Growers Light Black Cherry

Of the many flavoured ciders that Growers make, I thought I would try this black cherry one because I like cherry flavour. I enjoyed the West Avenue Cherriosity and the excellent Loch Mór Sour Cherry and the Goldkehlchen Sauerkirsche.

Even though the ingredient list indicates "natural flavours", the taste is definitely artificial, as is the bouquet. And it finishes with a strange aftertaste which may be from the other ingredient: sodium citrate. And it also has two artificial colours added. 5/10

Local Press Apple & Cherry

From a company called Collective Arts that makes ciders, beer, spirits and energy drinks. This cider is made from with apple cider and Ontario-grown Montmorency cherries. They call it a "tart cherry cider" and it is. It has a deep red colour like a Beaujolais and a faint cherry bouquet. The cherry flavour is intense and dry initially; the cherry lingers slightly and it finishes dry. (They also make a pure cider, their "flagship," made with Ontario-grown northern Spy, Ida Red and Spartan apples, which they describe as "refreshing, crisp, [and] clean.")

This is on par with the West Avenue Cherriosity though not as good as the exceptional Loch Mór Sour Cherry or the Goldkehlchen Sauerkirsche. 7/10

Dragon's Gold Dry Craft

From Heritage Cider in Barrie, Ontario this is an interesting cider. Unlike most commercial cider it is cloudy like a scrumpy with a pale yellow-gold colour and a light old-apple bouquet. Taste is lighter than expected but is a pleasant off-dry old apple taste with a good after taste. 8/10 

Thornbury Craft Strong (125)

For my 125th cider comes this is very strong cider from Thornsbury at 7.1%. It has a very faint yellow colour like a white wine and a very faint apple bouquet. They state on their website that this cider has a "bright, crisp apple flavor, just like biting into a fresh apple." Well, not quite. The taste is off-dry to lightly sweet and the taste is quite light. This is sweeter than any apple I've ever eaten and sweeter than I like. 6.5/10