I had the good fortune of visiting this new tasting room during the week of their grand opening. It is tucked away in an unassuming light industrial area in the northern part of Aurora, Colorado, adjacent to Denver. While Colorado already had several cideries, some of which were/are quite creative and doing very well, The Haykins were the first to be more orchard-focused and devoted to making high-end products able to compete with the best that the sparkling-wine world had to offer. With a professor’s nerdy curiosity and passion, Dan threw himself into learning all about apple varietals and making friends with orchardists producing unusual apples most people had never heard of. After operating first in their kitchen, and then having that expand into the other rooms, they finally opened this tasteful tasting room with enough space in back to move their operations out of their house. It is modern and airy, with clean lines, light woods, stainless steel and a dark iron trim. There is also a window into their large walk-in fridge where you can watch the carboys bubbling away while sitting at the bar having a drink. After visiting with some friends, I was moved to write a Google review of this new cidery. Another friend read the review and planted the idea in my head that I should do more reviews, because I loved both writing and educating and trying new ciders. Though it was several months before I began taking the idea of a cider review website seriously, I guess you could say that two new cider endeavors were launched that weekend. Because what I originally wrote still stands, and for the sentimentality of it, I re-produce it here in full:

"Cider lovers, GO! I have been to every cidery in Colorado and a number in the Pacific Northwest and the South, and this is clearly some of the best craft cider being produced and is certainly the best of what’s around. After reading the website I was a bit skeptical because my first impression was they were really trying to cater to the wine drinker crowd, but after going and trying everything they had to offer it was clear to this cider-drinker that they had a passion for cider. They definitely have an eye towards producing a top-end product as they press their own apples in house using a number of varieties sourced in the Front Range, including several heirloom varietals. They’re innovative when it comes to flavors without being over the top—like, for instance, the pepper-spiced ciders of Rev. Nat’s—and this seems to stem primarily from their deep knowledge of the flavor profiles of the apples they select.

To top it all off, Daniel and Talia, the owners, are just lovely people. They’re the kind of warm, easy-going, neighbors you’d enjoy having a drink with.

If you love cider, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed."