An Afternoon With Tom Douglas (Time Out For Some Food Part 2)

It's the Holiday season! That means spending time with family and friends... around mountains of delicious food. Although this blog is mostly dedicated to hard cider, we do try to spend some time on libation's perfect partner. This week Bailey was lucky enough to be a part of Tom Douglas's cooking demonstration at Macy's on State Street in Chicago!

I will start by giving you some basic info on this amazing chef. Tom Douglas was born in Delaware and moved to Seattle in 1977. He never attended any type of formal culinary school. Instead, he climbed his way up the ropes by working in restaurant kitchens around Seattle. He currently owns a whopping 13 restaurants in the Seattle area and cultivates an array of ingredients used in their kitchens on his farm in Prosser, WA. He also produces a line of seasonings called "Rub With Love." As if all this wasn't enough to keep him busy, he also co-hosts a weekly radio show called "In the Kitchen with Tom and Thierry."
His website can be found here, and there is also a link directly to the shop containing the "Rub With Love" seasoning line:
http://tomdouglas.com/
http://store.tomdouglas.com/storefront.aspx

On to the show!

Upon arriving to the lovely and festively decorated lower level of the Macy's on State Street, I was greeted by the always friendly staff and ushered to my seat. I couldn't help buy notice the Christmas music playing in the background and the upbeat attitude in the air. Chef Douglas was setting up his cooking area and was dancing to the beat of "Run Run Rudolph" and I couldn't help but chuckle. Throughout the entire cooking demo it was easy to see that he was enjoying himself and really wanted to be there with everyone in the crowd.

The first course was a variation of his recipe for Coffee-Bean Turkey with Sweet Onion Gravy. In this variation he used prime rib instead of turkey to spare us from our post Thanksgiving nightmares of having to eat more roasted gobble-gobblers. He had a few general tips for cooking meat in your kitchen. Most importantly he stressed using a meat thermometer to judge when meats are done instead of relying on time. Secondly, he suggested buying a thermometer to place in your oven to make sure that the heat runs true to the digital (or dial) display. I personally never attempt to cook prime rib or any meat with a fat cap on it because the one occasion I did, it came out very dry and left me disappointed. Luckily Chef Douglas debunked a common misconception for these type of meats. He suggested trimming most of the fat cap off because it does not baste the meat, but melts and sits in the bottom of the pan with no purpose. He prepared a rub for the prime rib made out of ground coffee (for a smokey flavor,) salt, pepper, fennel seeds, and coriander. Then he did something genius by placing the sliced onions underneath the slab of prime rib on the baking sheet so they could brown while cooking the meat. The gravy was a very simple process of using the browned onions with a few sprinkles of flour and adding in turkey (or chicken) stock. To complement the meat, he then mixed together some stuffing made with dried cherries, hazelnuts, and oyster mushrooms. Luckily, I was able to sample all of this and it was amazing. The flavors meshed so well together but they also contrasted one another. I like to use the example of an everlasting gobstopper, and this is a perfect time to use that analogy. The stuffing was very moist and the cherries brought a very bold flavor to the bread chunks used for the base. The hazelnuts were not overpowering, but added another subtle layer to the overall flavors. The prime rib was seasoned very well and I was surprised that the coffee flavor did not overtake the other spices. The gravy was the blandest of all, but it was very savory and complimented the other flavors.

For the second course Chef Douglas prepared Pear Tarts with Dreamy Caramel Sauce. They were pretty dreamy. He first poached halved pears in syrup. He then mixed together a filling made from almond paste, sugar, butter, and egg yolk. The tarts were then assembled on a puff pastry and baked to a golden brown. I was sitting in the audience thinking this could not get any better when Chef Douglas made a caramel sauce to drizzle on the top. These tarts do not leave anything to be desired (no pun intended.) These were served in about 3" squares that were small enough to be considered finger food. They would definitely disappear at a holiday party.

Sadly, that was the end of the cooking demonstration, but the Chef did stick around to answer various kitchen questions from the audience. He also signed copies of his new cookbook entitled "The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook." Overall this was a great experience, and I would recommend going to Macy's on State Street for one of their many cooking demonstrations that happen throughout the year.


Disclosure:
I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with the compensation for this post about Macy's Culinary Council. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Gold Rush Hard Cider

This week Hawke and Bailey selected Gold Rush Hard Cider. This cider boasts using over 20 different varieties of somerset cider apples. It is 6.8% ABV and it is made in the UK. The quaint company website can be found here: https://www.sites.google.com/site/goldrushcider/contact

Here we go!

Color:
Bailey loves the light caramel color of this cider. It is very clear and appears to have a few bubbles after opening. She rates it with a 4/5 apples. Hawke also enjoys the light golden color and crisp appearance. He also gives it a 4/5 apples.

Smell:
Hawke gets a very bitter smell from this cider and also a heavy wine smell. He does not detect much apple aroma. He sadly gives 2/5 apples for smell. Bailey detects a powerful sour and alcohol smell. The apples are there for her, but faintly. She did not enjoy the experience, 1/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
Hawke taste buds were bombarded with an extremely bitter flavor. He did find some apple in the complexity, but was not overly impressed. He gives it a 2/5 apples. Bailey thinks this cider is all over the map. She found it to be bitter, sour apple, and mostly alcoholic in flavor. She also felt that her mouth felt like it was "coated" after drinking this cider. She also gives this cider a 2/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Hawke sadly did not get much of an aftertaste from this cider. He said it felt more like a bitter sensation. He rates this portion with a 2/5 apples. Bailey detects a bubbly sensation at the back of her throat and mostly just taste the alcohol even stronger in the aftertaste. She gives this cider a 1/5 apples.

