Make it at home

Yield 250Hands-on 20 minTotal 3 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2L unfiltered cloudy apple juice (Irish organic if possible)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
  • 1 strip lemon zest (optional)
  • 1 small bay leaf (optional)

Method

  1. Pour apple juice into a wide heavy pan; a wider pan reduces faster than a tall pot.
  2. Add cinnamon, lemon zest, and bay if using.
  3. Bring to a steady simmer over medium heat. Skim any foam off the surface in the first 15 minutes.
  4. Reduce on a low simmer for 2 to 2.5 hours, swirling the pan every 20 minutes; aim to reduce by 8 to 1 (from 2L down to 250ml).
  5. Test by dipping a cold spoon; the syrup should coat the back of the spoon and run off slowly, leaving a clear stripe when you draw a finger through.
  6. Strain through muslin to remove the aromatics if used.
  7. Pour while still hot into a sterilised jar with a tight lid; cool, then refrigerate.
  8. Use on porridge, drizzled over Knockdrinna goat's cheese on brown bread, in vinaigrettes with cider vinegar, or as a glaze for roast lamb.

Tip from the editors. Cloudy unfiltered juice reduces to a richer syrup than clear filtered; supermarket clear apple juice produces a thinner, lighter syrup.

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Where to eat highbank orchard apple syrup

Highbank Orchard Apple Syrup in Kilkenny

Lady Helen at Mount Juliet 1 ★ ★ 4.8

€€€€ Tasting €105-130IrishThomastownChef John Kelly

Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Estate has held one Michelin star since 2013, chef John Kelly serving modern Irish tasting menus 18km south of Kilkenny.

OrderSeasonal tasting menu built entirely on Irish produce from the estate and local suppliers.

Book3-6 weeks ahead

TipStaying on the estate makes the dinner experience complete; room rates include access to the grounds and morning walks by the river.

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Campagne ★ 4.8

€€€ Wine barMedieval Mile

Campagne's wine list matches its Michelin kitchen, a curated French and European selection chosen by sommelier Brid Hannon for each tasting-menu course.

PourSommelier-selected pairing with the tasting menu

WineClassic French and European fine wine

FoodFull Michelin-starred tasting menu

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Cakeface Patisserie ★ 4.5

€€ €8-€14BrunchIrishtown

Cakeface on Irishtown brings French pastry training to Kilkenny brunch, with daily-changing bakes by Laura and Rory Gannon and single-origin filter coffee.

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Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery ★ 4.0

€€€ Cocktail barMuseum garden cafeMedieval Mile

Wildflower at Butler Gallery serves plant-based bowls, vegan raw cakes, and botanical teas in a walled gallery garden with genuine dietary inclusivity.

DrinkBotanical teas and natural wine

FoodPlant-forward lunch and bakes

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Foodworks ★ 3.8

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Foodworks on Parliament Street offers farm-to-fork lunches under €14 that draw directly from the owners' family farm, consistently strong value for money.

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The Gourmet Store ★ 4.0

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The Gourmet Store on High Street has offered the best-value farmhouse cheese counter since 1997, with fresh-baked bread assembled on the spot.

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Kilkenny Farmers Market ★ 4.4

€ Street foodMedieval Mile

Kilkenny Farmers Market every Thursday on The Parade offers soda bread, farmhouse cheese, honey, and vegetables from €3, the best budget food in the city.

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