Bad Decisions and the three-foot cider pour
By itself, hard cider can be kind of boring. When poured at arm's length, it's much more interesting -- but not necessarily more tasty.
A few days ago Bad Decisions owner John Reusing told me about a cider called Sarasola Sagardoa he'd gotten from Spain that needed a three-foot pour. The cider is flat, and supposedly, the super high pour makes it all bubbly 'n' stuff.
I hit up Bad Decisions last night to see this epic pour first hand. Reusing kind of cheated by putting one of those metal pours in the top of the bottle, but I'll let him slide because he looks more Irish than Spanish.
Reusing stepped out to the side of the bar, where he wouldn't accidentally splash himself or others, lifted the bottle up over his head and poured it like a champion. He only missed the glass a little bit.
I don't know if the cider was worth all the effort, though ...
Reusing saw my pained facial expressions, and offered to pour me a small glass of another cider he had -- an Etienne Dupont 2008. The Etienne was sweeter and more full-bodied than the Sarasola, but I couldn't get over the sulfurous nose.
It smelled like feet. Or raw eggs. Take your pick.
Somehow, I managed to finish my little champagne glass worth of the Etienne. That was enough fancy Spanish cider for one night. And possibly, a lifetime.
(Photo by me)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Sounds like the cider you're describing here is "real" cider, a drink that is so hard to find here, rather than the sickly sweet carbonated dross for sale on this side of the Atlantic. As a British ex-pat this is the one drink that I really miss from back home (minus the slightly eccentric three foot pour). Nothing like a nice pint of "tractor fuel" or "mendip magic" and a slice of strong cheddar to remind you that you still have taste buds!
http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index.php/File:TheOrchard0909.jpg
Posted by: Zider Drinker | April 3, 2010 1:23 PM
Nothing like a nice pint of "tractor fuel" or "mendip magic" and a slice of strong cheddar to remind you that you still have taste buds!
Sometimes it's better to forget.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | April 3, 2010 4:07 PM
geeze, why didn't someone tell me I need a haircut?
Posted by: John | April 6, 2010 2:40 PM
My buddy and I went to Bad Decisions over Christmas. I met John and we had a really nice time there playing the jukebox. That's a great place.
Posted by: Johnnycat | April 7, 2010 2:00 PM