Cold Creek – Bourbon Barrel Aged (2022)

Cider Profile:

Name: Cold Creek – Bourbon Barrel Aged (2022)
Sampled January 2024

Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Strong aroma. Funky, barrel-aged, woody elements with some tannic apples.
Initial Taste: Light bite from carbonation. Creamy, pulpy tannic apples start off that are very caramelized. The approachable bourbon and woody barreling notes take over the apple flavour a few moments after your first sip.
After Taste: Becomes softer in the aftertaste, apple returns as other elements mellow with a semi-long lasting taste. Some final film noticeable from the bourbon.
On ice: Reduced sweetness and bitterness, especially in the intensity. Bourbon upfront is reduced.

Additional Notes:  The 2022 vintage of Cold Creek’s Bourbon Barrel Aged offering is a caramel-forward, tannic offering (with a hint of juicy, delicate, clean apple that’s a characteristic of Cold Creek).  Starting off apple-focused, it is overtaken by a smooth bourbon with woody notes from the barreling, to finally return to an apple aftertaste that retains some bourbon elements.  Some wild elements.  Thick and creamy, as seen in its dark colour, but still retains a bit of sweetness. Pick an element (Bourbon, Apples, Barreling) and you can distinguish it. 

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 2.5
Sour – 3
Crisp – 3.5
Dry – 3.5
Fruity – 4

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Niagara Cider – Maple Whisky Oak Cider
More Sour – Hard Way – Whisky Rebellion
More Dry – West Avenue – Russell Niles
More Crisp – Slabtown – Vanilla Bourbon

Links to Other Stories
Links to Pairings
Links to Cocktails
Links to Comparisons