Review of Far West Cider’s Orchard Blend No. 1.  I’ve previously sampled a different vintage of this cider (see here), plus Far West’s San Joaquin Sparkler.  I got this bottle through Press Then Press, a new online cider store focusing on small batch ciders.  I got a sneak peak, but they are planning to launch late Aug / early Sept 2019 having a soft launch Aug 19 and an official launch Sept 9 2019; sign up for e-mails to be first in the know.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Press Then Press.  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:  Orchard Blend No. 1
Cidery:  Far West Cider Co.
Cidery Location:  Richmond CA
ABV:  6.5%
How Supplied:  750ml bottles
Style:  American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability:  only through Press Then Press (which ships to 43/50 states), unless you happen to be at a specific store in California

Distributor Description:  Don’t taste the same, taste the difference!  Press Then Press – Farm to you small batch cider.  We focus on small batch and hard to find cider.  Please visit our curated online store!  We are a mom and pop who wanted more fine cider available to everyone (over 21), so we started this up.  Press Then Press will email you when a fine cider is available for purchase.  If you want it, visit our site and purchase it!  Pick up your cider in Seattle, or we ship to you.  Sign up with your email to be included on future available ciders.  You will hear about it first!  1)Press the fruit  then  2) Press the order button

Cider Description:  This cider uses a combination of GoldRush, Cripps Pink and Granny Smith apples grown on Chinchiolo Family Farms. It is fermented with Champagne yeast at very low temperatures and aged to develop more complexity than your typical cider. Fruit-forward, sparkling, and just barely semi-sweet with great acid balance

Cidery Description:  Californian ciders from a 4th generation family farm in San Joaquin County.

Price:  $15
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  originally browsing when in a bottle shop in San Francisco CA, now through Press Then Press

First Impression:  Light straw yellow hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells mild, tart.

Tasting Notes:  On the drier side of semi-dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Moderate tartness.  Moderate to high acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of green apple, lemon, pineapple, and honey.  Moderate length tart finish.  Low to moderate apple flavor, complexity, and overall flavor intensity.  High sessionability.

My Opinion:  I liked it.  Tasty and easy to drink.  This perceives a bit drier (less sweet) than the last vintage I tried, possibly because it is more tart & acidic than that version.  Overall I’d expect this to have wide appeal.

Most Similar to:  Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet and Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider

Closing Notes:  I look forward to trying the other ciders in Press Then Press‘ introductory lineup.  Their website is well laid out and informative, making the order process easy, and providing access to unique ciders which otherwise wouldn’t be available to most folks.

Have you tried Far West Cider?  What did you think?