Guide to Cider Notes
This website catalogues my personal journey in the land of cider and perry. At the time I write this page, taxonomy and categories for cider and perry are not as firmly established as they are for such drinks as wine with its aroma and flavor wheel. Whilst multiple knowledgeable writers have used a variety of terms to describe cider and perry, there is no official nor definitive source to describe aroma, appearance or taste.
As such, when sharing my experiences of the wonders of cider and perry with you, I will be drawing from the writings of a plethora of cider and perry experts, including:
Books:
- Fine Cider by Felix Nash
- Ciderology by Glabe Cook
- The Philosophy of Cider by Jane Peyton
Websites:
As you will see from the ‘About Cider Notes’ section, the goal of this website is to share with you my exploration of the world of cider, and to try and help make sense of a complex, rich and fascinating realm that deserves as much written about it as the finest wine or the hoppiest beer .
What you can find in my notes
My tasting notes are raw and sometimes very straight forward,, but aim to give myself and you, the reader, a sense of what to expect in a specific cider,whether from keg, can or bottle, details including:
- Region
- Alcohol
- Style, in reference to these Cider styles
- Vintage, aka the year of production
- Fruit varieties – whether they are apples for cider or pears for perry
The section named Tasting notes is based on what I perceived at the time of tasting and could be influenced by factors of my surroundings. I will generally try to break down my tasting into 3 sections:
- See: Colour, transparency and effervescence (if applicable)
- Smell: details of aromas and scents
- Taste: notes and flavours that the cider evoke to the palate
The section Notes from the Producer is a copy of any notes used by the producer to describe the specific cider or perry I have tasted. These notes can be from the bottle or the can or from the product page of their website.
Personal notes is an additional section intended to describe a cider or a perry in a more holistic way, with additional notes that go beyond looks, smell and taste, such as how to enjoy it best or what the specific cider or perry remind me of.
Finally, Food Pairing is a section that may not always appear on my tasting notes, but is intended to give a sense of the type of foods that I feel could pair well with that specific cider or perry.
As I progress in my journey in the world of cider and perry, these notes might be amended and improved, as my palate – as the one of any drink enthusiast – becomes more and more refined the more we taste.
If you are curious to see some examples, check out my tasting notes.