Sharp-eyed readers of BotF will notice the unannounced introduction of a new category to BotF – Cider. There’s four ways to access BotF – the website, the E-Mail subscription, Twitter and Facebook – so it has been difficult to notice this evolution to BotF – but consider this the announcement.
There were multiple influences for adding Cider, with none as a main driver. The number of female BotF members that like cider, the visit by Charlie to his Bristol Cider roots and the explosion of cider as a beverage of substantial preference in bottlos and pubs around Sydney. The explosion of cider reminds BotF of the late ’80s explosion of Coolers. What will differentiate the Cider explosion from the Cooler explosion is that Ciders are potable whereas Coolers were an insult to tastebuds. Within 3 years of the Cooler peak (over 100 brands) you were back down to 3 or 4 survivors. I think the Cider explosion will be more longlasting as there is actually a cider tradition to which Charlie has introduced us.
To be honest, I struggled after the first couple of sips the debut cider tried literally on the BotF. Escanciador Sidra is an extremely traditional cider. It is from an area of Spain – Asturias – that is regards cider as its drink over and above wine or beer. It even has its own way of pouring. Try this at home.
“When Asturian cider is served, it is poured in a particular way, El Escanciado: since it is natural and bottled without gas, the bottle must be held above the head allowing for a long vertical pour (requiring considerable skill and accuracy) which causes the cider to be aerated when it splashes into the glass below. This gives it a pleasant “zingy” taste. The glass is passed around and everyone drinks from the same glass. After drinking most of the glass, it is customary to splash a little out onto the ground, as a way to clean the glass of any lees for the next pouring.”
Hopefully, we can get fans of cider to write about their positive experiences and start to open the BotF’s readership’s minds to the joyous juice of Apples and Pears and other fruits.
Welcome Cider as our new category.
back of the ferry 