Mulled Cider Oud

[doomsday_disco]

Take a break from pondering that orb, and mull over this mug! Sweet oud infused with fermented apple, allspice, cinnamon sticks, ginger root, clove, orange slices, and bourbon.

[izile]

In the bottle: I think this smells the most apple cider-y out of all of them this year.  It smells like a fresh hot cup of cider from a holiday vender. 

 

Wet: A bit sharp on the nose, with lots of ginger, spices, and something soft and sweet growing in the background. I think the bourbon hit and ran pretty quickly on me.

 

Dry: The apple has returned in good faith, and the spices have quietened down to a lovely balance. I think the oud is finally making an appearance, and just gives it a nice soft roundness.  Quite lovely and a bit less foodie than Fearful Pleasures or Autumn Cider.

[ShadowEtienne]

This really beautifully captures hot spiced cider on me, but I wouldn't necessarily guess the alcohol elements if they weren't in the notes list. It's honestly more in line with the the hot spiced non-alcoholic cider that I get in the Pike Place Market in colder months. There's something very bright and fresh to the apple beside the warming spices. The ginger is definitely prominent here, but it's the earthier ginger of older ginger roots, and it blends really well with the more subtle cinnamon, clove, and allspice (the cinnamon and clove really do behave on my skin, and they can definitely be loud notes sometimes). The orange slices are a barely there hint of zest, but they're a really lovely element that rounds out the scent. The sweet woodiness of the oud (with just a hint of pleasant sourness) really ties everything together.

 

Overall, apple and ginger are definitely the stars of this, which is exactly what I would have hoped for. I'm really glad I was able to get myself a bottle.