Those of you who have followed us from day one know we like to pop in an exclusive from time to time but we think we’ve excelled ourselves on this occasion.
Cider drinkers already know we have one of the best selections in Cheshire but this year we’ve got something a bit special for you.
Every August Ross on Wye release that year’s vintage of their flagship Raison d’Être cider. I say that year’s but, because it spends 18 months in Whisky barrels, the apples are actually harvested two years previously so, this year, we will actually be drinking the 2023 vintage.
However, when we pre ordered 2023 Raison d’Être we realised there were also keg vintages of 2020, 2021 and 2022 also available and my inner geek started twitching and thinking about how cool would it be to taste all four vintages, side by side, on draught. Then I thought of all the brilliant venues we’ve got in this country and whether any of them would have the capacity to dedicate four lines to four different vintages. I checked with Albert (Johnson, Ross on Wye Cider) to see if it had ever been cone in the UK before. The answer, apparently, is no it hasn’t.
So, at 4pm on Thursday 28th August we will be launching 2023 Raison d’Être and will, for the first time have the opportunity to taste, side by side for the first time in the UK, the vintages from 2022, 2021 and 2020. Taproom Manager and resident cider expert, Jacqui Ayling commented: “I’ve loved Albert’s ciders from the very first time I tried them and I’m really excited that we’re the first venue in the UK to have four vintages of the same cider on draught.”
Albert Johnson, of Ross On Wye Cider and Perry said: “An amazing, unique opportunity for drinkers to head to Tom’s Tap and explore four vintages of Raison d’Être on draught side by side. This is a chance to taste seasonality in a drink like never before – a naturally fermented, pure juice cider that expresses different growing seasons. Each Raison has a particular character that illuminates the story of that year’s fruit. No other bar has had four versions all pouring at once so it’s something very special for the best cider bar in Crewe!”