Price:
$7-9 for 500ml or 16.9 fluid oz. Bailey thinks that even though this is a cheap option for cider, the flavor quality is very poor. She rates it with a 2/5 apples. Hawke agrees and was very disappointed by this cider. The color was very attractive, but everything else fell flat. He gives it a 2/5 apples.

Overall:
This cider is definitely for people who enjoy bitter or sour flavors and need a cheap option for cider. We realize that our tastes lean toward sweeter ciders and apologize if this is one of your favorites. That being said, we still feel that this cider should have way more apple flavor considering apples are pretty much the only ingredient.

Overall Bailey rates this cider with a 10/25 apples, or a red apple.

Overall Hawke rates this cider with 12/25 apples, or a yellow apple.

 

Woodpecker Premium Cider

This cider has been a staple at the local liquor store for sometime, and today Bailey and Hawke finally give it a try. This is a simple cider. In fact the brand only makes one variety of cider. With a relatively low alcohol rating of 4.2% abv, this cider can offer a different flavor.

Color:
Hawke found to be very clear with a bright golden yellow color and a few air bubbles scattered around the glass. Likewise, Bailey was interested in the crisp champagne color but also felt there was a slight carbonation to the cider. Bailey: 4/5 Hawke: 4/5

Smell:
 Bailey detected a very slight sour apple smell, it was almost nonexistent. As well, she felt there was a subtle alcohol smell. Hawke felt there was some wine/alcohol smell but he also felt there was no smell of of apples at all. Hawke: 2/5 Bailey: 2/5

Taste:
Hawke thought that there was a very subtle apple flavor, minor alcohol flavor, but not as overpowering as the smell. It was a little surprisingly, but disappointing in that the flavor was not more pronounced. Bailey got a very bubbly flavor with a slight sweetness. It was also very crisp with nothing offensive about it to note. Hawke: 4/5 Bailey: 4/5

Aftertaste:
Hawke did not detect any aftertaste. If it did occur it happened really fast. Bailey felt more of a tingle in the back of the throat than a flavor, maybe a very slight sour flavor. Bailey: 2/5 Hawke: 1/5

Price:
8-10 for a six pack. Hawke thinks that  the price for a six pack is very reasonable, the cider is enjoyable for the price. Bailey thought that this price is very good for the quality. It's not an over-the-top quality cider, but it is good. Bailey: 5/5 Hawke: 4/5

Overall:
Hawke felt that this was a decent cider that is inoffensive because of lack of harsh flavors.
Bailey thinks that this cider is another good starter cider. The flavor is very light, crisp, and clean. This would be a great cider for summer, and to pair with foods that are bursting with flavor.
Overall Bailey gave this cider a 17/25 or a yellow apple.

Overall Hawke gave this cider a 15/25 or a yellow apple.

Bean Blossom Strawberry Hard Cider

This week's cider was a gift from a friend, picked up on their vacation in Tennessee! Bean Blossom Hard Cider comes from Oliver winery in Indiana. It is 8% ABV, which is high for a cider. All of their ciders come in aluminum bottles or cans. Their full line of ciders can be shipped to most U.S States and can be found here: http://www.oliverwinery.com/ciderstore?orderby=PXPC.DisplayOrder%20Asc,%20P.ProductName%20ASC&startrow=1

Color:
We were both surprised that this cider boasts a very light golden color. No traces of red can be found. This cider is very clear and slightly carbonated. Hawke rates the color with a 5/5 apples. Bailey also gives it a 5/5 apples.

Smell:
Hawke commented that the odor of this cider is overwhelmingly strawberry. He could not detect any apple smell, but it was very pleasant. He rates it with a 4/5 apples. Bailey loves the smell of this cider. It is very sweet, most definitely all strawberry, and all together pleasing to the senses. She gives it a 5/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
Bailey was a bit disappointed that this cider was very sour to her palate. Because the apple and strawberry flavors had mixed completely, it tasted more like an ambiguous berry. She was hoping that the two flavors would stand alone from each other. She rates the taste with a 3/5 apples. Hawke thought this cider was very bitter. He tasted mostly strawberry with a tiny bit of apple, but all together the taste was a bit off-putting. He also rates it with a 3/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Bailey didn't get much of an aftertaste from this cider. There is some of the berry flavor that lingers, but only for a second. She gives it a 2/5 apples. Hawke did not get an aftertaste either, but the bitter flavor did remain on his tongue. He rates it with a 1/5 apples.

Price:
$7-9. Hawke thinks that this cider is of a low quality for the price. The smell is very promising, but the flavor does not deliver. He gives it a 2/5 apples. Bailey also feels that the quality of this cider is a bit low, although you do get a decent amount of cider per bottle. She gives it a 3/5 apples.

Overall:
Hawke does admit that the smell of this cider is tantalizing, but it was much too bitter for his tastes. If you do enjoy bitter or sour flavors, this cider is for you. Bailey felt that either they could have done a better job of balancing the flavors, or they just do not mix well together. She also wonders if this cider is allowed to age to maturity or if it is rushed by the presence of sulfates.
Overall Hawke gives this cider 15/25 apples or a yellow apple.

Bailey gives this cider 18/25 apples overall, or a yellow apple.

Woodchuck Farmhouse Select

This particular Woodchuck Cider came to us as a surprise. As we had not seen it on the local shops until recent. Then Hawke researched it and found it was available year round. The cider promises a taste of the original Woodchuck Cider back when it was first made. They use Vermont apples and Belgian beer yeast to produce the flavor. Information about this and other Woodchuck ciders can be found at : www.woodchuck.com

Color:
Bailey thought highly of the champagne gold color. Not quite the usual tinge we have seen from the other Woodchuck products. She rates it with a 4/5 apples. Hawke was delighted by the slight yellow tinge and slight cloudiness of the drink. He gives it 4/5 apples.

Smell:
Bailey detected a smell of sweet apples, but it was very faint. It was almost masked completely by a more alcohol smell. The smell was however very crisp. She gives this cider a 2/5 apples for lack of a pleasing smell. Hawke smelled the alcohol that was strong but not quite overpowering. Under this was a slight apple smell, but it wasn't very prominent. Hawke wished the apple smell was more present. He rates it with a 3/5 apples.

Taste:
Bailey felt that this was a very light cider. She delighted in a sweet apple taste, with the alcohol taste not overpowering. This cider doesn't have a jaw-dropping powerful flavor, but Bailey did like it. She gives it a 4/5 apples. Hawke found the flavor extremely light filled with a mix of apples and alcohol. He also gives it a 4/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Bailey detected a strong sour apple aftertaste. It reminded Bailey of fermenting apples, yet it did not linger for a long time. She very much enjoyed the short lived sour contrast to the sweet flavor. She gives it a 4/5 apples. Hawke felt a sweet aftertaste that does not linger but a minor alcohol flavor accompanying it. He rated it with a 3/5 apples.

Price:
$11-13. This bottle contains 750ml, the same as a wine bottle. Bailey felt one would get 4 generous glasses worth of cider. For the price it is a good quality cider.She gives the price a 4/5 apples. Hawke thought that it was a decent cider. He thought it was reasonable for those that want a change from the usual Amber cider. He rates it with a 4/5 apples.

Overall:
It is a good cider for summer or spring. The flavors are not necessarily as robust as the other ciders that have been sampled thus far, but it is still a high quality cider. Also, because it is so light, it can be paired well with a lot of different food.

Overall, Hawke gives this 18/25 apples or a yellow apple!

 Bailey also gives this cider 18/25 or a yellow apple!

Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Hard Cider

This week Hawke and Bailey try Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Hard Cider! We have tasted a few of the other varieties from this company and were eager to try their newest addition. Their website can be found here: http://angryorchard.com/ and it's a pretty awesome website (if we may say so.) This company is very creative, using bittersweet apples from France, and culinary apples from Italy which are sweet and acidic. This cider is 5% ABV. Here we go!

Color:
Hawke was a little apprehensive as soon as we poured this cider out. It is extremely clear, which can mean one of two things: it's over filtered and lacks taste, or the producers actually know what they are doing and made a quality product. On looks alone however, Hawke gives this cider a 4/5 apples. Bailey loves this golden color giving it a 5/5 apples.

Smell:
Bailey took one whiff of this cider and was in love. She immediately detected sweet apples (her favorite apples for flavoring cider.) She did comment however that there was no trace of ginger in the smell. She gives it a 3/5 apples for the lack of ginger. Hawke did detect ginger with his olfactory sensors, but not much of the apples. Instead he could smell the alcohol. He did enjoy the smell though, and gave it a 4/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
When Hawke sampled this cider, he tasted sweet apples and alcohol. The ginger was not prominent for him. He did comment that the quality of the cider (even without the ginger taste) was very good. He gives this a 3/5 apples for lacking ginger taste. Bailey did get a very sharp ginger flavor, but that wasn't the first thing she tasted. What stood out for her the most was the very crisp, sweet apples. It was like biting into the juiciest apple ever! The ginger taste was there for her, but it was short lived and did not stand out as much as she would have liked. She rates this cider with a 4/5 apples because the taste was great either way.

Aftertaste:
And...cue the ginger. Both of us found the sharp ginger in the aftertaste. It didn't last very long, but it was definitely there. Hawke rates this with a 4/5 apples. Bailey really enjoyed the aftertaste because for her, ginger can sometimes taste very spicy and be overpowering. In this cider, it is enjoyable, but doesn't knock you out of your seat. She rates it with a 4/5 apples also.

Price:
$7-10
This cider comes in a six pack of bottles and is very reasonably priced. With the gap allowing for tax and difference in price due to different areas, we purchased our six pack for less that what beer might cost. Both of us agree that the quality of this cider closely rivals Woodchuck ciders (one of our favorites.) Both of us rate the price with a 5/5 apples!

Overall:
All in all, this cider is excellent! This is an excellent pick to add a tiny bit of spice to your drinking agenda. We highly recommend trying this cider along with all the other Angry Orchard varieties.
Hawke rates this cider overall with a 20/25 apples, or a green apple!

Bailey loved the crispness of this cider and the sweet apples! She rates this cider overall with a 21/25, or a green apple!

