Small-batch English ciders are rare in Canada, so it's a delight to drink this Somerset sparkler. Made with juice pressed from British heritage cider apples that cidermaker Neil Worley sources from orchards around Somerset and then presses himself, this semi-sweet amber-hued cider has rich dessert apple flavours, a lightly sweet caramel finish, light acidity to balance and a low barnyard-like funk that makes it quintessentially British. A great cider for those who like the sweeter side of the beverage but crave a bit more complexity. Available from Ontario's Communal Merchants via private order.
Crafted by a husband and wife team using 100% Ontario pears, a sniff of this perry reveals overripe Bartlett pear flesh and a touch of funk. There’s a clean, zippy acidity that balances the sweet and tart flavours, with a medium-dry finish. But don’t call it a cider! Perries are made with only pear juice, whereas a pear cider has an apple juice base with pear juice added for flavour.
Crafted using the dry, spritz-y base of Ernest Dry, the flagship of new Ontario cidery Winter’s Blush pours a light pink with a lovely bouquet of cloves, orange peel and red delicious apples on the nose. Fermented with a touch of fresh-pressed cranberry juice, and steeped with orange peel, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, this off-dry apple sparkler sips a bit like Christmas. Pair it with turkey dinner, the cranberry juice will find harmony with turkey, cranberry sauce and all the fixings.
Pouring a deep gold with brilliant clarity and large bubbles, this sparkling UK cider is a new arrival in Canada. Made from a blend of oak and stainless-aged apple juices, aged up to 18 months, this entry-level cider has enough complexity to satisfy more educated sippers. A bright pome fruit aroma on the nose is followed by a sip that balances sweetness with bright acidity and backing notes of light oak, vanilla, apple pie crust and leather.
Bright, clear yellow-gold colour, with lively spritz and deeply scented ripe, spicy apple scents leading into crisply dry apple bite in the mouth. Finishes with a touch of balancing sweetness.
A dry hopped Heritage apple cider finished unfiltered. Hops and spruce needles mingle with apple and citrus rind on the nose. It has grassy notes on the palate to go with citrus, apple and hops with a fresh, dry finish.
This is a blend of Ontario apples and Niagara Montmorency cherries. It’s bright and refreshing and slightly off-dry to punctuate those lovely ripe cherry flavours. Look for a perfect marriage of apple and cherry that’s lively and popping on the palate.