Mac Ivors Vintage Reserve Cider

Vintage Reserve Cider, launched in Summer 2017, is the newest addition to Mac Ivors’s line-up. As advertised by MacIvor’s, Vintage Reserve Cider is blended from their most mature stock of cider.  Interestingly, it’s available only in 330ml amber glass bottles so would I expect some good stuff here.   Company: Mac Ivors Cider
Place of Origin: Ardress, Portadown, Armagh County, Northern Ireland, UK
Apples: a blend of apple varieties incl. Armagh Bramley and cider apples such as Michelin, Dabinett and Harry Master’s Jersey
Sweetness as per label: dry
ABV: 5%
Package type: 330 ml amber glass with crown cap
Recommended type of glass: pint glass, white wine glass or snifter

Appearance: pours a clear pale gold with a white short-lived froth. Medium artificial carbonation and low body.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is weak. I barely get anything. Some yellow apples, fresh and ripe yellow apples, some oakiness, hints of funk and distant apricots.

Taste: it starts moderately sweet with a low acidity of lemon. Notes of lemon peel, fresh yellow apples and a light astringent taste on the palate. Short finish with a light astringent taste and a hint of green apples and apricots. A very distant touch of bitterness appears at a later point.

Overall: Vintage Reserve Cider. That sounds proud and glorious. But the name doesn’t tell the truth and promises more than it delivers. I’m sorry to say but I expected more than an average tasting fizzy lemonade that lacks depth and has a short finish. The Vintage Reserve tastes watery, the flavours are not intense. Even weak. Admittedly, the Vintage Reserve tastes natural and is drinkable. Also, there are no disturbing flavours at all. But no drinking pleasure either. Nice try but this blend doesn’t seem to work. 2.5/6

Availability: widely available within the UK and Ireland, e.g. from Wines & Spirits or Emersons. In Germany from Bierkontor in Nuremberg, Bierothek Leipzig, Getränkefeinkost, Dr. Hops, Uptown Coffee Bar and Olea in Leipzig, Getränkehandel Köthen  and The Shamrock – Irish Pub in Köthen, Fliese, Die Bierkanzlei and Rosis’s in Halle, Hopfenspeicher in Chemnitz, Der Shop am Hassel and Flowerpower in Magdeburg, Schankwirtschaft “Zur schwarzen Kunst” in Görlitz, Altes Handelshaus in Plauen, Landgasthof Dehnitz in Wurzen-Dehnitz, Getränkehandel Mierisch in Freital, Quedlinburger Wein- und Tabakhaus Trense in Quedlinburg. In Italy from Sidro & Cider. In France through Craft Cider Selection.

Price: Mac Ivors Vintage Reserve Cider was a sample provided by Greg from MacIvors Cider.