All across Canada, the stills of countess cideries are working at full capacity, turning the bushels and bushels of apples from this autumn’s harvest into delightfully crisp, bright and fresh apple cider. This is nothing new however, as cider is among some of the oldest fermented beverages in human history, its first use being documented in Europe and the Near East, where apple harvesting has long been practiced. While the prevalence of craft ciders has exploded in recent years, with a whole host of wonderful cideries producing delicious products in all sorts of flavours, it is important to remember where it all started, with the simple, yet wonderfully nuanced flavour of a quality apple cider. That is the inspiration behind this month’s box "A Cider a Day", which incorporates many of the ingredients commonly associated with flavoured ciders, but presents them in fun, easy to make craft cocktail recipes, all anchored by the unique taste of traditional dry apple cider.

The Crooked Stone Cider enhances the dry notes of apple cider with the addition of tart plum, sweet honey, sour lemon and herbal Rootbeer/plum bitters. A creamy egg white head adds a layer of rich decadence that greatly compliments the overall profile of this drink.

The Alpine Meadow Cider brings out the lighter, more floral flavours of apple cider with fragrant and floral hit of KVAS wildflower/ginger syrup and orange blossom/rose water, while the zing of fresh ginger a lemon provide a spicy and lasting finish.

The Crimson Needles Cider plays with the tart and sweet side of apple cider, with flavours synonymous with winter, such as cranberry, rosemary and honey. Warm in its colour and its flavour profile, this cocktail will keep you cozy on any cold winter night.

Our “A Cider A Day” box brings out many different qualities found within a good traditional dry apple cider and hopefully will help drinkers appreciate the complexities of flavour which are concealed within this seemingly simple, yet wonderfully intricate brew.

Everybody has their favorite spirit, but also have spirits they’re not so crazy about. These opinions are built over a lifetime of experiences; that bartender who made you the most amazing vodka cocktail you’ve ever tried, that one time you drank too much tequila… there are endless factors that may contribute to our own personal opinions towards particular types of alcohol. While these biases are completely understandable, a Crafty Cocktails box subscription is all about education in the world of cocktail creation, and it is very hard to learn new things if you don’t step outside your comfort zone. We strongly encourage you to make your cocktails with the recommended spirit for the month, even if you think you don’t like it.  If a recipe is well balanced and acutely aware of the flavor profile of its given base spirit, the result can surprise even the most discerning of palettes. Conversely, an attempt to substitute the recommended alcohol for another simply because of personal preference can result in disaster, as flavor profiles tend to clash rather than compliment each other. The recipes in a Crafty’s curated box are just that, curated to suit a particular base spirit. Trust our bartenders, they know what they’re talking about; let them show how something you thought you disliked, can become something you absolutely love. If you truly can't get down with the featured box of the month, we understand! You can choose one of our past boxes to start a subscription, just send us an email and request the one you want to start with. Cheers!