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Celebrate National Cocktail Day with a Cider Twist

National Cocktail Day is the perfect excuse to shake things up, and if you are not reaching for cider, you are leaving serious flavor on the table. Cider brings acidity, tannin, and fruit complexity that most cocktails are missing. It plays well with spirits, lifts aromatics, and gives you a lighter, more dynamic drink.

If you care about balance and drinkability, cider cocktails are not a gimmick. They are a smart upgrade.

Jennie Dorsey, author of Cider Paired and Plated shares four cider-forward cocktails that hit classic templates with a fresh orchard-driven edge.

Cider Negroni

A riff on the iconic Negroni, this version softens bitterness and adds layered apple character.

Ingredients

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 1 oz bitter aperitivo (like Campari)
• 2 oz dry, tannic cider

Instructions

1. Add gin, vermouth, and aperitivo to a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until chilled.
3. Strain over a large cube in a rocks glass.
4. Top with cider.
5. Garnish with an orange peel.

Why it works
The cider stretches the drink, rounding bitterness while adding structure. Choose a dry, high-tannin cider with enough acid to keep it lively.

Cider Hugo Spritz

A cider-driven take on the alpine classic Hugo Spritz. Bright, floral, and dangerously easy to drink.

Ingredients

• 1 oz elderflower liqueur
• 3 oz semi-dry cider
• 2 oz sparkling water
• Fresh mint
• Lime wheel

Instructions

1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Add elderflower liqueur and cider.
3. Top with sparkling water.
4. Gently stir.
5. Garnish with mint and lime.

Why it works
Cider replaces prosecco with more depth and less overt sweetness. The apple and elderflower combination feels natural, not perfumed.

Orchard Tiki Punch

A cider-based tropical build inspired by Tiki cocktails. This is where orchard meets island.

Ingredients

• 1 oz dark rum
• 1 oz overproof rum
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz cinnamon syrup
• 3 oz semi-dry cider
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients except cider into a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard.
3. Pour into a tiki glass or highball with crushed ice.
4. Top with cider.
5. Garnish with mint, pineapple frond, or grated nutmeg.

Why it works
Cider adds acid and structure that tiki drinks often lack, keeping the sweetness in check while amplifying fruit.

Apple Lychee Martini

A modern orchard-tropical hybrid built off the structure of a Lychee Martini. Clean, aromatic, and elegant.

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz lychee liqueur or lychee syrup
• 1 oz fresh apple cider (unfiltered if possible)
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz dry sparkling cider

Instructions

1. Shake vodka, lychee, apple cider, and lemon juice with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled coupe.
3. Top with cider.
4. Garnish with a lychee or thin apple slice.

Why it works
Lychee brings floral sweetness, while cider sharpens and lifts the drink

Final Thoughts

If you are serious about cocktails, cider deserves a permanent place on your bar. It is not just a substitute, it is a tool. Acid, tannin, carbonation, and fruit, all in one ingredient.

Start here, then push further. Swap styles, test sweetness levels, explore cider’s base elements, and its many possible additions. That is where things get interesting.

Discover more about cider cocktails with Cider Paired and Plated: The Art of Food and Cider Pairing.

At the ACA, we know your bottom line matters and that you do better when the businesses you work with do better for you. That’s why we’re excited to launch the ACA Preferred Vendor Program: a growing lineup of businesses offering exclusive discounts for ACA members.

How It Works

We’ve done the legwork—negotiating deals with suppliers who want to support cidermakers like you with real savings on products and services you already use (or might want to use). Take advantage of our Preferred Vendor Program to enjoy:

• Exclusive discounts for ACA members
• Suppliers who understand your business
• Opportunities to save on tools, services, and materials

Newly Added Discounts:

• 25% Off Your First Year of Beer30
• Free Consultation & 10% Off Flat Fee Projects from Beer Law Center
• 10% Discount for all Classes & Workshops from the Cider Institute
• One Free Job Posting Per Year from Ciderpros.com
• 5% Off from Fountain City Logistics
• 5%-10% Off First Shipment from MyFreightWorld
• 10% Off First Design Project from Seathirst Creative
• 50% Off Annual Subscription from Sightlines
• 1/2 Off Setup and First Month Free from Tapwyse
• Savings of $3.00/case on Regulatory Fees from Vinoshipper
• 10% Off Orders from Wine Shipping Boxes

Check them all out on our Preferred Vendors Page and find links and codes for their exclusive deals for ACA members in the Resource Hub.

