When it comes to enjoying a refreshing glass of cider, personal preferences can vary wildly. Some drinkers insist on sipping their favourite cider over ice, while others argue it dilutes the flavours and alters the drinking experience. So, the question remains: Should you drink cider over ice?
There’s no doubt, enjoying your cider over ice will create an immediate cooling and refreshing drink. When the sun is shining, nothing beats an ice cold glass of BrightCider to quench your thirst. The ice can help cool down the drink even on the sunniest of days and is something a lot of people will savour in the Summer months.
If you’re drinking a particularly strong cider, you might find the ice takes the edge off the drink and makes it more palatable. As well as the higher ABV, stronger ciders may also be punchier with their flavours and this may need tempering a little bit, and the ice will help offset this. Adding ice to cider might allow the drinker to enjoy their beverage without being overwhelmed by its strength.
Simply put, some people might choose to add ice to their cider because it’s their own personal preference and they enjoy it that way. If you’re in a pub, it’s often customary to offer the drinker a glass of ice with their cider and if you’re like me, you’ll probably say yes to this.
You might be drinking a glass of your favourite cider from one of the big producers and the label will say “best served over ice”. This is the case for the likes of Kopparberg or Lilley’s but did you know not all of the big cider companies recommend this? Strongbow for example recommend drinking their cider “chilled and without ice”.
While there are plenty more reasons why you might choose to drink your cider over ice, why might some people enjoy their cider without ice?
Some drinkers may enjoy drinking it without ice because they want to taste the cider at it’s full potential. Some might argue the flavour and aromas of the cider are changed once ice is added to the drink. Cider, especially from some small batch brewers, is brewed over a significant amount of time and therefore to enjoy the beverage as the producer intended, it might be best to enjoy without the ice.
Like wine, cider has an optimal drinking temperature that allows the flavours to shine. By adding ice, the temperature of the drink may become too cold, numbing the tastebuds and masking some of the more delicate flavours. Drinking cider at the recommended serving temperature (usually between 3-5 degrees), without ice allows for a more nuanced tasting experience.
In conclusion, there’s both arguments for and against drinking cider with ice but at the end of the day the only thing that matters is how YOU prefer to drink your cider. If you’d rather enjoy it over ice, go for it… If not, simply leave it out.
