Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select & Private Reserve Pumpkin

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone!

We've had our fill of family for the day and are settled down to finish off the day in style by writing our post. This week we're in the giving mood and have two reviews, and one just so happens to have a guest!

Our first cider this week is something we probably should have purchased weeks ago and done over Halloween: Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin. Coming in at 6.9% alcohol by volume, this one is good for when you want to get the party started.
Private Reserve Pumpkin's label said this:
Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin is limited to only two and a half hours on our production line. Fresh and crisp with pumpkin at the finish, it's crafted to be served at 45 degrees and pairs perfectly with roasted duck, turkey, squash ravioli as well as crème brȗlée and fresh cheesecake. Be part of the select few who get to savor this small batch.

First up, Liz:
I was really craving something seasonal and was so excited when I saw this at the local grocery store. Unfortunately we already had a fridge stocked with cider and passed it up for about two weeks. This week I finally decided to read the label to try to convince myself I needed to buy this. Boy, am I glad I did that! It really truly is a limited flavor with only two and a half hours production time.
Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin has a smooth and velvety flavor that you would expect from something such as a pumpkin pie. I am so used to the spice part of a pumpkin pie, that's almost what I was hoping for. There's no spice in this, just plain pumpkin. I myself have never had straight-up pumpkin anything, always pumpkin spice, so I can't quite say that I know for sure that this is a true pumpkin flavor. That being said, I am happily surprised with the flavor. It isn't something I think I would want often, but I can tell you, I will be sad when we finish off this sixer and there is no more left in the house. I would also definitely agree that this would go great with cheesecake. Sadly, I don't have any cheesecake. I guess I'll have to settle for the (potentially freezerburned) vanilla ice cream I have in my freezer. All in all, I give it three apples.

As for Rob:
I know their description on the bottle says it tastes like pumpkin at the finish, but I am here to disagree with that… Right away when you sip it feels like you are being punched in the mouth with a pumpkin. There also seems to be a texture to the beverage and a lack of fizz which makes me have a puzzled look on my face every time. As time passes after your sip, the overwhelming pumpkin taste fades and it takes a familiar sweet and traditional cider taste. The overall drink is fine, just not great. I give it two apples.

Didn't we say we had a guest? Yes, just not on the Private Reserve Pumpkin. That guest is Randy, a friend from college who is a fellow cider lover and dedicated reader of this... blog-thing. Randy had actually suggested that we try Private Reserve Barrel Select. We figured it was only right that he help us with this one!

Private Reserve Barrel Select also sits at 6.9% alcohol by volume. Before we get into what Randy had to say, what about Woodchuck's take on it?
Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select is our ultra-limited cider crafted in small batches for a rare taste of sweet, crisp apple cider combined with smoky, dry bourbon flavors. Aged in genuine barrels, this copper-hued gem pairs excellently with cheese, pork roast and chocolate cake. Served best at 50 degrees, Barrel Select is truly an exclusive joy to relish.

Guests can go first, so up to bat is Randy:
If Ron Burgundy drank cider it would be Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select.  This limited seasonal run of cider is aged in bourbon barrels. This sounds like fluff that companies say just to get you to buy their products, but the cider really does have a strong bourbon flavor to it.  The bourbon flavor is smooth without the burn of whiskey and pairs nicely with the apple flavor. The apple flavor isn't too sweet, but nor is it dry enough to lose the fruity taste Woodchuck us known for.
The bottle says it's best served at fifty degrees, which is pretty spot on. Keeping the cider cold sharpens the bourbon taste in an unpleasant way and keeping our room temperature is just a little too tempid. This cider isn't for everyone and your mileage will vary by how much you like bourbon. Three and a half apples out of five.

Does Private Reserve Barrel Select fare better for Rob? Let's find out.
This taste is not what I was expecting at all. I has a hint of cider at the very beginning and very end of your sip, but the bourbon is the most noticeable part by far. You can also taste the oak from the barrel this cider was selected from. See what I did there? Cider lovers may not enjoy this one as much unless you have a very open pallet with a taste for whisky. I will admit, I felt fancy as fudge drinking this one (only I didn't say fudge). I give it three apples.

Lastly is little ol' Liz!
Warm and heavy on the back of the tongue, Barrel Select is what I would consider an oddity in the cider world. This tastes nothing like what I would expect from a cider with the bourbon flavors. I feel like I should put this three fingers high in a tumbler and sip it while staring at a beautiful fire place, all while petting a majestic fluffy cat. That's it. I'm buying a mansion. This one gets three apples from me.

If you haven't had either of these, I suggest heading out to your local grocer or liquor store to pick them up. Hopefully they have a 6 pack left for you to pick up!

Happy Holidays and as always...

Happy Tasting!
- Rob & Liz

WM. Magners Pear

Only one week until Christmas! Have you been naughty or nice? Sorry... that was cheesy. Either way, if you're still looking for a Christmas present or stocking stuffer, cider might not be the greatest choice. But if you're going to a family get together, some Cider would be perfect! It's more festive than regular old beer and a little less formal than wine. So if you're trying to bring something to the party no one else will think of, check out some of our past reviews for what might suit your needs.

Anyway, it is in fact Wednesday so we do have a brand new review for you! This week is a familiar brew with a different flavor. WM. Magners is the name, Original Pear Cider is the game. Our review on Magners Original Irish Cider was a good one so we thought, let's try a variation of that. Magners didn't have much to say about this brew other than Magners Original Irish Pear Cider. Once again Magners comes to us from Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland and measures in at 4.5% alcohol by volume.

