Vaski Muusa 8 Ice Cider

From Finland this is an ice cider made from frozen apples and refrozen juice. Aged briefly in oak barrels. Amber colour with a light sweet apple bouquet. Taste is sweet light apple with a slight nutty sherry-like taste. 8.0% ABV. My rating 7.5/10.

Vaski Punomo

Medium yellow colour with an old apple bouquet. Taste is a strong old apple, off-dry, which lingers. 4.5% ABV. My rating 7/10.

Vaski Sour Cider

A very different cider, noted as being inspired by the ciders of Spain, especially the Basque region. It is fermented completely dry and unfiltered so it is slightly cloudy. They also note the “twist of vinegary bite.” The colour is light amber with a sharp bouquet that is lightly acidic or vinegary. Taste is very dry and tart with a light vinegar aftertaste. Very intense so may be okay with certain foods but not on its own. 6.5% ABV. My rating 6/10.

Vaski Saaga

This is medium amber with a pronounced old apple bouquet. Taste is firm old apple with a drier slightly astringent finish. Dry enough to be better with food. 7.5% ABV. My rating 6.5/10.

Vaski Cider & Distillery

I visited Vaski Cider & Distillery which is located in Halikko (near Salo), Finland. Salo is about a 1½ train ride from Helsinki, and Halikko is a 15 minute drive or bus ride from Salo. There I met the master cider maker, Tapani Levanto. As I remember, they make about 8 ciders, and I tried 5: Saaga, Sauna, Muusa 8 Ice, Punomo, and Sour—see my reviews following. Here are a couple of Facebook videos with the owner: One & Two.

Crowmoor Dry

Light amber in colour and and a light apple bouquet. Taste is off-dry with a light musty aftertaste. 4.7% ABV. My rating 6/10.

Happy Joe Dry White Riesling Flavoured

One of the more unusual ciders I’ve tried; this is a Riesling flavoured cider! Pale yellow wine coloured with a floral bouquet. It has a nice effervescence and there is a distinct floral taste with a hint of citrus but, surprisingly, finishes off-dry. The only ingredients listed on the label that could account for the so-called Riesling taste are citric acid and natural flavours. 5.4% ABV. My rating 6.5/10.