I bought in Valletta, Malta this Swedish, so called, "premium" cider. It was disappointing — being too sweet and though it had a light pear taste had an artificial pear aftertaste. The company makes many varieties of flavoured ciders but I won't likely try any of them. 4/10.
By the Athenian Brewery S.A. comes this semi-sweet cider with a light taste and a hint of tannin in the finish. Not a pure apple cider and a little sweeter than I normally like. Might be refreshing on a hot day if nothing else is available. "ΜΗΛΟ ΚΛΕΦΤΗΣ" means "Apple Thief." 5.5/10
There are a number of ciders to avoid particularly ones that are not pure cider, which are the ones I avoid. I particularly look for the label that says "made from 100% apples." Some cider makers use artificial flavours and/or aromatics, or other strange ingredients. On one so-called "cider" I tried apple was the fourth ingredient after water, vodka and sugar! So here's a list of ones to avoid:
Somersby, which is produced by Carlsberg in Denmark, is very popular and cheap. They call its product an "apple flavoured cider" and is a good example of "so-called" cider. Here is its list of ingredients: water, fermented apple juice, sugar, apple juice concentrate, citric acid, flavour, potassium sorbate, caramel colour, sulphites. It should be called an "apple flavoured drink," not a cider. Similarly, the ingredients of Milos Kleftis of Greece are concentrated apple juice with sucrose, water, sucrose syrup, plain caramel (colour), malic acid, carbonic acid, sulfites (antioxidant), and natural aromas (?!).
Duckchicken Cider, UK
Milo Kleftis, Greece
Rekorderlig, Sweden
Somersby, Denmark
A new release by Growers is this very dry little cider. Light in colour, bouquet and taste but refreshing nonetheless. It would make a nice summer drink but is fairly expensive given that it comes in a 355ml can but sells at the same price as others that are 500ml! 7/10
From Calidon, Ontario, comes this semi-sweet cider that they refer to as "English style." It is pale in colour with a nice bouquet and a full apple flavour Sweeter than I usually like to drink, but for its type is very good. 8/10.
The second cider I tried from Hard Way Cider Co. in Kingston, Ontario. (See the first here.) This one is a very dry barrel aged cider. It has a light amber colour and light fresh apple bouquet. There is an immediate light apple flavour with light hints of the barrel aging. It has just the right amount of astringency for a cider this dry without being too sharp, though the flavour fades quickly. 8/10
Winner of a double gold at the 2016 Finger Lakes International Wine Awards, is an excellent sparkling cider from Lincoln, Ontario cider maker Vieni. Made from Gala, Mackintosh, Honey Crisp, and Golden Delicious apples with a 6% ABV. It is an off-dry smooth drink with a pronounced apple flavour and a good aftertaste. 9/10!
