Spirit Tree – Estate Reserve (2021)

Cider Profile:

Name: Spirit Tree – Estate Reserve (2021)
Sampled September 2025

Brand: Spirit Tree Cider Co. 
Type: Apple – Dry
Location of Production: Caledon, ON
ABV: 8.5%
Website Link: spirittreecider.com
Ingredients: N/A
Gluten Free: Yes
Sugar Content: N/A 

Size(s) available: 750ml (bottle)
Availability: Spirit Tree online + retail store
Flavour: Apple
Colour:  Transparent dark rustic
Carbonation: No carbonation, appears still


Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Funky apple with sulphur notes. Hints of red peel.
Initial Taste: Minimal bite from carbonation and acidity. Bright, slightly acetic apples that taste rustic and heritage-based. Some bitterness and a forward astringency. Some variety of apple notes, including a bit of caramelized apple.
After Taste: Apples remain the same but become slightly more funky in nature. Earthy notes with hints of oak and straw. Quick, flat finish.
On ice: Most is stripped. Much thinner flavour and body. Quicker flavour profile.

Additional Notes:  The 2021 Vintage of Spirit Tree’s Estate Cider is a lighter-bodied cider that showcases some typical Spirit Tree estate-based cider elements – similar but different from their 2019 vintage. Decently dry, there are a variety of apple notes present here, but they are lighter than you may anticipate. A bit dank, it does feature some sulphur and acetic notes, as well as caramelized apple characteristics. 

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 1.5
Sour – 2.5
Crisp – 2
Dry – 4
Fruity – 2

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Heemans – Century Cider
More Sour – Farm Gate – Wild Child
More Dry – Heartwood – Gangster’s Mistress
More Crisp – Woodfolk – Sun Gold

Links to Other Stories
Spirit Tree – Estate Reserve (2015)
Spirit Tree – Estate Reserve (2019)

Links to Pairings
Links to Cocktails
Links to Comparisons

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