Tasting at Matt’s, vintage 2011, 9% ABV
Golden color. Had it side to side with their regular Ice Cider, this has more class and elegance; it has a good flavor of caramelized apples, higher acidity, and nice astringency in the end. Very good.

375mL bottle, pours a hazy dull bronze with a tiny white head. Aroma is much more complex than the regular, with caramel apples, treacle toffee, and brown sugar. Flavour is along the same lines, with caramel apples, treacle toffee, and medium sweetness. Complex and wonderfully decadent. Excellent.

Recolte 2011 375ml bottle. Thanks to ineedbeer. The cider is a deeper amber color than the regular version but still a fairly light amber color. It’s clear and has no bubbles. Looks to have some body to it. Pretty alright legs on the glass when you swirl it. Compared to the regular version, the Reserve has more of that caramel apple pie flavor. It’s sweet but there’s more depth to the sweetness. Apple goodness on top of brown sugar, toffee, vanilla. Taste is still quite sweet but again I get more depth, more caramel, more rich, buttery pie flavor. Long, full finish. The regular version washes out a bit in the end, while this maintains its depth and complexity. Full, round body. Good stuff.

Poured from a 2011 harvest bottle courtesy of tom10101. Aroma has a nice rich apple note with a large caramel and honey character. Some spice as well as light oak. Like an apple pie. Pours a clear, brilliant gold with no head or lacing. Moderately long legs. Flavor is moderately sweet with a nice, rich apple note. Caramel, candi sugar and honey also present. Some light spice notes with lingering apple and caramel. Light oak notes. A much better finish than the regular version. Mouthfeel is nice and silky with a bit of stickiness on the lips. Low astringnecy and low alcohol warmth. Overall, this is much better than the regular version. Richer apple and sugar notes add a more depth. A bit fuller mouthfeel as well.