Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Addison.  This and Wassail are their first two releases, described as “ultra-premium”.  Vermont Cider Company is part of Vermont Hard Cider (along with Woodchuck, Magner’s, Wyder’s, Hornsby’s, and Blackthorn).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Vermont Cider Company.  Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free.  The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue.  I love free stuff, especially cider!  Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here?  Contact me.<<

Cider:  Addison
Cidery:  Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location:  Middlebury VT
ABV:  5.0%
How Supplied:  six pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped) or four pack of 16oz cans
Style:  commercial cider from American dessert apples

  

 

Availability:  Year round, only available in the Northeastern U.S., released December 2016 in bottles, and March 2017 in cans

Cider Description:  Named for Addison County, where it is produced, Addison is crafted from 100 percent fresh pressed juice sourced only from Vermont and Northeastern orchards.  “Addison is a semi-dry cider, but it is so much more,” said Bridget Blacklock, Vermont Cider Co. Director of Marketing. “It’s where we are from. Addison is Vermont. It’s where we craft what we believe is the finest cider in the world.”  “For this flagship cider, we used premium yeasts and longer, cooler fermentations to capture and promote the delicate fresh apple flavors, with no added sugar,” said Ben E. Calvi, Director of Cider Making. “Addison is the ideal cider for consumers seeking drier options with strong, authentic roots.”

Cidery Description:  Vermont Cider Co. introduced the U.S. to the craft cider category 25 years ago. Dedicated exclusively to cider making, they are the proud producers of the original American hard cider, Woodchuck®, the circus of ciders, Gumption®, the west coast native, Wyder’s® Cider, and importers of Magners® Irish Cider and Blackthorn®. With an unparalleled focus on quality and innovation, Vermont Cider Co. leads the category in releasing the most premium liquid and pioneering new ciders made from the finest ingredients. Under the watchful eyes of two award winning cider makers, Vermont Cider Co. produces and distributes from Middlebury, VT, blending together the passion of their consumers, their creativity, and their heritage within the green mountains.

Price:  n/a (retails for $10.99 / six pack of bottles or four pack of cans)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  I heard about it online and requested samples.

First Impression:  Still.  Medium straw yellow hue.  Smells syrupy, of apple, fruity, and a hint of vanilla.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Medium bodied, slightly candied / syruppy.  Low tartness.  Low to moderate acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of green apple, pineapple, white grape, and honey.  Quick finish.  Moderate apple flavor.  Moderate flavor intensity.  High sessionability.  Low complexity.

My Opinion:  I enjoyed it.  It is a seriously solid flagship cider selection.  Definitely more on the commercial end, but Addison is also at the same price point as their more commercial Woodchuck ciders.  I enjoyed the body and flavor of this, without too much acidity or sweetness.  More often I’ve seen flavor notes like these in a drier and more acidic cider.  It definitely has a flavor I have come to associate with Woodchuck cider though, more than the Wassail.

Most Similar to:  Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider, which had a similar level of sweetness, body / syrupiness, and flavor notes.

Closing Notes:  For the same price, I’d definitely drink this over many of the Woodchuck ciders.  Its tasty and easy to drink.

Have you tried Vermont Cider Company’s Addison?  What did you think?