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Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]
![Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EphZFW-XUAAirsA.jpg "Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]")
![Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EphZFW-WwAEjXH0.jpg "Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]")
![Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EphZHq_W8AA8aK9.jpg "Today we have another thread focusing on #womenincider! We spoke to Kate Watson, director of sales and marketing at @Killahora. #noappleogies [1/20]")
As you are business qualified and unusual being female and in the cider industry, how did you get into it and why?
K: "When my husband Dave and I bought a farm in Cork 10 years ago, which had an orchard history dating back 200 years..." [2/20]
K: "When my husband Dave and I bought a farm in Cork 10 years ago, which had an orchard history dating back 200 years..." [2/20]
"...we knew that there would be the possibility to create something special that spoke of the land. Dave has a passion for trees and added 1000 trees to the orchards together with his late father Tim..." [3/20]
"...and Dave’s cousin Barry has a passion for flavours and is our talented cidermaker." [4/20]
"All our family get involved in the harvest each year; the orchards really bring us together. With my business degree background, I naturally gravitated towards the commercial side of the business and together with Barry we run it." [5/20]
"I love that we are making something from the land in a sustainable way. There is something very satisfying about picking the apples, having a hand in pressing them and finally seeing them become the beautiful drinks they are!" [6/20]
Are there glass ceilings in the cider industry for women and for that matter people of ethnic origin?
K: "Women and certainly people of ethnic origin are very under-represented in the cider industry and indeed across the whole of the drinks industry..." [7/20]
K: "Women and certainly people of ethnic origin are very under-represented in the cider industry and indeed across the whole of the drinks industry..." [7/20]
"Initially I found this intimidating, however, my experience has been very positive. I have been welcomed and often given a front row seat because we are so few." [8/20]
"I think women supporting women is also a powerful movement and I have made great connections with other women and we try to help each other to succeed." [9/20]
Cider has been scraping the barrel of the alcohol industry for some time. Is that about to change and why?
K: "It is so frustrating that cider is often under-rated as a category!" [10/20]
K: "It is so frustrating that cider is often under-rated as a category!" [10/20]
"Fortunately, craft cider is having a renaissance where customers are seeking to drink better quality and those of us who are making our drinks naturally from 100% juice are benefitting from this shift." [11/20]
"In the US, customers appreciate and pay a premium for different styles of quality cider and understand that much like with grapes, different apple varieties produce a huge spectrum of flavour profiles. It is exciting that the UK cider market is moving in this direction." [12/20]
What’s special about ciders and the way that you make them at Killahora?
K: "We have always aspired to elevate the apple and the pear and make the best possible drinks with them. As well as a Bittersweet Cider, we make a pet-nat Fine Perry, Rare Apple Ice Wine..." [13/20]
K: "We have always aspired to elevate the apple and the pear and make the best possible drinks with them. As well as a Bittersweet Cider, we make a pet-nat Fine Perry, Rare Apple Ice Wine..." [13/20]
"...and an apple aperitif called Pom’O. The first differentiator with our drinks is the fruit – you cannot make good cider without good apples and with over 140 varieties, we have an extraordinarily eclectic range of fruit trees in our orchards." [14/20]
"Secondly, nothing is rushed at Killahora Orchards! We hand pick our fruit, produce in small batches and we are big fans of wild fermentation. It usually it takes us a year to make our ciders and Rare Apple Ice Wine." [15/20]
"Similarly, our Pom’O, which made by mixing fresh bittersweet juice with the finest apple brandy is then aged for a year in Irish Whiskey casks." [16/20]
Are there any key initiatives that the cider and drinks industry could be doing to break down the barriers for women and people of black and ethnic minorities?
K: "There are some fantastic organisations such as @cider_women who showcase cidermaking talent..." [17/20]
K: "There are some fantastic organisations such as @cider_women who showcase cidermaking talent..." [17/20]
"...within our gender-space and bring about real change and change attitudes. The work that Susanna ( @DrinkBritain) and Elizabeth ( @LzbethP) and the rest of the team are doing is giving the next generation of women great role models and cider jobs to aspire to." [18/20]
"Regarding black and ethnic minorities, I think that the Black Lives Matter movement has touched all industries and I hope that each organisation is looking within to identify and remove any systemic forms of racism..." [19/20]
"...For this cider renaissance to reach its full potential, more diverse and younger audiences must be reached." [20/20]
#noappleogies
#noappleogies