Becoming a Preferred Vendor

If you know a great company that supports your work and might be a good fit send them our way! Better yet, if you are a business that wants to participate, fill out this FORM and let us know. We’d be glad to bring you into the fold to pass benefits on to the whole cider community. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to our Director of Member Relations Woodley Smith at woodley@ciderassociation.org.

The US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) is requiring all LLC to submit beneficial ownership information (BOI) or face high fees. This is part of the Corporate Transparency Act. FINCEN has recently granted a 12-day extension, so you now have until January 13, 2025 to file and avoid fees. 

BOI reports can be e-filed through FINCEN here: https://boiefiling.fincen.gov/

For more information on who should file a BOI report by the new deadline, reference this blog from Wolters Kluwer. https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/boi-reporting-deadlines-extended-by-fincen-following-stay-of-nationwide-injunction

There is additional relief for certain LLCs impacted by disaster here: https://www.adamsandreese.com/news-knowledge/fincen-announces-boi-reporting-extension-in-hurricane-areas

For more questions about filing your BOI report with FINCEN, visit their FAQ page here: https://www.fincen.gov/boi-faqs#B_1

The American Cider Association was honored to support the historic inaugural cider competition as part of the Brewers Association’s Great American Beer Festival this fall in Denver, Colorado. The cider categories were developed through ACA’s partnership with GABF and input from experienced cider sensory professionals. The ACA was pleased to share our expertise with the competition, and cider felt respected throughout the event and the planning. The GABF solicits category feedback as part of its annual process, so next year descriptions will be even more improved. 

The ACA worked with GABF to ensure that the judges were exceptionally well qualified to evaluate cider. It was a diverse pool of judges by geography, age, race, profession and gender, and cider viewpoints were well rounded. All of the judges were either Certified Pommeliers, senior BJCP cider judges with cider judging experience, or cider experts with years of cider sensory experience. This included the entire ACA Education Committee who was pleased to join this history-making cider judging crew at GABF. 

Cider was judged on balance of structural components (acid, sugar, and if relevant to the category, tannins), integration and harmony of flavors, fermentation quality, fruit perception, and alignment with category descriptions. There were 5 categories for cider this year, and hopefully more in the future as entries grow. 

The GABF medalists in cider this year were:

• No/Low Tannin Cider
  • GOLD, The Russets, Snow Capped Cider (CO)
  • SILVER, Gravenstein, Snow Capped Cider (CO)
  • BRONZE, 10th Anniversary, 2 Towns Ciderhouse (OR)
• Tannic Cider
  • GOLD, Classic Dry, Gowan’s Cider (CA)
  • SILVER, Cedar Valley Blend, Paha Cider Co. (IA)
  • BRONZE, 2022 Cidre Bouché, 2 Towns Ciderhouse (OR)
• Fruit or Botanical Cider
  • GOLD, Blackberry, McMennamin’s Edgefield Winery (OR)
  • SILVER, Ozark Strawberry Rhubarb, Ozark Beer Co. (AR)
  • BRONZE, Pineapple Cider, 2 Towns Ciderhousese (OR)
• Experimental or Barrel-Aged
  • GOLD, Rosé Cider, Gowan’s Cider (CA)
  • SILVER, 2019 Pommeau, 2 Towns Ciderhouse (OR)
  • BRONZE, 802 Barrel Aged, Vermont Cider Co. (VT)
• Single Varietal
  • GOLD, Mountain Rose, Haykin Family Cider (CO)
  • SILVER, Macintosh, Gowan’s Cider (CA)
  • BRONZE, Glow – Airlie Red Rosé, Alpenfire Cider (WA)

Let’s hear from a few judges about what it was like to make cider history at GABF! 

Max Finnance

Beverage Consultant, Certified Pommelier, Master Cicerone, 5x GABF Judge

 “I had a blast judging this inaugural class of ciders at GABF ’24, and consider it an honor to have been included. Hearing the incredible conversations among some of the cider world’s leading minds, and helping to select the best of the best over three days of judging, it only makes me more excited about the future of cider at GABF. As consumers continue to get more diverse with their beverage choices, a partnership like this between the preeminent cider and beer organizations in the country makes a ton of sense to me, and has the ability to help catapult the best cidermakers into visibility for a whole new audience. I guarantee that Gowan’s, 2 Towns, Haykin Family, and the rest of the winners all experienced a spike in web queries over the weekend, something that other cideries will be smart to strive for in future years.”

Brighid O’Keane

Executive Director at Cider Institute of North America, Certified Pommelier 

“This is a year for the history books! It was a great opportunity for cider to be recognized in the prestigious and rigorous GABF competition. The winners presented stellar products and we look forward to continued partnerships and increased involvement in the years to come.”

