A TRADITIONAL cider brewer warned today that he may be forced out of business after the taxman decided he is actually making wine. Peter Stuart, who makes Thistly Cross Cider on South Belton Farm, Dunbar, said that his tax would more than double because inspectors ruled the whisky casks they use in the brewing process flavours the drink, turning it into a “made wine”.

Mr Stuart and his business partner Ian Rennie fear the “crazy” decision could cost them thousands of pounds in back-dated tax, potentially tipping the business to go bust. It means they will be paying duty of 78 pence per litre of cider produced instead of 36 pence – a rise which Mr Stuart believes could force them to sell all their whisky cask cider abroad rather than locally.