BILPIN’S Hillbilly Cider placed Hawkesbury on the world map, at least among cider judges, at the International Cider Challenge in Britain last week.
Hillbilly pear scored a silver medal while Hillbilly apple waddled off with a bronze.
This followed the cider company's wins in last year’s Australian Cider Awards, when the apple was awarded a silver medal and the pear named ‘‘Best in Class’’.
The competition included entrants from Europe, the United States, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
The cider-makers, husband and wife team Shane and Tessa McLaughlin, said they felt proud to win the medals and they were proud of their beverage.
‘‘We are excited that Hillbilly has shown up so well amongst the best ciders in the world,’’ Mr McLaughlin said.
‘‘The way we make cider; it’s all about the apples and the quality of the local fruit in Bilpin makes us look good.’’
The judges’ panel was chaired by cider expert Pete Brown and included supermarket buyers, independent retailers, cider aficionados, journalists and publicans.
‘‘I think we were quite tough as a judging panel,’’ Mr Brown said. ‘‘But every product we awarded a gold or a silver medal is a great example of what cider or perry (pear cider) can be.
‘‘[They’re] worth holding up and showing to anyone who thinks that cider can only be murky, pungent, scrumpy or an exceedingly sweet fruit cocktail.’’
Hillbilly Cider is available in bars, restaurants and select bottle shops in the Blue Mountains, Sydney and other parts of Australia.