Lester Koga

Co-Founder at Barebottle Brewing Co., Certified Pommelier 

“As a brewer/cidermaker/beer judge/Certified Pommelier, it was an honor to help judge the first GABF cider competition. In the world of beer judging, we have very established guidelines in which we judge each beer category (over 100+ styles). There’s a lot of rigor around the adherence to specific aroma/ flavor characteristics, typical of style. With cider spread across a manageable 5 categories, there was a lot more opportunity for broader style expression within each. We were able to judge on technical merits, but also on the artful execution of each cider. Without question, there were so many unique and wonderful examples that awarding medals was not easy. Beer and cider often have a place at the same table and it’s encouraging to see them share a podium as well.”

Kate Pinsley

Senior Director of Beverage at Schilling Cider, Certified Pommelier, and longtime cider nerd

“GABF is such a legendary beer festival with a respected and meticulously run competition, and it warmed my heart to have cider and cidermakers and cider drinkers so enthusiastically welcomed into that space. I was inspired by the open-mindedness of Serious Beer People in bringing cider to the table and taking care to understand and respect its unique and diverse characteristics. The cider community will only get stronger from having more of these conversations about what cider is, and what good cider is. It was an honor to be part of cider’s introduction into GABF, and I look forward to building a tradition of cider at GABF — let’s get more categories and more cider into GABF 2025!”

Leah Dienes

Partner, Head Brewer at Apocalypse Brew Works, BJCP Beer and Cider Judge, President of Kentucky Guild of Brewers

“I was extremely excited to find out when I arrived at GABF that cider would be a part of the judging. I was pleased to be asked to judge the ciders and to extend my BJCP cider knowledge with the new categories presented at the competition as well as learn from the expertise of the American Cider Association judges. The discussions during the competition and especially the medal rounds were enlightening and got me excited to want to study, drink and create more ciders in my brewery. It was a great experience that I hope to extend to the next competition and to spread more cider information to our breweries in Kentucky.”

With cider production up in over 30 states, is the beverage finally shedding its “fall-drink-only” status?

When rosé burst into the wine world in the mid-2000s, producers had a lot of work to do when it came to shaking off its ‘summer-drink-only’ rank. Similarly, cidermakers have faced challenges when it comes to showing consumers the drink is enjoyable all year, not just during pumpkin patch and u-pick season. (Though it’s quite lovely then, too). 

But perhaps, cidermakers are starting to see their efforts pay off—literally. According to NielsenIQ, from July 2023–July 2024, regional, or independent, cider retail sales in NIQ-measured channels have reached a whopping $806.7 million, up 3.4% from the year previous. Additionally, regional cider was one of just three sub-categories to also experience volume growth in the beer-tracked category.

Naturally, you might be thinking ‘sure, but that includes fall and winter, cider’s popular seasons.’ And you would be correct. But when you break those numbers down even further and look at the past 13 weeks, regional off-premise cider sales are still up by just under 2% and have raked in approximately $217.6 million in sales.

The growth seems to be stemming from states not often associated with cider—let alone cidermaking. Big cider states like California and New York saw their sales rise by 3.8% and 1.5% respectively. But surprisingly, it was regions like Georgia saw cider sales rise 58% to $2.2 million while its production jumped 54%; Arizona saw its sales rise nearly 33% to just shy of $2 million with production up 22%; and lastly, Tennessee saw its sales spike 34.3% to just shy of $2.5 million with its production rising 28%. These states were outliers in terms of their double-digit growth. But 28 additional states also saw a rise in both their cider sales and production.

Historically, cidermakers have long-relied on their tasting rooms to drive most of their sales. And it makes sense. The American cider scene is still young (relatively speaking of course). Meaning there are still many consumers who don’t quite know what it is or harbor some pretty unfortunate preconceived notions of the drink thanks to a bottle they chugged in college. Whereas those going to a cidery likely already have, at the very least, a base-level interest. Not to mention, the person working the tasting room has the opportunity to sell consumers and to-go bottles and cans. 

Yet, in the past year, regional cider brands saw their off-premise sales increase by 3.4 basis points. Meaning more consumers are scanning the shelves stocked with beers, wines, flavored malt beverages (FMB), and opting for cider instead. 

Six-packs were by far the most popular format to buy cider in, claiming 48% of off-premise sales (both local and national). It’s followed by four-packs (20% of regional and national) and 12-packs (16% of regional and national). Bottle sales across local and big-name brands were down. 

