COMPARATIVE LIT ESSAY:
Malic and citric acid. Apples and oranges. Often spoken in the same breath, these are kind of everybody’s two favorite fruits, (at least in the US) and yet they don’t always get along. It is kind of like Harvard and MIT, always considered two of the best universities in the world, often spoken in the same breath, and physically separated by only a mile of Mass Ave; and yet they are very different kinds of institutions with different missions. Having spent time on both campuses I can also tell you that there isn’t a ton of love lost between the two, either. It is similar with apples and the big citrus fruits: oranges, lemons, and most prominently in our case today, limes. (Though Saint Citron uses lemon zest and kumquats to support its exotic black Persian limes) There haven’t been many successful attempts to mix citrus with apple cider, the exceptions being some great grapefruit ciders and some mimosa-inspired ciders that aren’t bad. There are also other lime ciders out there too, I mean, it is tempting because what says "summer treat" better than a Florida Key Lime pie? Both of the cider makers in the spotlight tonight have decided to dabble with citrus and see if they can’t make limes and apples play nice—St. Vrain’s Key Lime and Rev. Nat’s Saint Citron.
Interestingly these both have spice notes in the nose, ginger for Saint Citron, cinnamon for Key Lime though the overall smell of Saint Citron is more intriguing. I do probably find the slightly hazy orangey gold color of the Citron more appealing than the standard straw of Key Lime as well. If I had to ascribe moods to each drink, Key Lime would be very excited, positive and cheery, and "here’s some key lime pie, ain’t it swell?" Whereas the Saint Citron is more moody, emotional, and intellectual. Saint Citron pitches itself as a summer drink, and while this may be as lighthearted and carefree as Nat West gets, and though it is somewhat smooth with sweet notes, this is not an easy drinking cider. It is heavier than Key Lime and it is not straightforward, but again nothing with Nat West ever is. On the other hand, the Key Lime has done a good job creating the essence of a key lime pie especially with the cinnamon aroma where you feel like a you’re getting that graham cracker crust in liquid form.
In deciding which one is for you, you have to know what you want. There is no doubt the Rev. Nat’s is the more carefully crafted and thoughtful cider (his search for finding exotic fruits is always impressive), but if you want something light-hearted and are okay with sweet, then try the St. Vrain. But if you want to explore the many complexities of citrus, and see sides of the lime family you didn’t know existed, try Saint Citron. Just don’t go in expecting fruity, sweet and fun.