BARREL PROJECT
Every once in a while, we tap into the barrels to make something spectacular.
Bourbon Imperial
Cider
This uber-exclusive - super rare cider is none other than our Smuggler barrel-aged series. We are still drooling over the thimble we were allowed to sample last week to create the tasting notes.
This year we collaborated with our neighbors, @thespiritslab , who dropped off four freshly dumped Bourbon barrels made from Missouri Oak and charred to a level 4. Each barrel still had roughly 5 gallons of spirits trapped inside, which we topped off with French bittersweet apple juice and fermented with White Wine & Champagne yeast.
The final product tastes like nectar from the Gods, pouring a deep brown, with notes of classic Bourbon, vanilla, and caramel swirling together with a leathery apple finish.
This cider will NOT be making its way into distribution. The only way to get your hands on it is to be a Cider Club Explorer.
Imperial
Barrel-
Age
Cider
Think wood tannin, farmhouse funk and leather meets traditional French apples inspired by barley wines and farmhouse pommeau. Toss wood-soaked spirits into the mix, and what do you get? An imperial (slightly illegal - 12% abv) cider fit for a Cider Explorer.
This series is super special as it not only pushes the boundaries of abv, it offers a unique flavor experience.
We decided to source traditional apples such as Dabinett, Chisel Jersey, and Tremletts Bitter from France, which were pressed before being shipped across the Atlantic.