Tom Oliver Gold Rush #10 Anniversary Blend
Tom Oliver Gold Rush #10 Anniversary Blend is semi sweet sparkling cider made in collaboration between Tom Oliver and Ryan Burk. With a stunning combination of wild fermentation and oak-barrel ageing, this is a must-try for any cider lover.
Gold Rush #10 at glance
- Region: Herefordshire, England
- Alcohol: 6.5%
- Style: mildly carbonated, semi sweet
- Vintage: n/a
- Apple varieties: Blend
Tasting Notes
- See: transparent, with mild notes of carbonation, intense amber color, with hints of brick red
- Smell: clean, not too fruity, woody, almost bark-like), sweet notes of caramel and toffee.
- Taste: Semi sweet, with medium acidity and medium tannins; medium to full body with mild notes of carbonation; notes of orange and plum.
Notes from the producers
Gold Rush #10 Barrel Aged Fine Cider. Made by Tom Olivere of Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire, in collaboration with Ryan Burk of OCCAM CIDER Co., USA
Personal Notes on Tom Oliver Gold Rush #10 Anniversary
Tom Oliver does not need any introduction. He is one of the finest cider makers–if not THE finest cider maker–of our time. All his ciders and perries have an incredible focus on balance and character, remaining deliciously drinkable, whilst retaining all of the characteristics of traditional Herefordshire fine cider. And these are of course all elements that you can easily find in Gold Rush #10 Anniversary blend, from the first sniff and sip.
To the nose you can get a little whiff of funk, that is soon lost in the lovely oak barrel notes–sweet and wet bark, with notes of toffee. To the palate Gold Rush #10 remains incredibly lively and balanced with a vibrant acidity that cleans up the heavy notes.
This cider is the 10th iteration of Gold Rush, a blend born from a collaboration between Tom Oliver and Ryan Burk of Occam Cider in the Hudson Valley in New York, USA. I wish I could say that I have tasted previous versions to compare them–and hopefully one day I will. I am particularly impressed by how balanced and refreshing this cider is despite being barrel aged. It’s one of those rare ciders with loads of character and body that you would never stop drinking and that you can enjoy equally with multiple types of dishes or on its own.
Food pairing
With the perfect balance of acidity, sweetness and aromatic elements, I can see Gold Rush #10 pairing very well with Asian dishes like Pad Thai and Chicken Bhuna. Try it also with sharp cheddar, where the saltiness will contrast wonderfully with the sweetness of the cider. In a pinch, I can attest to the fact that a packet of Cheese and Onion crisps will also work wonderfully.