Vander Mill Apple Blueberry Cider

This week is an epic tale of two bloggers making a bike trip to a music festival and almost losing their booze along the way. We traveled to the Ravinia music festival in Illinois this past weekend and wanted to review our cider while listening to some amazing music. Unfortunately, our wine glasses and most of our alcohol did not survive the perilous biking journey because the cooler was haphazardly fastened to the back of Hawke's bike. However, although the bottle of Vander Mill cider lost its' top, there was enough left inside for us to review.....Huzzah! This cider is made from fruits grown in Michigan, and promises a balanced flavor. It is 6.8% ABV and the website can be found here: http://www.vandermill.com/ciders.htm

Color:
Although you can't see it because shattered wine glasses are not fit for use, this cider has a really nice color. It resembles a deep red wine if you were to mix in some blueberry juice. Hawke and Bailey both rated this cider with a 4/5 apples.


Smell:
We both agreed that the smell of this cider was delightful. The apples were most prevalent in this cider, but the blueberries were definitely detectable. There was a light alcohol smell in the mix, but it was not overpowering like some of the other ciders we have tried. Hawke rated this cider with a 4/5 apples. Bailey was a little put off by the alcohol smell because in the past this usually foreshadows a lack of taste. She rates it with a 3/5 apples.

Taste / Complexity:
This cider does most certainly give a very balanced flavor. It is an even balance between apples, blueberries, and alcohol. Bailey really liked how everything was very balanced and none of the flavors overpowered the others. Hawke also liked this cider, but was expecting a little more blueberry flavor than was present. Bailey gives this cider a 4/5 apples. Hawke rates the flavor as a 3/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Bailey detected mostly blueberry in the aftertaste with a small alcohol burn. The aftertaste did not linger very long however. Hawke didn't think the aftertaste was much different from the original taste, but did comment that it wasn't overpowering. Bailey rates the aftertaste with a 4/5 apples. Hawke also gives this a 4/5 apples.

Price:
$11-13
This bottle is 750 ml, so it the size of a normal wine bottle. Depending on serving size, one should get around 4-5 glasses out of a bottle. Bailey thinks that this cider would be good for a date night or special occasion. She rates it with a 5/5 apples for value. Hawke rates it with a 4/5 apples because he normally wouldn't spend this much for a everyday drinking cider.

Overall:
We both enjoyed this cider, however Bailey feels like it would be more appropriate for a nice dinner or special occasion. The price is a decent value for the amount you get, and also has to reflect the use of blueberry juice, which is not cheap. Hawke would have liked the blueberries to take center stage in this cider, but thought it was still a solid drink.

Bailey rates this cider overall with a 20/25 apples, or a Green Apple!

Hawke rates this cider overall with a 19/25 apples or a Yellow Apple!

Doc's Draft Original Hard Apple cider

This week we decided to try Doc's Draft Original Hard Apple cider. This cider promises a semi-dry taste with a crisp fruit taste. The website can be found here: http://wvwinery.com/cider/

Color:
Hawke was a fan of the clear brass color to this cider. He also noted that upon pouring it was carbinated. He gives it a 4/5 apples. Bailey defined this as a butterscotch color and noticed it was very clear and thus filtered. She rates it with a 5/5

Smell:
Bailey detected a wave of apple smells. Accompanying this wave was another of alcohol. She noted that it felt like it was 50/50 apples and alcohol scent. She gave it a 3/5 apples. Hawke felt a strong odor of apples upon smelling this cider. A slight alcohol tinge was also noted but did not seem to be as large as other ciders reviewed previously.  He rated it with a 4/5 apples.

Taste/Complexity:
Bailey felt that this particular cider had a little sweetness, but the flavor was mostly alcohol based, rather than apple. She had to give it a 1/5 apples. Hawke got a mostly carbonation flavor to this cider. The other flavors were slight apple and the remainder being alcohol. He rated it with a slightly higher 2/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Hawke felt that the after taste had some apple flavor, but did not linger very long. It was not sour, or bitter. He gives it a 2/5 apples. Bailey detected an apple aftertaste, and a mixture of sweet and sour. She was disappointed with how short the aftertaste lasted. She feels as though the aftertaste has more flavor then the initial flavor. Bailey gives it a 3/5 apples.

Price
$5-8 at the local store. Bailey thought it was good for the price, but any more would be a tad discouraging. Hawke thinks the cider is okay for the price, though there are some better options. About 4 glasses were got out of the bottle, making it a decent value. Bailey: 4/5 apples. Hawke: 3/5 apples.

Overall:
This cider is good if you just want a cheap option to drink. It is not a terrible cider, but it does not preform well in comparison with some of the previous ciders, nor is it high quality. Likewise, Hawke feels that the carbonation of the cider may distort the flavor too much. Bailey: 16/25 apples, or a yellow apple.

 Hawke gives it an overall score of 15/25 apples, or a yellow apple.

Blackthorn Fermented Cider

This cider was found at the local store and we decided to try an English cider this week. Imported from the West Country of Britain, the cider promises a distinctive crisp yet dry taste. This particular variety would offer an interesting taste, as it is made from fermented apple juice and carbonated water.

