' Mohr , Orchard Pig Truffler and a growler of Mr. Whitehead's Newtons Discovery. The famous quiz makes a long awaited comeback, and "Let's Branch Out" also makes a return with an apple whiskey punch from Jack Daniel's.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 18 - One Year, Lots of Cider & Some Other Stuff 51:03

12y ago51:03

51:03

In our anniversary show, we taste 3 very different ciders: A Rum Cask from Tutts Clump, Wild West from 146 Cider Company, and a Perry from Gwatkin. Cider news includes talk about CAMRA's Cider Pub of the Year, Mystery Cider makes a comeback, and we have an interesting discussion about "proper" cider.…

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Episode 17 - Morningside Growlers, Broughton Failures 39:11

12y ago39:11

39:11

We try a Dunkertons Browns from England, a Cidreie de Prat-Rouz Cidre Artisanal from France, and Thistly Cross's Jaggy Thistle from Scotland for a tri-national tasting session. Discuss Britain's first growler shop launching in Edinburgh. Launch the Edinburgh Cider Map Web App, and dive into the cider postbag.…

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Episode 16 - Pigs in the West End 45:43

12y ago45:43

45:43

We try an M&S cider from Sandford Orchards, an Orchard Pig Reveller & a Gwatkin's Yarlington Mill from Wales. Cider News includes a discussion on the health benefits of cider, we mention our plans for a "Proper Cider" campaign, and talk about some cider surprises in the West End of Edinburgh.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 15 - Cider Surprises & International Rivals 47:25

12y ago47:25

47:25

We taste ciders from Pure North, Flat Cap, Ross-on-Wye and 146 Cider. James introduces a surprise mystery feature, we fail on Let's Branch Out, and discuss some rivals from down under.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 14 - Three Sweets & an Apéritif 34:10

12y ago34:10

34:10

We try sweet ciders from Oliver's, Henney's and Tutts Clump. Plenty of cider news including an exciting announcement about cider growlers in Edinburgh, and some interesting news about Jeremiah Weed. We "branch out" with an Apple Apéritif, and discuss the best pubs in Morningside/Bruntsfield for cider.…

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Episode 13 - Dancing Tingle of Fire 36:51

12+ y ago36:51

36:51

We swap roles for a slightly inverted show where we try 3 medium-dry ciders from friends of the show: a Traditional Farmhouse from Tutts Clump, Ampleforth Abbey Cider and Shezam Cider from Oliver's. Niall attempts some cider news, we check out a few pubs in Leith, and "branch out" with Ginger Grouse.…

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Episode 12 - Very Merry Perry 40:16

12+ y ago40:16

40:16

We try perries from Dunkertons, Severn Cider, and a french one from Christian Drouin. The world famous quiz returns, we check out 3 Edinburgh pubs, and try some Cornish Mead!By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 11 - A Bowlful of Little Dwarfs 37:33

12+ y ago37:33

37:33

We try 3 French ciders: La Bolée les Korrigans, a Cidre Breton from Kerisac and a Normandy cider from Waitrose. Plenty of cider news including some controversial thoughts on Thatchers Gold and Carling's so called "British Cider". We are also pleasantly surprised by a pink "Let's Branch Out" from France: Ecusson Cidre Rosé.…

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Episode 10 - Snakebite and the Craft Agenda 48:47

12+ y ago48:47

48:47

We interview Peter Stuart, the cider maker from Thistly Cross, while at the launch event for their new Snakebite. We also try a Cider & Blackberry from Welsh cider maker Gwynt y Ddraig, and a medium sweet cider from Dunkertons.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 9 - Apple-cart-ography 40:27

12+ y ago40:27

40:27

We taste Samuel Smith's Organic Cider, a Somerset cider from Burrow Hill, and Henney's Vintage 2011. Niall struggles with the quiz, we review the Cumberland Bar, and also try a ginger beer from Hollows & Fentimans in "Let's Branch Out".By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 8 - Dry Rum Foxes 33:45

12+ y ago33:45

33:45

We check out a Perry's Dry Cider, a Dunkertons Black Fox, and an interesting Rum Cask Cider from Mill Whites. Some cider news, we review the Jolly Judge pub, and revisit Sheppy's Dabinett Apple.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 7 - Global Apples & Scottish Branches 42:04

12+ y ago42:04

42:04

JK's Scrumpy Cider from the US goes down well, along with el Gaitero from Spain and a dry Henney's from HerefordshIre. We try a Raspberry Lager for Let's Branch Out, along with a Quiz and a few interesting snippets of cider news.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 6 - 'Realing' in the Cider 28:03

12+ y ago28:03

28:03

We go back to France and sample some Cidre Fermier, along with a Marks & Spencers' Thatchers, and a Westons Old Rosie. 'Real' cider is debated, coffee is discussed in 'Cider News', and we check out the Cloisters Bar, in Bruntsfield.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 5 - Organic Swedish Rats 35:17

12+ y ago35:17

35:17

We sample 3 rather different ciders, including Sweden's number 1, Herrljunga, Black Rat from Somerset and an organic cider by Dunkertons. We also review Hector's in Stockbridge, and branch out with a Breton bottle.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 4 - Fruits, Flowers & Festivities 33:36

12+ y ago33:36

33:36

Addlestones, Swedish & Celtic temptations, but no branching out for Christmas.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 3 - Normans, Beards and Whisky Cider 38:17

13y ago38:17

38:17

We review our first Norman Cider, a £1 bottle, some Thistly Cross class and IT unexpectedly introduces a new feature.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 2 - Aspall's Redemption 39:10

13y ago39:10

39:10

Aspall gets another chance after the blackberry incident, Niall brings some treats back from Ireland, and we have a fruitful helping of cider news.By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)

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Episode 1 - The Pilot 47:39

13y ago47:39

47:39

Our first attempt, including discussion on Thistly Cross, Aspall, Sheppys and Jeremiah Weed. (Apologies for the less than perfect audio, if the feedback is good, we promise to invest in some better equipment!!)By [email protected] (Niall Caldwell & James Cocker)