Review of Original Sin Elderberry cider.  It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Cherry Tree, Pear, Northern Spy, and Extra Dry

Cider:  Elderberry
Cidery:  Original Sin
Cidery Location:  New York NY
ABV:  5.0%
How Supplied:  multipack of 12oz cans
Style:  American craft cider from dessert apples with elderberries

  

Availability:  semi wide release

Cider Description:  A balanced cider combining the natural acid and sugar of apples with the tart qualities of elderberries.  Elderberries have been adding flare to hard cider for centuries.  In fact, the 1822 book The American Orchardist suggests adding Elderberries to give cider “a fine colour as well as flavour.” Original Sin brings back this brilliant tradition with our new Elderberry Cider.

Cidery Description: Established in 1996, Original Sin is one of the original modern-day U.S. cider companies. With a mere $5,000 in funding, founder Gidon Coll began making cider in Upstate New York and spent two years going bar to bar in New York City to develop his early market base. Today, Original Sin is still 100% independent and now distributed in 32 U.S. States, The United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan.

Original Sin started a New York State test orchard five years ago, which now features over 100 rare, cider and contemporary apple varieties. Each year, the company adds interesting and historically significant varieties to the Original Sin orchard’s genetic pool.

Price:  ~ $3 / can
Where Bought:  The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing

First Impression:  Medium purple-red hue.  Smells of tart berry.  Very low carbonation.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins.  Notes of berry with hints of cranberry & pomegranate.  Moderate length finish.  Low apple flavor.  Low complexity.  Low to moderate flavor intensity.  High sessionability.

My Opinion:  I thought this was average.  Plenty drinkable, but it didn’t really stand out.

Most Similar to:  any other semi-dry berry cider

Closing Notes:  I also bought a can of Locust Vanilla Bean and mixed them together.  That one was a bit of an off can, less flavorful and sweet than usual, but its a nice mix.

Have you tried Original Sin Elderberry?  What did you think?