Color:
Bailey thought quite highly of the color, which was a bright golden color, with no particles floating around. She also enjoyed the crisp color it offered. Hawke was intrigued by the clear coloration, the golden color is not one that is normally seen in ciders, especially this clear. Suggesting that it has been filtered several times. Bailey: 4/5 Hawke: 5/5

Smell:
Bailey detected more of an alcohol smell rather than apples in the cider. Suggesting a lack of apple flavor in the future. However she noted that the smell wasn't overpowering.  Hawke as well noted a white wine smell, and a distinct lack of apple scent. However, it did have a little sweetness added to it. What he expected coming from the type of bottle, as the bottle is more reminiscent of a wine bottle rather than a cider bottle. Bailey: 2/5 Hawke: 3/5

Taste / Complexity:
Bailey tasted a sweet and sour flavor with little apple taste, and a slight alcohol finish. Which while not impressive, was not bad either. Hawke noted a lack of apple flavor, but otherwise not a harsh taste as with other ciders previously experienced. Bailey: 3/5 Hawke: 3/5

Aftertaste:
Bailey felt a slight sweetness, doesn't last very long. She had really hoped for a longer after taste with this cider. Hawke got a very quick apple flavor, does not linger, not bad, but could be better, surprisingly not bitter after taste. Bailey: 2/5  Hawke: 2/5

Price:
$8-10 Bailey felt that the cider is very good for the price, as it is a middle of the road cider, that isn't great but it is not terrible. Hawke would be considered a starting cider, as it is not overpowering in its flavor, yet is also very sweet compared to some European ciders that have previously sampled. Bailey: 4/5 Hawke: 4/5

Overall:
If you are new to ciders, this one would be a great place to start. It isn't too sweet or bitter, and would give your pallet room to grow.

Bailey gave this a 16/25 or a yellow apple.

 Hawke gave this cider a 17/25 or a yellow apple.

Time out for some food! An interview with Takashi Yagihashi

Good day Cider Press readers! This week we are going to do a post that is a little different from the norm. We were fortunate enough to be invited to a special cooking demonstration and interview with renowned chef Takashi Yagihashi! Hawke and I thought, what pairs better with hard cider than food? So we jumped at the chance.

First off, here's a little info about Mr. Yagihashi for anyone who isn't familiar with him:

- He was born in Mito, Japan and has moved back and fourth between Chicago and Detroit, MI.
- He started cooking as a teenager at a local restaurant, and would try recipes out for his family.
- He opened his first restaurant in Detroit, MI and it was rated a 4-star establishment.
- He now has 2 restaurants in the Chicago area: Takashi and The Slurping Turtle. His culinary style is        Japanese with some French influences.
- He has been featured on Iron Chef America and is a member of the Macy's Culinary Council.

We sat down with Chef Takashi and asked him a few questions about his love for cooking:

Hawke asked where the inspiration for most of his dishes came from. Chef Takashi fondly remembered his days in Japan as a young boy. He told us about how his mother and father worked most of the time and usually would get take out from lots of different places for the family dinner. He was exposed to a lot of different dishes this way. He told us that he never lets himself be afraid to try any combination of ingredients until something great comes of it.

Bailey asked about how and when he decided to pursue professional chef as a career. He smiled as he told me that when he started cooking in Japan, chefs were considered a "lower class of people" back then. After high school he was accepted to an Interior Design school which he attended for awhile, but then decided it wasn't for him and dropped out. After that he returned to working in restaurants and realized that cooking was his passion.

Hawke then remarked that Chef Takashi liked to use Ramen noodles in some of his dishes and asked how he felt about the stigma around them in the U.S as food for poor people and college students. He got a good laugh out of this question and said that was a good point. He told us that it is frustrating sometimes when people come into his restaurant and see Ramen on the menu and think: well that's easy to make. Although dried Ramen noodles have been Americanized, they are an authentic Japanese food. Chef Takashi then told us that he takes great pride in making all his noodles from scratch, sometimes taking 12-16 hours in total preparation time from mixing to drying and cutting.

Bailey wanted to ask a question to tie all of this into the blog's main focus, so she asked him if he was familiar with any hard cider or if it was a popular item in Japan. Unfortunately he was not very familiar with any hard cider and told us that it was not a largely sold item in Japan. Although, he did promise to try some and even add it as an ingredient to some of his dishes!

Overall, Chef Takashi was a wonderful man that clearly puts a lot of pride and passion into his work. We were very lucky to get samples of his dishes during the cooking demonstration and let me tell you....It Was Delicious! I highly suggest that if you find yourself in the Chicago area, do yourself a favor and visit one of his restaurants. Also, you can pick up a copy of his cookbook: Takashi's Noodles which will allow you to make some of his favorites at home.

Sarasola Astigarragako Sagardoa Basque Cider

Sarasola Astigarragako Sagardoa Basque Cider (yes it's a mouthful) was a new addition to our local liquor store, so we decided to give it a try. This cider is traditionally from the Basque region of Spain, which borders France. This cider is not filtered or pasteurized, which promised a unique taste. We were also curious to see how it would compare to the other European ciders that we have tried, including the Dupont cider. We could not find a website for this company.

Color:
Hawke commented that it was a very brilliant bronze tint with a bit of gold. He rates this with a 5/5 apples.
Bailey also really liked this color, it was a very rich gold that looked delicious. She also gives it a 5/5 apples.

