418: Creative Cider Branding Tips with Cultivar

418: Creative Cider Branding Tips with Cultivar

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist June 26, 2024 Duration: 1:01:25

Paving a Path for Cider Branding at Cultivar

Meet Kirk Evans, the founder of Cultivar Creative. In this episode, Kirk shares his journey from a casual cider maker to a professional brand designer specializing in cider packaging and identity.

Cider Chat Episode 418 Kirk Evans 300x300 (1) Cultivator
Kirk Evans

Cultivar Creative focuses on creating comprehensive brand identities that go beyond just a logo. Kirk emphasizes the importance of a cohesive brand voice, graphical elements, and a well-thought-out brand guideline to ensure consistency across all marketing materials. His approach ensures that even small cider brands can present themselves professionally and attractively to consumers.

The Journey to Cider Branding at Cultivar

Kirk's journey into the cider world began in early 2020 when he decided to try making cider at home. What started as a hobby quickly turned into an obsession, leading him to a career shift. With his extensive experience in design and marketing, Kirk saw a gap in the cider industry for specialized branding services. Thus, Cultivar Creative was born.

The Importance of Brand Identity

According to Kirk, brand identity in the cider industry involves more than just a logo. It encompasses everything from the brand's voice to the graphical elements used in packaging. A strong brand identity helps cider makers communicate their story effectively and stand out on crowded shelves.

Kirk's process includes creating detailed brand guidelines that outline all aspects of the brand's visual and verbal identity. This comprehensive approach ensures that every piece of marketing material aligns with the brand's core message and appeals to its target audience.

Branding Tips for Cider Makers

  • Know Your Brand: Understand who you are as a brand and what you want to convey to your customers.
  • Be Bold: Don't be afraid to be bold and disruptive with your branding. Standing out is crucial in a competitive market.
  • Consistency is Key: Ensure your branding is consistent across all platforms, from social media to packaging.
  • Invest in Packaging: Eye-catching packaging can make a significant difference in attracting new customers.

Contact Info for Cultivar

Mentions in this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
498: Heeman's Cellar | Somewhere Cider from Ontario [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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496: Liberty Ciderworks | Spokane, WA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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494: Humboldt Cider and the Historic Orchard of Albert Etter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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493: Cider as a Sport | Sidra in Asturias (Archive Edition) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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492: Absolem Cider Company | Maine Cider Energy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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491: Revisiting Randall Grahm | Cider Exploration Without Hesitation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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An early conversation that explored possibilities cider was only beginning to consider. As Cider Chat moves toward its 500th episode, we revisit conversations from the earliest seasons, taking a long view of the moments…
490: Let Cider Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Natural cider is often misunderstood as funky, volatile, or flawed. Recorded live at CiderCon 2025, this seminar reframes natural cider as a philosophy of low intervention, balance, and intentional care, not a free pass…