Bottle at Sjogro’s birthday. Bit hazy pale straw. Funky pear, light lemon candy, grassy, marihuana, white grapes. Medium sweet, light sour. Medium dry. Nice.

Bottle of cyser from Thirst in BK. Previously had this 6 or so years ago at Astor's yearly cider event. Baby Duvel glass @ home. Dark, dark, copper/iced-tea color; very still, a bit oily & not perfectly clear. Legs running down the edge of the bottle. I really do remember bubbles in this sample from years back. Smells of macerated, browned apples, wax, rum, light spice, sharp & green fruit. Taste is uncooked honey, brown sugar, sharp red apple skins, wax, something slightly robitussin-y/medicinal, significant oxidation, oak. Feel is lush, thick, drippy, non-greasy, obviously flat despite my memories & the phrase sparkling wine on the back label. Not all that hot either. I do like this a lot. It however isn't as good as it was. Always a treat to find these bottles regardless.

Bottle at Spuytin. Golden, slightly hazy wine glass pour. Smells of wax, wet leaves, clay. Taste is a soft, lingering honey sweetness upfront, maturing inti deeply macerated bittersweet apple flavor. Soft, silky, honey thick body that is supported by gentle, yet sturdy bubbles. This is great.

Bottle from Astor Wines. Only had prosecco in the house, so I poured this for our own glasses during the NYE drop. Orange gold body, hazy because I woke the yeasties. Big, soda fizz head, but it’s fleeting. Smell is cheese, chalk & lots of browned apples. Once it airates, less cheese, more fruit & stone. Tart, sweet, & only lightly bitter. Sharp & browned flesh sweetness. Pleasant chalky yeast & enough sugar start turning the body creamy. Faint barnyard still remains, but it’s an afterthought. Tannic skin, but not a lot. Lots of sulfites though, being one of the few small negatives. Rich, heavy, bubbly, tart, ever slightly funky. So much better then prosecco.