ONE of the county’s best known drinks has been combined with the country’s most iconic fish to create a delicious dish.

Thistly Cross Cider was approached by the Edinburgh Salmon Company earlier this year.

Now, after months of research and experimenting with different flavours, the result is smoked Scottish Salmon with Thistly Cross Scottish Still Cider, part of Asda’s Extra Special range.

Mandy Lee, spokeswoman for Thistly Cross Cider, explained how the unusual pairing came about.

She told the Courier: “The Edinburgh Salmon Company asked us if we had any suitable product to go with the salmon.

“They then spent time experimenting and they eventually got the product together.” A special sample of the finished product was then sent down to Thistly Cross, based at South Belton, just outside Dunbar, by Edinburgh Salmon Company, based in Dingwall, Ross-shire.

Miss Lee said: “It does sound a bit different but it works well. We could not imagine what it would be like but it smoked over applewood and beechwood chips. The taste is very subtle but it is definitely there. You notice the slight smokiness and the slight apple taste.” It also marks another strand to Thistly Cross Cider’s bow.

The company, which was formed in 2009, already produces a number of different ciders, from original to strawberry and from ginger to whisky cask.

It has even been incorporated into marshmallows and Miss Lee confirmed that including it in food was something they were continuing to look at.

She said: “As long as the products are of great quality and respect the cider then I would think it would be a great opportunity.

“We already get used by chefs and restaurants in their recipes and the Three Sisters in Glasgow used it in one of their dishes in the BBC show the Great British Menu.” Christine Cockburn, commercial manager of The Edinburgh Salmon Company, added: “We were looking for a really good-quality still cider to complement the rich smoky flavour of our salmon and had seen Thistly Cross developing in our local markets.

“As a fellow Scottish Supplier, we approached them to see if they would allow us to use their product and Peter Stuart, with enthusiasm and passion, helped us match, to just the right blend to achieve the smooth, distinct rich flavour we were looking for.”