Smell:
Bailey could smell some faint sweet apple aroma, but mostly there was a wine or alcohol smell that was overpowering. She rates it with a 3/5 apples. Hawke also felt the wine smell was a bit much, but also detected a sour apple smell. He gives it a 2/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
When Bailey took a sip from her glass, she was very surprised at the texture of this cider. It was somewhat thick with a creamy feeling. Not being used to this in a drink, she was a bit unsure how to feel about it. Next, the sour apple taste set in. This cider will definitely make you pucker. She gives it a 2/5 apples. Hawke was taken aback by the bitter taste this cider gave him, but didn't mind the alcohol taste as much. He rates it with a 3/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
After a few drinks, Bailey just couldn't taste anything but the bitter apples. She was somewhat disappointed  with this cider and ranked it with a 1/5 apples. Hawke agreed that the aftertaste was just a very strong sourness and a bit vinegary. He also gives it a 1/5 apples.

Price:
$10-12. We got about 4 glasses out of it. Bailey thinks that the price of this cider does not match the quality by far. She gives it a 2/5 apples. Hawke was thinking the same thing, giving it a 2/5 apples.

Overall:
In our opinions, this cider was a very low performer compared to some of the others we have rated. However, we realize that there are some liquors out there for people who like sour tastes (pucker comes to mind.) So if you wish you could blend up some sour patch kids and eat them, this might be the cider for you. When it comes to apples, Bailey strongly feels like this cider did not do a good job of representing flavor. Who knows though, maybe this is the flavor they really enjoy in Spain.



Hawke gives this cider 13/25 apples, or a red apple.

Bailey also gives this a 13/25 apples, or a red apple.

Fox Barrel: Ginger and Blackcurrant Pear Cider

This week Bailey and Hawke wanted to try something a little exotic. Fox Barrel's Ginger and Blackcurrant Pear Cider with Organic honey is what we chose. This cider is unfiltered, and contains 6.5% ABV. You can find this cider and all the Fox Barrel products at: http://foxbarrel.com/cider/

Color:

The color of this cider is a very rich berry red. It is a tiny bit cloudy because it is an unfiltered cider, but it is very bold. Hawke remarked that it reminds him of a very rich cranberry juice. Bailey rates this with a 4/5 apples. Hawke gives it a 4/5 apples also.

Smell:
The aroma of this cider is very fruity and enticing. Bailey said that it brought back memories of her adolescent  days when she had a love affair with wine coolers. Hawke also enjoyed the smell, but added that the fruit smells all mixed together and you couldn't really determine one from another. Bailey rates this with a 3/5 apples. Hawke also gives it a 3/5.

Flavor / Complexity:
Bailey was very impressed with this cider after she sampled it. There is a very pungent ginger taste right away, and a little spicy kick to it from the blackcurrant. The pear and any other fruit juices, take a back seat to the spices. Hawke thought that it tasted like a mix of pear and grapefruit juice with a lot of ginger mixed in. He did not detect the spicy kick that Bailey did. Bailey rates this cider with a 4/5 apples. Hawke gives it a 3/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Bailey enjoyed this aftertaste. It was very fizzy and tickled her tongue a bit. She mostly tasted the strong ginger in the aftertaste. Hawke agreed, not tasting anything but ginger and lots of it. Bailey rates it with a 4/5 apples. Hawke also gives it a 4/5 apples.

Price:
$6-8 Bailey thinks that this cider has a lot of flavor and is totally worth the price. She rates it with a 5/5 apples. Hawke thinks this is very reasonable and rates it with a 4/5 apples.

Overall:
We both feel that this cider has a lot of kick and pizzazz! If you are looking for something new and different this would be a great cider to try. Usually Hawke and Bailey are not big on pear ciders, but this one has won us over. The only area of improvement we have for this cider would be to lessen the amount of ginger in this cider, and allow the great flavors of the fruit juice to come forward a little bit.
Bailey gives this cider a 20/25 apples, or a Green Apple!

Hawke gives this cider an 18/25 apples, or a Yellow Apple!

Woodchuck Private Reserve Belgian White

This came to us as a special surprise. We had first heard of this Cider a couple of weeks back, but were unable to locate it in our area. A store did come through for us though, and we managed to get our hands on this beverage. 


This cider is made with Belgian Beer yeast, coriander, and orange peel. It is as interesting as it sounds. You can navigate their website here: www.woodchuck.com 

Color:
 Bailey thinks this cider looks like apricot nectar because of the unfiltered cloudiness and the orange tint. It makes her mouth water just looking at it. Hawke was impressed with the color. It was not dull, and the cloudiness betrayed no large particles. Hawke 5/5 Bailey 5/5 

Smell:
There are so many smells to take in when you inhale the essence of this cider, and each one of them are very robust. You can faintly smell the yeast, which usually bailey would be opposed to (she doesn't like beer) but it isn't overpowering. Second, you can detect the sweet smell of the apples. The last, but definitely not least is the orange aroma. These smells perfectly blend together, and are very appetizing indeed. Hawke detected the smell of apples, along with another more mysterious fruit smell. It was not unappealing, but pleasant.
 Hawke 5/5     Bailey  5/5