As for flavor profiles, the standard “apple” hard cider reigns supreme, raking in over $800 million in sales. That number is down slightly from the year previous. But perhaps it’s because there are so many additional flavors to try, running the gamut from blueberry to dragonfruit.

When it comes to experimenting with some different flavors, consumers seem a bit more willing to do so with their local cidery. For instance, regional producers saw their berry, tropical, and stone fruit cider sales jump 3.9, 12.1 and 21.8 basis points respectively. National brands, on the other hand, were down in nearly all flavor categories minus tropical and citrus. Neither of which saw a major bump in sales or production volume. 

The Bigger Picture 

When looking at the overall beer and FMB market, there’s no denying that cider is a small slice of the pie, it makes up about 1% of sales. And no, cider shouldn’t be compared to beer when it comes to production or flavor profile. But there are some similarities and contrasts when it comes to the rise of craft beer and what we might be starting to see with local cider. 

Back in 2012, craft beer was starting to take off and accounted for about 10% of the market. In the decade-plus since, it’s fluctuated up and down. At its peak in 2021, it held 26.1% of the beer market according to Statista. Currently, NielsenIQ has it at 14% of the market. 

That’s pretty remarkable when considering these small establishments are up against industry titans like Anheuser-Busch, which produces millions of barrels annually. 

Similarly, when cider was growing in the mid-2000s, there were only a handful of national brands and international brands like Strongbow, owned by behemoth Heineken, widely available to the public. 
But craft beer had the luxury of being a product of which Americans were quite familiar. Cider doesn’t quite have that—yet. While it may seem slow, the data indicates that is starting to change. And it starts with your local producer elevating cider so it becomes more than a “fall drink” and something people feel comfortable with taking a chance on at their local grocery store.

About the Author:

Kristen Richard is a Colorado-based writer specializing in food, drink, and the outdoors. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, where she was previously the digital editor, as well as in Backpacker, All About Beer, Thirst Colorado, and others. She specializes in covering the science and history behind food and drink.

The views, information, or opinions expressed in guest blogs are solely those of the authors involved and do not necessarily represent those of the American Cider Association.

The views, information, or opinions expressed in guest blogs are solely those of the authors involved and do not necessarily represent those of the American Cider Association.

Digital marketing offers a world of opportunities for cider producers to distribute and display educational content, but where do you start? Many cider brands need help finding clarity in the maze of potential digital marketing channels. Not only do you have to figure out which channels to use, but also how to use them well. In addition to the overwhelming selection of channels, how do you decide where to park your educational cider content that will bring you the most ROI? Each digital channel has its own pros and cons, but one of the best ways to pinpoint which platforms fit your brand is to evaluate your content goals, identify your audience, and acknowledge your team’s bandwidth. The good news is that with a focused strategy, you can efficiently and effectively leverage digital channels to reach your loyal fans (and expose your cider to new ones) using the educational content you have already curated. While not 100% comprehensive, let’s dive into some popular digital marketing channels so you can get those creative juices flowing on how to present and distribute your educational content. Think of it not as randomly throwing marketing darts, hoping they hit your target, but crafting a well-thought-out content recipe that combines the perfect blend of ingredients to create your unique brand voice. You have already worked hard to create educational content about cider ingredients, production processes, flavor profiles, consumption, and your brand—now it’s time to shift that content into overdrive. 

Targeted Approach

Know Your Ideal Audiences: Understanding where your audience likes to consume information allows you to meet them where they are. The basic idea is to fold yourself into their existing online universe. This practice increases content engagement rates and ensures the right people see your messages. However, the first step is to determine the audience you are trying to reach with your educational content. 

Example: Knowing that their target audiences spend most of their time on Instagram, Wise Bird Cider from Lexington, KY, has curated a fun, fact-filled profile of feed posts, Stories, and Reels that educate their followers about ingredients and production processes on Instagram. Audiences are learning something new and doing it based on their own channel preferences.

Photo courtesy of Wise Bird Cider

Leverage Your Channel Goals: Each digital marketing channel has unique strengths and weaknesses. Aligning your goals with each channel’s strengths can make your efforts more efficient and effective. Some channels are better than others at increasing brand awareness, improving engagement, solidifying brand loyalty, or encouraging purchase activity. Not sure what purpose each channel holds? Visit their website and read about their brand to learn more about what they are trying to achieve with the platform.

