Stone Broke Cider Review

It’s a sweltering 24 degrees celcius, 75 fahrenhiet for our American cousins.
You may have seen from our Instagram that I, Dan, have a big skylight that cooks my kitchen. It gets so warm in there, I’m able to grow chillis quite successfully.

I’ve done the house work,  dragged the hoover upstairs, been on my hands and knees in the bathroom, all whilst having a kitten attacking my bare feet.

I deserve a refreshing Cider.

Today Stone Broke Vintage Cider by Hewletts Mill volunteers to help cool me down.

I really like the branding on this bottle. It’s simple, modern yet houses a vintage, so I’m expecting something different.

Lets get into it.

Eyes

Stone Broke is an absolutely gorgeous hue of gold.
It seems darker in the bottle but looks exceptional in a glass.
It may just be a light trick, but Stone Broke appears to have darker layers at the top of the liquid – as I said, probably just a light trick.

Nose

Straight away Stone Broke is throwing a fruit salad up my nose. This Cider is bursting with fruity smells.
I get my nose in closer and feel the bubbles of scent burst into my nose hole.
On closer nose inspection, it’s really appley. You can really tell there’s different varieties of apples in there; pressed, fermented and blended, all of which are coming through in their own time.

It’s a deep apple smell that’s quite heavy and lingers which foreshadows the bittersweet flavour to come.

Mouth

Just as my olfactory system experienced, my mouthfactory system found this to be a really juicy Cider. Punchy apple flavours with a light bitter bite towards the end.

Modest sweetness is followed up by bitter after thoughts, just like those you have about your ex who left you for that handsome hunk of a football captain who has bigger legs than you and – oh sorry, that was weird, I err…lost track.

Stone Broke is pretty dry and tannic – basically it leaves the mouth feeling a little dry but it’s not overwhelming.

For me, this is an ideal cider for a hot day. It gives me that dry, bittersweet taste I yearn for but its refreshing on the tongue and throat.

It’s quite bizarre, and that’s why my initial reaction on Instagram was “wow”. We have a heavy, dry Cider that’s very well balanced to be delicate on the palate.

Its gentle fizz on the tongue rolls out across my ‘buds like a wave crashing on a rock – pretty radical dude.

As I was about to stop writing my notes, I had one last swig and got this almost soft liquorice flavour. It wasn’t strong, and im not a lover of liquorice so if it was, the glass would be out the window, but that’s just something I picked up on.. Okay, now I can stop writing…maybe.

I hate that this review is another high score – it’s not fixed people, I promise.
Crafty Nectar have just really nailed it with the selection so far.

The Core

Stone Broke offers a beautifully complex and refreshing flavour. Bursting with fruity smells and exciting apple varieties.

Not too sure about Bittersweet Ciders? 
Just give it a go…go for Broke.