By Clyde Mooney – editor Australian Hotelier
Continuing the success of its wine-style artisan batches, Mornington Peninsula cider producer Cheeky Rascal has launched the first in a series of specialty ciders on draught.
Rebello has been producing its 'real fruit blended cider' Cheeky Rascal for nearly two years, and has launched three new one-off 'Cheeky Little Batches' that will be available in cider venues across Victoria throughout May.
Rebello CEO Ruth Gallace
"This gives us the opportunity to source small parcels of the traditional heritage varieties and cider apples similar to those used in the UK, and blend them with the culinary apples usually used in Australian cider, creating a marriage of traditional earthy and complex characteristics with the crisp clean contemporary taste we currently see in Australian ciders," said Rebello CEO Ruth Gallace.
"The palates of Australian cider lovers are becoming increasingly sophisticated – so the Cheeky Little Batches will bring together the best of the old and new worlds in cider."
The first Cheeky Little Batch is a blend of three experimental batches: hand-pressed Kingston Black and Dabinett apples from heritage-variety trees in Red Hill, Pink Ladies and Granny Smiths fermented in oak barrels, and a brew using wild yeast.
The products will be available in venues such as Young and Jacksons, Beer DeLuxe, Mrs. Parmas, The Lucky Coq. and Brunswick Street Cider House.