Bottle from Waitrose, Wycombe. Gold-blonde with a light fizz. Odd flavour of dirty, musty pearskins up front. Then vanilla and ripe dessert pears. A tad too sweet but not bad.

Bottle from Waitrose, Wycombe. Gold-blonde with a light fizz. Gives off a tannic, scrumpy aroma. The taste is pretty complex for a supermarket cider - baking apples, black tea, vanilla, sultanas, cream and a hint of bitterness. There's a light dryness, light sharpness, a hint of sweetness. Very well balanced, very drinkable and interesting. Enjoyed it.

Bottle from Cromford Mills Cheese Shop, Cromford, near Matlock. New brewery for me. Dark brown to black with a thin tan head. Chocolatey with a mild roasty note. A tiny hint of mandarin in the finish. Fortunately no plague in my bottle. It's a tad thin for the strength, and it certainly needs a bit more orange added, but it's still pleasant and very drinkable.

Can that Em gave me (bought from Waitrose) - thanks Em, although I know you only got it because you like stealing large tasters of my pastry sours! Murky purpley-red colour with a barely-there baby pink head. Tastes of blackberries, strawberries and rhubarb, with creamy vanilla, yoghurt and sponge cake coming through. There's a light hint of cinnamon in the aftertaste. The mild sourness balances out the fruit sweetness well, but as usual in such brews I feel that the sourness (mild though it is) clashes somewhat with the vanilla and cream. As a result this is far from being my favourite from Vault, although it's perfectly drinkable. Em loved it though!