This season, skip the ice and try one of these cold weather sippers from Ontario hard working cider makers!
Along with all that butter, cinnamon, and sugar, the cold weather brings with it a new fleet of heart-warming sippers. Some of our favorites right now are the flavorful, full-bodied ciders coming from Ontario’s many cider houses. They’re packed with everything from cranberries and spices, to oddities like toasted coconut.
Try one at a cider house near you this season. You won’t be disappointed!
Cranberry Apple Cider
- Thornbury Village Craft Cider & Beer
- thornburycraft.com
There’s a reason Thornbury Cranberry Apple Cider was awarded “Royal’s Best” at the Royal Craft Beer & Cider Awards this year! It’s delicious, tart, balanced and the perfect pairing for festive foods. This beauty is cidery only, so get yourself to Thornbury soon!
Breakfast Cider
- Sulkers Cider
- sulkerscider.com
After trying the Chai Me Now cider from Sulker’s at Cask Days, we knew we were going to be life long fans! While that particular blend of cardamon, vanilla, ginger and apple goodness was limited for the event — we’ve since discovered their fall seasonal. ‘Breakfast Cider’ is made with local maple syrup and toasted coconut; needless to say, we’re hooked.
Winter Bliss Cider
- Spirit Tree Estate Cider
- spirittreecider.com
The dark gold colour, caramel-orange flavour, and big alcohol of this heritage cider will warm your soul on a cold winter’s day. It’s Spirit Tree’s interpretation of the classic New England style cider made with loads of warm spices and dried fruit. Get it at the cidery for a limited time!
Spirit Of The Woods
- Revel Cider Co.
- revelcider.ca
This unique cider is the brain child of a Dillon’s-Revel collaboration. The folks at Revel take spent botanicals from Dillon’s Gin 22 brew and add it to the cider as it ages. You get distinct warming notes of clove, citrus rind, and vanilla as a result.
Winter Spice Cider
- KW Craft Cider
- kwcraftcider.com
This award-winning mulled apple cider tastes just like winter at the ski chalet. Deep spicy notes of Vanilla, peach, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg make this a perfect drink to enjoy sitting fireside on a cold day. It’s a seasonal, so get it at the cidery before it’s gone!
Frequin Rouge
- West Avenue Cider
- westavenue.ca
This is probably the most interesting cider on our list. At 6% alcohol, it’s a heavy hitter — but that sting is tempered with the most complex palette we’ve tasted all year. Rhubarb, apples, rindy cheese and hay are just some of the things we tasted. You’ll easily forget the cold while mulling this one over!