8.8

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

(750ml bottle from the cidery webshop) Pours clear pale salmon blush with a few rapidly fading white bubbles. Aroma of rich pear, slightly tannic red baking apples, red berry candy, sprightly underripe pineapple acidity, subtle spice box, tequila and wood, richness from the grape skins, sweet-sour balance and a little booziness. Flavour has somewhat more persistent acidity, apple and pear in balance with pineapple accents, red jelly beans and sweet tarts, soft tannins, a lot of berry vibes, sweetness in the middle and some clear perry in the finish playing with the tequila barrels which lend some spirit twang. Medium bodied with softly sparkling effervescence. Easily the best cider I've had, if a bit atypical with all the other elements in it. As complex and intricate and well-balanced as you could ask for, pulling elements of natural wine and even cocktails in.