Let's see what Liz thinks of this weeks selection:

WM. Magners definitely has its cider making down to a science. Their pear cider is just as smooth as the original. It's a little warm, not too heavy, and it tastes like you just bit into a perfectly ripe pear. It's only slightly dry, so it's not overpowering. I can tell you I am so incredibly excited that a cider fully embodies the sweet taste of the perfect pear. This is a cider I could see bringing to the beach or a summer party. Magners Original Irish Pear Cider gets a hearty four apples. 

Now it's my turn:
When we reviewed Magners Original Irish Cider, I talked about how the mellowness of the drink made it an enjoyable experience. I can now say that the trait carries over into the Pear Cider. The iron taste and sweetness are minimal but the tart kick at the end is what sets the Pear apart from the Original Cider. This cider doesn't leave a lingering texture on the tongue which makes it a great drink to have while socializing. I'll give this one 3 and a half apples, the taste is nice and it goes down smooth, but I'm just not a fan of pear. I would rather go for the Original Irish cider instead.

Thanks for stopping by every week and let your friends and family know where you got the inside scoop on the cider you brought to the party. As always leave your suggestions or comments below and tune in next week for another Cider Adventure. And remember, your family may be difficult to put up with during the holidays, but they're the only one you've got... And they can't be as bad as mine, so stop complaining! Just kidding, Happy Holidays!

Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob

Henney's Dry Cider

Aloha, everyone! No, we aren't in Hawaii. We are sort of wishing we were, though. According to the news it is -3°F outside. A bit chilly, but we are in Wisconsin.

This past weekend we got our first big snowfall, so that was neat. Unless you were one of the unfortunate people who had to travel. We hope your travels were safe!

Onto our own chilly excitement: nice cold cider! This week we were wandering the grocery store's liquor department looking for a housewarming gift for a friend. In the process we spotted our newest trial: Henney's Dry Cider.

Henney's comes to us from the UK and is their Dry Cider. There is another cider at the store, but we didn't have the extra cash to pick it up at that time. Some day we will go back for it! As for Henney's Dry Cider, they had a nice long description. It read: At Henney's we believe that the best way to make cider is to start with high quality ingredients and to keep the process as simple as possible. This has helped us to win many prestigious awards in recent years. Each autumn, carefully selected, locally grown, varieties of genuine cider apples are milled, pressed and fermented. The resulting cider is then blended and stored through the winter allowing it to mature and develop a rich and mellow flavor. Our finished cider retains the distinctive fruity aromatic character of ripe bittersweet apples whilst being crisp light and refreshing. Sip or quaff, we don't mind, as long as you enjoy it. Cheers!

Rob can go first, right? Right.
As it says in their description, keeping it simple seems to bring out the best of the brew. The thing that drew me to select this cider was its looks. The bottle is clear so you can gaze upon the beautifully golden liquid it contains. Also, by keeping it simple, it's almost as if everything about it is subtle. It is very dry, but starts out with a little sweetness that doesn't end up overwhelming you. It's also not very tart and as you let the cider warm up, you can taste a little bit of iron. I like Henney's and I will have it again in the future, I just wish it had something that made it stand out. Still, three and a half apples from me!

As for Liz?
Henney's starts out soft and sweet as I had expected it to. It turns to its dry side pretty quickly. It's dry before you even swallow. I am not a fan of very dry ciders, and this one is definitely true to it's name. I am also surprised at how bitter this one tastes. I am having a hard time drinking this one. If you like dry ciders and wines, this one will probably be right up your alley. Unfortunately, I don't live on that alley. I'm giving this one and a half apples.

It's been a while since we were that far apart in our ratings. Either way, stop by again next week for another cider adventure and make sure to tell your friends!

Happy Tasting!
-Rob & Liz

Ciderboys Peach Country

It's December? Already?! Wow, this year has gone by fast. Hopefully you've had a good one. What interesting Ciders have you stumbled upon? This week we have another brew from a brand we did early on in the blog, Ciderboys. And even though it's not made in Georgia, it's called Peach Country. I wonder what it tastes like...

I know we already covered this the last time we reviewed Ciderboys, but Peach Country comes to us from Steven's Point, WI and weighs in at 5% alcohol by volume. Here's what the Ciderboys had to say about this particular brew:

Apple Peach hard cider

Huh, I guess it's that simple... Hopefully our reviews are a bit more informative.

What does Liz think about Peach Country? Let's find out:

This is definitely different than any other cider I've tried so far. The peach flavor is so incredibly strong, I can't taste any apple (if it was even there to begin with). I'm pretty happy with this one though because it's not overly sweet or tart. The sweet is just like biting into a real peach. I don't know if I could handle more than a couple of these in one sitting, though. The peach is good, but it's not something I could see myself craving. I give it 2.5 apples. 

Now let's see if I fit in as one of the Ciderboys:

Holy Peach Batman! This cider doesn't taste much like apples. The peach really overpowers the apple so it doesn't taste so sweet. The iron taste is mostly subdued until you've gone a minute without a sip. At that point you can kind of taste it on your tongue. Much like last week with the appricot, I am not expert on peaches, but the taste is very distinct and not very sweet. If you want a cider that doesn't taste like cider, this one is for you! For me, it's more like a one and done. Seeing as how this is only about half apple, it gets half of our rating system, two and a half apples.

Well that concludes another week with the DeCiders. As always, feel free to leave your comments below and maybe drop off a recommendation for next week's tasting! Thanks for reading and enjoy a nice cider for us this weekend.

Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob