Some familiar faces. . .

Recognize some names here?

A group of Hendersonville businessmen will unveil a new line of hard ciders pressed from locally grown apples during a downtown launch party and tasting Friday.

John Coker, Tom Davis, Jim Sparks and Jim Revis are the co-owners of Flat Rock Cider Works, the first Henderson County company to jump into the growing hard-cider market with the introduction of their Naked Apple Hard Cider brand.

The business partners have opened their 4,500-square-foot cidery in South Crossing Business Park on Spartanburg Highway in Flat Rock, where apples from the company's own 10-acre orchard and other local suppliers will be sorted, graded, pressed, fermented and bottled or kegged. . .

Coker, who worked in corporate sales for the beverage packaging industry out of his home here for 10 years, said the new company has strong leadership. Davis and Sparks, who recently sold their Highland Lake Golf Course to the village of Flat Rock for $1.15 million, offer their finance and sales acumen to the team, while Revis brings years of experience in apple and berry growing to his role in operations and procurement. . .

You can check out both styles of cider this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at their launch party at Hannah Flanagan's Pub, 300 N. Main St. in Hendersonville. The event will also feature finger foods made with hard cider or complemented by it, along with games, prizes and giveaways.