The Last Hurrah
Oliver's Cider in Hereford, Herefordshire, England 🏴
Collab with: Minchews Real Cyder & PerryCider - Perry Regular
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Score
8.03
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Kevin Minchew is a name not known far and wide, but, in his heyday, produced some spectacularly expressive perries. He relished the use of old oak whisky casks and sourced select perry pears from named, and frequently rare, trees in orchards scattered across Gloucestershire and surrounds.
The Last Hurrah is a perry that honours Kevin, the Moorcroft perry pear (also known as Malvern Hills or Stinking Bishop in many parts of Gloucestershire), his old oak whisky barrels and time. Lots of time. The Moorcroft perry pears were hand-picked from a stand of trees at Gorse Hill Abbey near Broadway, Worcestershire, in the October of 2001, after a particularly long warm summer. Kevin then milled and pressed the pears, followed by a long, slow, spontaneous fermentation by wild yeasts in the old oak whisky barrels through the winter of 2001.
In the spring of 2002, the perry was bottled with the addition of the “liqueur du tirage”, a blend of sugar, yeast and nutrients to achieve a secondary fermentation in bottle. The records of the exact blend have been lost to time, as were the bottles, which were secreted away when Kevin ceased perry making until…
July 2024 when frantic phone calls took place between Kevin, Gabe Cook (The Ciderologist) and Tom Oliver (Perry maker from Herefordshire). The barn where Kevin had stashed this treasured perry was about to be demolished, time was tight, a rescue mission was hatched and duly executed. And thus some 1000 bottles saw the light of day for the first time in 22 years.
Flushed with the success of this rescue mission on this warm summer’s day in July 2024, Kevin, Tom, Gabe, Stewart (Kevin’s brother), Neil and Adam gathered to taste this perry that had lain untouched for over two decades. Analysis had revealed an alcohol level of 11% and an SG of below 1.000. This was going to be quite the experience and it did not disappoint.
No spoilers here - this is a bottle fermented perry that never reached its final destination of disgorgement at Three Choirs Vineyard. Instead, it has remained “sur lees” for a long, long time. The resulting drink is a testament to the miracle of time, the class of the Moorcroft perry pear, the warm embrace of the whisky barrel, but most of all to the skill and passion of the finest of perry makers.
We sincerely hope that you will all relish this rare opportunity to taste this one-off, classic perry in the original bottle, complete with flying lees and some rust on the crown cap. It is our honour and privilege to present Kevin Minchew’s “Last Hurrah”.
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ITFCfan (3471) ticked The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 6 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Cheeseboard (6251) reviewed The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 8 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Panda from Danlo, thanks Ed. Pours near clear gold and flat. Mild sherry aroma, stewed pear, brown sugar, booze. Taste: light to moderate sweet, semi-dry, mildly funky, some barrel notes. Doesn't taste it's ABV. Medium body with low/no carbonation.
Fergus (31281) reviewed The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 9 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Panda thanks to Ed Danlo. A clear golden yellow coloured pour with afine white head. Aroma is semi sweet, juicy apple, golden apple, light brown sugars, floral notes, Flavour is composed of semi sweet, earthy juicy apple, bark, brown sugar, light islay note, bark, light barrel,. Palate is semi sweet, rounded, fine carbonation. Really
Grumbo (24130) reviewed The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 10 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 9.5 | Flavor - 9.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 8.5
22/1/2025. Bottle shared by danlo, cheers Ed! Pours clear golden with a copper tint and a few bubbles. Aroma is rich, pear, woody, vanilla, sugar syrup, fruit biscuit, sultanas. Medium sweetness with some good developing bitterness. Quite full bodied. Carbonation starts spritzy but eases. Drying finish. Super stuff.
Theydon_Bois (45766) reviewed The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 10 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Panda at home, thanks to Ed Danlo, 12/01/25.
Clear golden blonde with a thin white covering that soon vanishes.
Nose is funk, waxy pear, herb, vanilla oak, tannins, hay bale.
Taste comprises bitter sweet pear, tannins, vinous, funk, barnyard, modest acidity, honey, tarte orchard fruit.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, light drying close.
Top drawer perry.
danlo (12875) reviewed The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 11 months ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9.5
750ml bottle from Cork & Cask. For #rgpm. Sparkling, golden colour, white foam head that quickly dissipates away and aroma of pear, musty, wood, earth, funk, booze. Taste is sweetish, perry pear, fruity, woody, oak, vanilla, funky, sherry-like boozy notes, earthy, with balanced acidity & tannin. Medium bodied, light carbonation, dry peary earthy finish. Very drinkable indeed for 11%.
Garrold (11335) reviewed The Last Hurrah from Oliver's Cider 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5
Bottle. Fine Cider Company online shop. Soft haze on a rusty yellow gold. Short lived white foam. Nose has Pedro Ximenez sherry. Well stewed orchard fruit. Lightly vegetal oxidation. Taste is semi sweet with some fruity funky yeasty character. Drinks preposterously easy for 11% feeling spritzy and clean. More of the sherry notes to finish while it stays fruity and drinkable like a perry should be. An absolute treat.
gave a cheers!