Bandwidth Consideration: Spreading yourself too thin across multiple channels can dilute your efforts and lead to inconsistent and sometimes even conflicting messaging. Focus on a few channels where you can maintain high-quality content and regular engagement, but do not dismiss the other channels completely! It’s not wrong to spread out brand presence on multiple channels, but make sure you have a team of the proper size to do it well before adopting any new platforms.

Channel Examples

Email Marketing:

Email marketing is a fantastic way of communicating educational information about hard cider. You can leverage long-form content to inform and connect with your readers. This channel is excellent for storytelling, education, personalization of your brand, and promotion — all rolled up into one. Email marketing typically includes most, if not all, demographics, allowing you to cast an extensive net. Being permission-based, you can also be sure that the reader actually wants to see your content. You can further personalize the experience by tagging and segmenting your audience, making it truly special for your fans by directing more specialized educational content to those who engage with your topic-specific calls to action (CTAs).

Example: Send an email with a brief insight into how cider is made (not brewed) and the common ingredients in cider recipes, or plan out a feature about a specific variety of fruit. To increase engagement, include visuals and additional outbound links that support your content.

TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts

These platforms are ideal for targeting younger demographics with quick educational tips about cider. The ethos of these channels is for entertainment and video views, so leverage them to stop the scroll, build brand awareness, and attract new customers by teaching them something new. While the primary goal on these platforms isn’t necessarily direct sales, providing fun and educational content can and will create enjoyable moments with your audience. These interactions will build a positive association with your brand and foster a sense of community, leading to future purchases. Also, who doesn’t like a little bit of fun?

Example: TikTok content from Bivouac Ciderworks in San Diego, CA, demonstrates a lovely mix of educational content in conjunction with current social media trends, like how to create a cider cocktail- in this case, a Biv Cider Michelada (leverages the trend – make something with me).

Photo courtesy of Bivouac Ciderworks

Facebook Events

Facebook remains a relevant platform for promoting cider brands, even if you think that channel is on the downslope. While the FB feed is debatable, the actual start of the show is FB Events. Cider education events like tours, classes, and tastings can be announced to your fans through page updates and reach new audiences through organic posts. While this platform trends toward an older demographic, it’s still crucial. Offering educational events allows fans to engage on a deeper level with your brand, and event RSVPs contribute to your engagement metrics on Facebook, increasing your organic content’s general reach.

Example: Host a cider tour at your farm or production facility that teaches about cider production and post on FB Events. Post updates leading up to the event to encourage attendee engagement within the event dashboard. On the event day, allow attendees to interact with the pressing process, learn about ingredients, and take home their cider- all while reminding them to post about the event and tag you on social media. Events create memorable experiences with your brand and tend to lead to future purchases, but when accented by social media presence, the benefits will continue to compound.

YouTube

YouTube is where people go to learn. From in-depth tutorials to quick, punchy Shorts, this platform is perfect for reaching Gen Z and Millennials. For cider brands, YouTube offers a unique opportunity to create a library of educational content that informs and builds a community of dedicated fans who view your brand as a trusted authority. Show behind-the-scenes content to build trust and resonate with viewers who appreciate authenticity. You could host live Q&A sessions to engage your audience in real-time. These immersive experiences will make them feel like they are part of your community! Collaborate with influencers or industry experts to co-create content, broaden your reach, and add credibility to your educational efforts. Highlight local ingredients or regional specialties significant to your brand to provide engaging, unique content for your viewers.

Example: Albemarle Ciderworks, from North Garden, VA, has created curated playlists of educational content about cider ingredients and cider-making processes of bite-sized videos that are easy for any viewer to understand and foster a connection with the brand.

Screenshot courtesy of Albemarle Ciderworks YouTube channel.

Twitter and Reddit

If you focus on the science and technical production aspects of cider making, Twitter and Reddit offer unique opportunities to engage with your audience more deeply- in a very technical and beverage-geeky way. Twitter is perfect for sharing bite-sized educational content and engaging in real-time conversations. Use hashtags relevant to the cider industry and participate in trending discussions to increase your visibility. Reddit’s community-driven structure allows you to reach highly targeted groups interested in cider making and contribute to conversations that would establish your brand as an industry “thought leader.” Subreddits like r/cider and r/fermentation are excellent for interacting with a community that is genuinely interested in the nuances of cider production.

Example: Tweet technical information about cider fermentation, highlighting particular scientific insights or ingredients. Use threads to provide detailed breakdowns of complex topics and engage with your audience’s questions and comments.

Example: Stem Ciders, located in Colorado, leverages Twitter to connect with its audience by sharing educational content about cider varieties, the importance of using fresh (and unique) ingredients, and behind-the-scenes looks at their production processes.