Farnum Hill Cider

You may think of cider as a sweet, apple-oriented experience, but the ciders fermented at Poverty Lane Orchards under the name Farnum Hill are dry with a touch of apple essence. Their Farnum Hill Extra Dry Cider is bubbly with a balance of astringency and fruit. It’s made with late-harvest apple varieties grown onsite. With a tannic backbone, it stands up to meaty stews and spicy Indian or Thai dishes.

Farnum Hill products are available at the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets across the state, but visiting the orchard in Lebanon is an experience. You can pick apples and taste the varieties of cider available. If it is a Dooryard Thursday, you can buy a growler and have it filled from the barrel tapped by the cider maker that day for $12, plus the cost of the jug ($3).

James Ives, bartender at PINE Restaurant at the Hanover Inn, composed The Orchard Keeper to highlight Farnum Hill Cider Extra Dry Cider. Ives was named 2012 New Orleans Rising Star Mixologist while at Cure in NOLA. He is a student of classical drinks and the history of drink mixology, while at the same time enjoying creating new combinations for flavorful experiences at the bar.

Mixologist at PINE at the Hanover Inn James Ives photo by susan laughlin

The Orchard Keeper
1.25 ounces Hayman's Royal Dock Gin
.25 ounce Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
.5 ounce house-made ginger syrup*
.5 ounce  fresh lemon
3 ounces Farnum Hill Extra Dry Cider

Glass: Collins
Garnish: Apple slice

Instructions: Combine all ingredients except cider in a shaker. Add ice and shake well. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass.  Top with cider and stir to integrate. Garnish with a fresh apple peel.

* Ginger Syrup
1/4 pound ginger, rough chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Bring all ingredients to a boil and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Cool and strain. Extra syrup can be used to flavor a homemade ginger ale with 1/3 ginger syrup and 2/3 soda water with a squeeze of lime.

Farnum Hill Cider
Poverty Lane Orchards
98 Poverty Lane, Lebanon
(603) 448-1511

PINE Restaurant
Hanover Inn
Hanover
(603) 646-8000