The attractively bottled 2015 First Flora highlights the work of Angry Orchard and head cidermaker Ryan Burk’s work in the Walden Orchard in New York’s Hudson Valley. As one of the two Valley Flor series ciders and the first ferment to take place at this new Innovation Cider House, the process consists of three steps. The bittersweet and sharp apples are harvested, fermented using only the natural microflora of the orchard then aged for several months in Calvados (apple brandy) barrels. The pour is a golden color — reminiscent of an orange wine. The bittersweet and sharp qualities of the spotlighted apples are rich in the still cider but balanced by a nose both wild and sweet. There’s an approachable yeasty funk with a sharp finish that’s polished up and wine-like.
