Tasting Notes by Brand: Stonewell Cider

Rating 4/ 10
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Stonewell Cider double distilled apple brandy 2023 2nd fill oloroso sherry cask, 22 months of aging 63%

Nose: Baked apple dusted with cinnamon, but with a nice acidity hinted at on the nose, closer to a fuji or pink lady. This is really pleasing

Palate: Cedar wood, dried sulfured apricots, stale sultanas. Sadly the palate isn’t delivering on the nose.

Rating: 4 / 10 – okay this is a strange one. The apple is there, and the hint of oloroso is there, but I taste more whisky influence than sherry influence. Maybe the first fill was an whisky? But while from the nose I think there was a lovely apple spirit, the cask twisted it.

Rating 6/ 10
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Stonewell Cider double distilled apple brandy 2024, 2nd fill Bourbon 10 months of aging 63%

Nose: Soft warm caramel chews, caramel covered green apple slices, costco oversized apple-cinnamon muffin

Palate: Oh .. first reaction is this is actually delicious. Reminds me of an apple pie moonshine. Even has a bit of the shine vibe (although I don’t love that) on the palate. But the soft apple caramel cinnamon vibe is just plain fun and I can see people having a blast drinking this.

Rating: 6 / 10 – this tastes super young but if it just mellows and the flavors round out, this will be such a fun spirit for small shots at xmas, or as a basis for winter cocktails. The style isn’t one for the elegant crowd, it’s for the young people who enjoy sweet treats.The 6 is optimistic for such a baby, but I think it will grow into it.

Rating 3/ 10
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Stonewell Cider double distilled apple brandy 2022 2nd fill Malaga Cask 63%

Nose: I really love this nose. You can smell a cider not just an apple brandy. Hints of funk, peel, acidity. And then warmth from the oak, touch of cinnamon and clove. Really stands out.

Palate: The palate is discombobulated. Young spirit notes, an unpleasant oxidation funk that reminds me of dried prunes, and yet the apple note is there calling me. Maybe with time magic could happen? I’m not sure.

Rating: 3 / 10 – what a great nose and yet, ough. palate.