Review of Carlton Cyderworks’ Slake barrel aged cider.  Carlton was founded in 2009, and this cider appear to have been released for the first time in September 2015.

Cider:  Slake
Cidery:  Carlton
Cidery Location:  McMinnville OR
ABV:  6.75%
How Supplied:  22oz bottle

 

Availability:  Limited release in OR & WA

Cider Description:  Slake: (verb) to cool or refresh.  Slake your thirst! Aged in whiskey barrels, this crisp apple cyder features notes of vanilla and oak and just a touch of sweetness.

Cidery Description:  Family-owned Micro Cidery. We make some traditional cider. We make some modern cider. It’s all good stuff. 

Price:  $6.50
Where Bought:  Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I’m a big fan of barrel aged ciders, and pretty much buy every one I see.

First Impression:  Light straw yellow.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells of tannins, oak, honey, yeast, acidity, vanilla, and mild apple.

Opinion:  Semi-dry.  The oak, honey, and vanilla notes continue.  Mild whiskey and mild barrel influence.  Low acidity, tartness, bitterness, and tannins.  No funk or sourness.  Light bodied.  Quick finish.  Very mild flavored, almost sessionable.  Some warmth at the end.

Most Similar to:  Mildly flavored barrel aged ciders.  A lot of the flavor notes (vanilla, oak, honey) and that it is semi-dry and still reminds me of 2 Towns’ The Bad Apple, although that is over 10% ABV and more fully flavored.  I also find some comparisons to Tieton Cidermaker’s Reserve.

Closing Notes:   Pretty tasty, but it left me wanting more flavor in general.  However, I’m a fan of very full-flavored ciders.  I think the price was very reasonable though.

Have you tried Carlton Slake?  What did you think?