Review of Gabbie’s Premium Cider Semi Dry.  I picked this up in Victoria B.C., a stop on our Alaska cruise.  Its the first time I’ve tried their cider.

Cider:  Semi Dry
Cidery:  Gabbie’s Premium Cider, from Ravenskill Orchards
Cidery Location:  Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada
ABV:  6.5%
How Supplied:  750ml bottle
Style:  Canadian craft cider from apples from B.C. Canada, including cider apple varieties

  

Availability:  only in British Columbia, Canada (Gulf Islands, Victoria, and Vancouver Island); see here

Cider Description:  Diverse, Semi-dry and Delicious!  Golden in the glass, this semi dry cider opens up with a supple rustic apple fragrance.  The acidity creates the perfect balance between sweet and salty.

Cidery Description:  Nearly 100 years ago, B.C.’s Gulf Island farmers concocted exceptional hard cider.  Legend has it, those makers then journeyed out to sea to share their libations with the mainland. To those Cider Makers, we salute you.  Today we join you.

Gabbie’s Premium Ciders are perfected by Ravenskill Orchards at our unique island location.  Amongst 1,000 heritage trees, 25 varieties of apples, grow fresh, crisp, sun-kissed and gently-breezed by the salty sea air.  We are a family of farmers, sea lovers and makers crafting the best small batch premium cider the Gulf Island have enjoyed since prohibition.  A distinct taste and cider experience.

Our premium hard ciders are handcrafted in a traditional “old-world” style using “new world” techniques. A perfect blend of distinctive flavour and colourfully named apples varieties such as Yarlington Mill, Newton Pippin, Kingston Black & Porter’s Perfection.

Price:  $20 CAN (~$15 USD)
Where Bought:  The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing

First Impression:  Moderate straw yellow.  Low carbonation.  Smells of tart apples, citrus, and honey.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate to high tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Low bitterness.  Low tannins.  Slight richness.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of apple pomace, tart apple varieties like granny smith and crabapples, citrus (lemon), honey, and floral.  Moderate length finish.  Moderate apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability.  Moderate complexity.

My Opinion:  I enjoyed this cider.  However, I found it a bit tart for my liking.  I liked the tannins and complexity, but it left me wanting more.  I’m curious as to the apple blend; they mention cider apple varieties, but not that those are the only apple varieties used.

Most Similar to:  Liberty Ciderworks New World Style and Raven’s Moon Apple Cider

Closing Notes:   Gabbie’s Semi Dry is well suited for lovers of tart ciders, and would pair well with food.  I’m glad I got to try it.  They also offer a “Real Dry” variety of cider (which won Gold in the Traditional Dry category of the 2016 PNW Cider Awards).

Have you tried Gabbie’s cider?  What did you think?