Review of Liberty’s Reserve Series Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal.  It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Manchurian Crabapple Single Varietal, Crabenstein, English Style, Abbess, Stonewall Dry Fly Whiskey Barrel Aged, Gravenstein, Cellar Series #G15, New World Style, Cellar Series (unknown), McIntosh, Golden Russet SV, Spokane Scrumpy, and Hewe’s Crab.

Cider:  Reserve Series #0216 Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal
Cidery:  Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location:  Spokane WA
ABV:  8.6%
How Supplied:  750ml corked bottles
Style:  American craft cider from Porter’s Perfection cider apples, barrel aged

  

Availability:  In general you can find their ciders in Washington and Oregon (see a list of locations here).  However, this variety was very limited (12 cases), mostly just their tap room and cider club members, plus possibly online sales through Vino Shipper (although at the time of review it was not listed)

Cider Description:  Porter’s Perfection apples are another UK favorite, valued in blending and as a stand-alone. Dry, tannic and satisfying, our 2015 Porter’s is a blend of apples from both our Palouse-based suppliers (Bishops’ Orchard & Steury Orchards). Aged in a used whiskey barrel (already stripped of whiskey by our award-winning Stonewall cider), this cider pairs beautifully with smoked poultry, pork and red meat dishes. (12 cases bottled still in 750 ml bottles, RS 0.2%)

Cidery Description:  Located in the largest apple-growing region on the continent, Liberty Ciderworks is all about the apple, showcasing the diversity and wonders of locally grown fruit. From well known apples like McIntosh and Jonathan to rare, cider-specific fruit like Kingston Black and Dabinett, Liberty ciders put apples in their proper place: Front and center.  We started Liberty Ciderworks in 2013 with a simple, two-part mission: 1) Using apples from local farms and fields to create unique, wonderful ciders, and 2) Sharing them with friends and neighbors across the great Pacific Northwest.  Welcome to the cider revolution. 

They have a tap room in Spokane WA, which also now has a bottle shop of selections from around the world.

Price:  $15.75
Where Bought:  Capitol Cider in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Perusing their cider bottle list.  I was surprised to find this, as I didn’t think the Reserve Series left their tap room.

First Impression:  Light orange amber hue.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells of bittersweet apple juice, caramel, and tannins.

Tasting Notes:  Dry.  Light bodied.  Low tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness.  Moderate tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of bittersweet apple, caramel, brown sugar, orange, and leather.  Long dry tannic finish.  Low to moderate flavor intensity.  Moderate to high complexity.  Moderate apple flavor.  Low sessionability.

My Opinion:  I enjoyed it.  However, I think I would have liked a bit more body and residual sweetness, as I think that would have brought out more flavor.  However, as-is, it is incredibly food friendly.

Most Similar to:  Eve’s Kingston Black, Farnum Hill Kingston Black, and Alpenfire Ember (which is sweeter)

Closing Notes:  Next up I have their Pink Pearl to try, another Reserve Series single varietal.

Have you tried any single varietal ciders?  What did you think?