A modern dessert drink offers chilled choices
By Genevieve Iverson
Ice cider may sound like a simply chilled drink, but before it reaches the mouth it has gone through a more intense series of production steps than most drinks can boast.
General specifics for making ice cider call for very few, if any, additions to the original apple juice base. This means no extra sugars, alcohol, flavors or coloring. Apples are picked and left in storage until the seasonal temperature drops below freezing. And while you probably wouldn’t leave your own household drinks outside all winter, the pressed juice is left out in the merciless winter cold—many orchards are located in the areas like Vermont and, ice ciders original home, Quebec. The cold temperatures naturally separate the properties of the juice, pulling the water away into an icy mess that is then removed from the pure juice. What remains is a rich, concentrated juice that contains its own sugars and apple flavors. After fermentation, ice cider holds around 7-13 percent alcohol by volume, according to the Vermont Ice Cider Association.
Ice ciders are always served chilled, and generally as a dessert drink with a 2-3 ounce pour. They pair well with cheeses, desserts and appetizers. Many ciders feature sweetness with an acidic note. Citrus, fruit and apple flavors are common, and natural residual sugars remain around 15 percent. While all ice ciders are made from apples, the range of dimension and flavor depth is wide and can contain many different hints, according to the Vermont Ice Cider Association.
Many events are held to celebrate ice cider and its connoisseurs. Vermont, known for its cold winters and a history of apple farming, remains a popular place to produce ice ciders. The Vermont Ice Cider Association typically holds an Ice Wine Festival in the winter months. Many local companies are showcased at this event, including Eden Ice Cider, Snow Farm Vineyards and Boyden Valley Winery.
Eden Ice Cider, located in West Charleston, Vt., offers several types of ice cider cocktail recipes on their website. Two are featured below.
Eden Cocktail
1 ounce Eden Ice Cider
1 ½ ounces Ketel Citron
Splash of lime juice
Club soda
Combine first three ingredients in a chilled glass with ice. Add soda to taste and garnish with citrus.
Falcon Apple Martini
1 ½ ounces Ketel Citron
1 ounce Eden Ice Cider
½ ounce Apple Pucker Schnapps
Lemon juice
Combine ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Cherry optional.
Photo and recipes courtesy of Eden Ice Cider.
