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Raging Cider’s Northern Spy looks pretty stout out of the bottle as its burnished pale amber color is opaque with virtually no bubbles. There are caramel, nuts and spice notes in the heavy and oaky nose of this drink. Oh my! Now that’s a serious drink. The pull is surprisingly smooth and the high amount of viscosity gives it a thicker, but pleasant mouthfeel. The flavor in the finish just sticks around like it wants to have a conversation with you and is not ready to go yet. Don’t let the words “semi-sweet” on the label fool you. Whatever the light-hearted nature of the Northern Spies that went into this drink, the bourbon barrel aging has turned it into a heavy and sophisticated drink that is, yet, quite smooth and caramelly. It has a bit of a burn in the back of the throat at the very end but remains superbly balanced, with just enough sweetness in the finish to keep it from becoming stodgy. The more you let this mellow the better it gets. It provides both a slight burn and an urge to lick your lips—a unique drink indeed. Its better suited for a pipe, smoking jacket and long conversation than volleyball on the beach. A heavy sophisticated cider that is just light enough to be enjoyable.