By Leesy Latronica
Bottom left photo by Erin Berzel Photography
The cider accessory market is expanding along with the beverage’s production, with more and more cider-savvy products available for your own consumption purposes or for spreading the love of cider. Start that sharing with the woman who brought you into this world to enjoy cider in the first place—your mom.
Pop Bottles with Style
The best gifts are those that hide their practicality in luxury, and no better statement exists to describe the new Decapitator by Corksicle. This sleek product will swiftly unleash the glory of your favorite scrumpy delight with a swift yet firmly pressed tap of the cap. While traditional bottle openers have the unruly tendency to torpedo the caps across the room, the Decapitator has a magnetic feature, which results in an easy and clean disposal of the cap. Perfect for a Mother’s Day gift or for simply treating yourself. | $19.95
The Perfect Sidekick
It’s about time to mount your bike or start walking to a neighborhood party when a problem arises—glass bottles and cans, although filled with boozy goodness, are not easily transportable. Fortunately for us, the a husband and wife duo behind Oregon’s Walnut Studiolo have developed a line of “beer accessories” that conveniently serve our cider needs as well. As fashionable as they are functional, these artisan leather pieces come in a variety of forms. From leather cages, cinches and straps to attach your favorite drink to a bike to leashes that will make cider the perfect companion to accompany you to your next party, these products fulfill every nomadic desire. | Prices are $12-$114
Crafty Crates
Hand-built in Colorado by skilled craftsmen, Colorado Apple Crates offer a beautiful, rustic look for your storage needs with the added benefit of being a natural insect repellant. Be it you are seeking a vintage-looking nightstand, a crafty way to replace a traditional bookshelf, or you simply need to carry apples, these cedar crates can be stacked or stand alone to offer fashionable versatility. Products range from traditional crates, mini crates and trays complete with authentic horseshoe handles to give any home or business some farmhouse flair. | Prices are $18-$30
A Sweet Escape
If you enjoy relaxing with a fresh glass of cider, why not take the experience to the next level by booking a vacation in a cozy cottage on one of the very patches of land where the apples are grown. In Charlottesville, Virginia, sits the Cottage at Rural Ridge, available for rent to comfortably sleep eight on the Albemarle Ciderworks and Vintage Virginia Apples farm. Guests can enjoy peaceful walks through the beautiful fields of orchards and stop by the tasting rooms for complimentary sips of the fruit grown on the lands they just wandered about. | $400 per night
Apples with a Kick
Every so often, an evening calls for a drink with a bit more kick than a traditional bottle of cider. When the craving for a masterfully-crafted cocktail or a stiff drink arises, there is no need to stray away from the apple family. Cornelius Applejack, which is made from two-year-aged, twice-distilled hard cider, is the perfect marriage of rich apple flavor and bourbon-esque vanilla and oak hints. Sixty pounds of apples are needed for one bottle of this apple brandy, and these apples are grown in Hudson Valley, steps from the distillery that produces this delicious concoction. Try it mixed with ginger beer for a fun spin on the classic Kentucky Mule or straight up on the rocks paired with your favorite sweet dessert. | $46
Homebrewed Delights
For those who want to experience the pride that comes with sipping on a cider that you worked hard to create, the BrewDemon Hard Cider Kit provides all the equipment and direction necessary to brew up to two gallons of delicious hard cider. This includes a conical fermenter, the same fermentation style used by commercial brewers, eight one-liter bottles and a heat-tolerant mixing spoon. In only two weeks you will be able to relax with a glass of your very own tasty creation. | $90
