Should you add ice to your cider?

One of the biggest debates about serving cider is whether you should add ice or not.

The answer isn't simple and it depends on the cider.

For almost all Australian drinkers, cider is best served "cold". However how cold depends more on the cider than on the drinker. 

For a sweeter cider like our Pink Lady or Poire the chill of some ice in the cider will take off a bit of the sweetness and is super-refreshing on a hot day. It's the perfect end of day treat. The fruitiness of these ciders still shines through the cold. If the cider is at fridge temperature you probably only need a few cubes of ice.

However for more complex ciders like our single variety ciders or the Heritage Blend a bit more warmth really unlocks the aromas of the cider. More "Cellar Temperature" than fridge temperature; say 8-13C. So take your bottle out of the fridge a little while before serving. Aromas and flavour intensity will increase.  You will simply experience more of the cider.

Just like most red wines, the tannin content of ciders from bittersweet or bittersharp apples get lost in the cold. 

That said, Australian "room temperature" is probably taking things a little too far!

When it comes down to it it's all down to personal taste so here's an exercise for you. Get a friend over, chill one bottle, have one bottle less cold and taste the difference. It's a fun exercise. After the first cider if you're not sure, taste another. Try a different style next... All in moderation of course. The more friends the better.

For a much longer discussion of this have a read of Cider Review's article on temperature of cider.