Flavor  / Complexity:
Bailey takes more than one sip when trying this delectable cider. She is very surprised by the first taste that hits her. It's almost as if you are taking a drink of beer, but the taste is so smooth it doesn't result in a lemon face as any beer would usually make her produce. There is no bitterness to this cider. The next flavor is the apple cider, a mix of sweet and tangy apple goodness. The last is of the orange, that starts very mild and builds in the aftertaste. Once you take one sip, you won't be able to put this bottle down.
Hawke 5/5     Bailey 5/5

Aftertaste:
The aftertaste that Bailey gets the most is of the orange flavor. It almost tastes juicy...the only way she can describe it. It reminds her of a burst of flavor that you would get from biting into a popping boba, the little tapioca balls of juice that the frozen yogurt places have as toppings. The orange flavor is very sweet, and it leaves you wanting more. Hawke thinks that this after taste is quick, but flavorful. Many of the previous ciders have had a a strong, or bitter aftertaste, and in one case no aftertaste at all. This offers a good balance between all possibilities, while not compromising the flavor. Hawke 5/5     Bailey 5/5

Price:
 $11-13 Bailey thinks that the price is a little steep, but it is a new product, and with the quality of this cider, she thinks it is worth it. Hawke is feeling a tad bit more lenient, and feels like that the price would go down if it because a year round blend. Hawke 4/5   Bailey  4/5

Overall:
This would make an awesome summer drink. It's like drinking an everlasting gobstopper of apple and orange goodness! We know that this is currently a private stock reserve, but we would very much like it to become a regular product, or possibly a seasonal. This cider offers and ideal balance of all the above categories. Not too sweet, not too bold, no bitter after taste. Of all the ciders we have tried so far, this is Bailey's favorite!
 Hawke 24/25 Bailey 24/25  both rate this with a green apple!

Thistly Cross Cider

Thistly Cross is a cider made in east Lothian, Scotland. The bottle lacks a good deal of information regarding what is to be expected, but Bailey and Hawke went on. While it does state that it is made from 'Scottish apple varieties' it is not clear what apples in particular, as there are many different kinds.

website: http://www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk/

Color: 

Upon pouring, Bailey and Hawke with both intrigued by the color that this cider produced. Considered a light gold, it was also very clear with very little, if any, unfiltered pieces inside.  Bailey: 5/5  Hawke: 5/5

Smell: 

The smell of the cider was another intriguing factor. Hawke thought the cider had a wine smell, but it was not very strong. Bailey detected a light smell, almost slightly sweet apple smell, not very powerful Bailey: 3/5  Hawke: 4/5

Flavor / Complexity:

Hawke delighted with the flavor apples and sweet taste with a slight hint of bitterness. bailey was raptured with a perfect blend of bitter and sweet, very suprised that it has such a bold flavor, the apple flavor is really great.  Bailey: 5/5 Hawke: 4/5 

Aftertaste:

Bailey thought there was a short burst of bubbly taste and bitter-sweet. Hawke thought it was a very short lasting aftertaste, detecting some  bitterness, but not overwhelming.  Bailey: 3/5 Hawke: 4/5(if the aftertaste lasted 

longer, bailey would have scored higher)

Price: 

$5-8 we only attained one bottle for this price, and only filled 2 wine glasses. I'm sure in the native country they sell it in 6 packs, and in several more varieties. Which is a shame, as we are intrigued by this particular brand.
Bailey:3/5 Hawke: 3/5 

Overall: 

Bailey loved the taste, wished the aftertaste lasted longer, stating that this is a great summer cider, very bold and refreshing. Hawke: Auprisingly good considering the bottle has very vague information on the brewing process or apples used. 

Bailey: 19 or a yellow apple

Hawke: 20 or a green apple

Crispin Honey Crisp Artisanal Reserve

This week Hawke and I tasted a cider that I have been very pumped about. For this variety, Crispin uses apple wine smoothed with organic honey. Honestly, they had Bailey at apple wine, the honey did make her eyes gleam with excitement though. It says on the website that wine can be a mix of 3 to 5 different apple varieties. You can check out their full line at : http://www.crispincider.com/cider/

Color:

After pouring a glass, Bailey remarked that it resembled a light Chardonnay. Hawke agreed, adding that it also is close to the color of a light Champagne. It is a bit cloudy, but from reading up on this particular cider, it's supposed to be that way because of the unfiltered apple wine used to make it.

Bailey:  4/5 Apples

Hawke: 4/5 Apples

Smell:

The aroma of this cider is quite delightful. Bailey was very happy with the boldness of sweet apples and a slight white wine smell. She didn't detect any of the honey, but Hawke said he could. He also commented that it smelled very crisp and fresh, but he felt it was lacking something.

Bailey:  5/5 Apples

Hawke: 3/5 Apples

Complexity / Flavor: 

Bailey took a hefty swig and got a surprise. This cider seemed to have a very overpowering flower, or blossom taste. There was almost a slight berry taste that couldn't quite be pinpointed. She was a bit disappointed in this. This means that the honey used came from the pollen of different flower strains and not clover, which is her favorite. Hawke picked up the apple wine flavor right away, and did not pick up any honey or sweetness. He thought the flavor was definitely lacking and not strong enough to impress him. 

Bailey: 2/5 Apples

Hawke: 3/5 Apples

Aftertaste: 

For Bailey, the very pungent flower and berry flavor gets stronger in the aftertaste. It completely voids any of the apple taste that she detected before. Hawke didn't get much of an aftertaste in this one, but did pick up a slight sweet fruit flavor.

