Focusing on semi-sweet and dry ciders made with Virginia apples — often featuring an array of tasty adjuncts or time spent in barrels — Buskey Cider is a favorite spot for cider lovers in Scott’s Addition, the popular craft-beverage neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia.
At Buskey, co-owner Elle Correll utilizes both her lifelong passion for art, and her drinks expertise, to manage and implement the visual story of her brand through logos, labels, social media and beyond. In advance of Virginia Cider Week, Cidercraft caught up with Elle to ask her four questions.
CIDERCRAFT: What makes Scott’s Addition such a special home for a craft beverage business like Buskey Cider?
Elle Correll: Buskey Cider opened in April 2016 in the popular craft-beverage neighborhood of Scott’s Addition in Richmond, Virginia, and has since expanded into their second outpost ‘Buskey Cider on the Bay’ located in scenic Cape Charles. Scott’s Addition is very central to Richmond and is at the intersection of I-95 and I-64, but for decades had been largely forgotten. Now Scott’s Addition has become the heartbeat of Richmond and what really made it special is that entrepreneurs and creatives got a foothold there first before the developers took notice and raised the competitiveness and price of the real estate. We’re looking forward to the population of the neighborhood growing and being able to introduce all of the newcomers to our cider!
CIDERCRAFT: What came first, your love of design or your love of cider?
EC: My interest in cider began when I was living in Spain and one of my best friends lived in the Basque region which has one of the world’s best cider traditions. I have always had an artistic flare — however, I just never imagined my art would have such a unique opportunity to literally end up in people’s hands and refrigerators!
CIDERCRAFT: What does Buskey Cider have in store for Virginia Cider Week?
EC: Virginia Cider Week runs November 11-20, 2022, and it’s a celebration of Virginia apples and the incredible ciders made from them. There’ll be events hosted around the state, mostly at the cideries themselves.
Some of the highlighted events are the Albemarle Smackdown: Attack of the Crabapple; the Lake Anna Cider Festival at Coyote Hole Ciderworks; and the Alexandria Cider Festival at the Lloyd House. At Buskey Cider, we’re proud to present our Hewe’s Crab Single Varietal on draft and in 500ml bottles!
Made with 100% Virginia grown Hewe’s crab apples, this cider boasts floral notes, evoking grapefruit peel, pear and strawberry. Fermented to completely dry and aged on its lees for six months. It will be available on draft and in 500ml bottles on Friday, November 18, 2022.
CIDERCRAFT: What’s next for Buskey Cider?
EC: Every year we release a new harvest cider in cans, and this year, 2022 Buskey Heritage Blend Cider will feature Ruby Red Crab, Ashmead’s Kernel and Gold Rush apples. We’ll also be releasing a single varietal of the Ruby Red Crab apples because it’s just that good, and our customers deserve it!
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