Review of Sonoma Cider’s The Anvil, a bourbon flavored cider.

 

Cider:  The Anvil
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location:  Healdsburg CA
ABV:  6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of green 12oz bottles (or a single 22oz bottle)
Availability:  Year-round, semi-wide release in U.S. (plus Canada & China apparently!)

Cider Description:  David and Robert both love Bourbon. We mean love bourbon. Maybe that’s why they didn’t beat around the bush here. Sure, you can age subtly in bourbon barrels. And subtlety is sometimes enough. But, with the Anvil, the real spark ignited when we tossed nuance aside and added a healthy measure of our proprietary barrel-proof bourbon flavor. Suddenly, something intense, alive and memorable happened. To our palates, it offers a clean, lively, aromatic presence with a layered smoky finish. It’s truly integrated and rounded, yet vitally distinct. Enjoy.

Blend of organic Yakima Valley Fuji and Granny Smith apples.  2.7 BRIX.  3.75 pH acidity.

Cidery Description:  Sonoma Cider handcrafts the only full line of organic ciders in the U.S., each made with distinctive, all natural, gluten-free ingredients. Sonoma Ciders are produced from freshly squeezed, organic apples in micro batches to deliver intensity of flavor and a refined experience for this rapidly growing category. The company was founded in 2013 by 20-year veteran cidermaster, David Cordtz, with his son and co-founder, Robert Cordtz. Together they combine decades of industry expertise with next generation dynamism.

[at least Alpenfire is also Organic, by the way]

Price:  ~$2.50 for a single 12oz bottle (or $8-10 for a four pack)
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA (I’ve also seen it at Total Wine & Whole Foods, among other places)
Where Drank:  home
How Found: Initially, by browsing Total Wine.  This time thought I had thought it would be an interesting one to review, so I picked up a bottle.

First Impression: Copper amber with a slight yellow sheen.  Quite carbonated upon pouring.  I smell smokey apple and bourbon

Opinion:  Between semi-sweet & semi-dry.  I pick up smoke, bourbon, ripe apple, woodiness / earthiness, and caramelized sugar.  I like the higher carbonation level of this cider.  There is the slightest bit of tartness & acidity, although I tend to be sensitive to that.  This is bourbon flavored, not bourbon barrel aged, which is an interesting approach.  I quite like the Bourbon flavor (even though I don’t like Bourbon); I think it was done well, is fairly mild, and doesn’t taste fake or artificial.  Quick finishing.

I’ve had this cider a few times.  I have also tried Sonoma Cider’s other current offerings (Pitchfork, Hatchet, Crowbar, & Washboard), but The Anvil is my favorite, probably followed by The Pitchfork (pear).  Apparently Sonoma Cider also has “Dry Zider”, aged in Zinfadel wine barrels, their first Reserve Series, but I haven’t seen it yet.

Closing Notes:  Tasty!  Fairly easy to drink too.  Also, Sonoma Cider is a good fairly widely available craft cider alternative to commercial cider.

Have you tried Sonoma Cider’s The Anvil, or anything else they make?  What did you think?