Bailey: 2/5 Apples 

Hawke: 3/5 Apples

Price: $6-8

The alcohol is 6.5% abv. The price is fair, and if you like a more flowery bouquet (no pun intended) you will like this cider. Hawke thinks there is definitely room for improvement on this one.

Bailey:  4/5 Apples

Hawke:  4/5 Apples

Overall:

This one was a bit of a let down, however we would like to mention some determining factors. Obviously everyone's taste buds work a little differently. Where Bailey picked up flowers right away, Hawke did not taste them as much. So, just because we aren't over the moon for one of the ciders doesn't mean it's not worth trying. Also, because they are using honey as an ingredient, this means that each batch may not taste exactly the same. Since honey is made from pollen picked up by bees, each batch is going to be made from a different mixture of plants and flowers every time. It could be that this batch was not the best year for the honey they used. 

Bailey :  17/25 or a Yellow Apple

Hawke: 17/25 or a Yellow Apple:

Dupont Reserve

Hawke and Bailey came across this bottle of French hard cider at a local store and were immediately intrigued. The Dupont Reserve is just one of many products from Domaine Dupont. You may find all of their products including Ciders, Givre, and Calvados (an intriguing alcohol) on their website: http://www.calvados-dupont.com/
This particular hard cider has been aged 6 months in Oak Casks that were previously used to store Calvados.

Color:

Bailey was intrigued by the color of this cider. Pouring out the cider into a glass revealed a slightly cloudy, almost golden color. Hawke was curious about the the bright color. 

Bailey: 5/5

Hawke: 5/5

Smell:
 Hawke eagerly smelled the cider. Detecting a slight vinegary smell, but also gathering hints of apple, and possibly some wine. Bailey also detecting the apple smell, but also got a smell best described as blossom smelling. She also got a faint smell of alcohol. 

Bailey: 4/5

Hawke: 4/5

Taste:
 Wasting little time both had curious sips of the beverage. Bailey initially had a sour taste, filled with apples and again more blossom flavor. Hawke savored his drink, tasting a slightly bitter taste that was filled with a strong apple flavor. 

Bailey: 4/5

Hawke 4/5

Aftertaste:
Replacing the initial taste of the cider was the aftertaste. Hawke noted the taste turned to that of sweet taste, reminiscent of brandy. This makes sense as the cider was aged in Calvados casks. Bailey also got the sweet flavor, but detected more of a butter scotch taste. 

Bailey: 4/5

Hawke: 5/5 

Price:
 Both Hawke and Bailey are concerned about the price tag regarding this cider. At ~18-22 dollars a bottle, it is fairly pricey. Similarly, the bottle only fills about 4 glasses before being empty. Though at 6.9% ABV, Bailey feels that it is worth the price. 

Bailey: 3/5

Hawke: 2/5

Conclusion: Hawke and Bailey were both delighted by this cider. It is an excellent cider, though the price has some drawbacks. However, the Dupont Reserve is a recommended Cider. 

Bailey: 20/25 or a Green Apple

Hawke: 20/25 or a Green Apple

As always thanks for reading and Happy Valentines Day!

Original Sin Cherry Tree

This week Bailey and Hawke obtained a bottle of Original Sin Cherry Tree hard cider. This cider uses heirloom apples and tart cherries to create its' flavor. Made and bottled in Oregon, but the company is based in New York.

Color:

Hawke was immediately surprised by the color of this cider, a red clear cider, as opposed the traditional amber color. Bailey was also pleasantly surprised by the light cranberry color, in fact she thought you might mistake it for sparkling cranberry juice.
Hawke gives  5/5 Apples
Bailey gives 5/5 Apples

Smell:
The smell exuded by the drink is sweet, with a hint of cherry. Also present is the smell of alcohol, consistent with a wine smell. Other than its sweet smell, there is no direct apple smell from this Cider.
Hawke: 3/5 Apples
Bailey: 4/5 Apples

Complexity/Flavor:
The flavor on this cider is almost overwhelmingly cherry. The main flavor does feel to be real cherries, as opposed to artificial cherry flavoring which both Bailey and Hawke feared would be the case. It has a strong tart flavor, suggesting real cherries were used. Bailey was saddened as she couldn't taste any apples. Hawke noted that it would be more like a cherry flavored sparkling wine. Sadly, the flavor is not that complex and feels straight cherry throughout.
Hawke: 4/5 Apples
Bailey: 4/5 Apples

Aftertaste
As mentioned before, this cider is overwhelmingly cherry. Usually in most ciders the flavor changes to have an aftertaste as it slides down ones' throat. In this case, the change did not occur and the flavor was consistently cherry. While not a bad thing, it was not what was expected in an apple cider. Bailey was not pleased with this aspect of the cider. While Hawke was a bit more lenient as he assumed cherries are harder to work with due to the infrequent appearance in hard ciders.
Hawke: 3/5 Apples
Bailey: 1/5 Apples

Price:  $8-11 This hard cider comes in a 750ml bottle and 6.7 abv. Both Hawke and Bailey noted that it is strong cider, and the price is reasonable for what one receives.
Hawke: 5/5 Apples
Bailey: 5/5 Apples

Overall:
Hawke: 20/25 awarding this a Green apple.

Bailey: 18/25 awarding this a Yellow apple.