What to drink with Thanksgiving dinner? We’d like to suggest that this year, we pair our turkey with cider.
Late September may feel a tad early to plan on pairing drinks with turkey, but no word of a lie, if you’re like most of us, your Thanksgiving dinner shopping is only about a week away. Given the limited quantities of some products, this applies to the LCBO, too, and the smart hoarder will get a jump on the season by hitting the liquor store sooner rather than later.
What to serve with turkey is always a conundrum. Some suggest sparkling Shiraz, but we’re skeptical, since we have yet to taste one that doesn’t produce an unpleasant cognitive dissonance. (Plus, it’s Shiraz.) Of course, you can’t go wrong with champagne—goes with everything. But it does seem slightly wrong to celebrate the local harvest with an import and, as such, we’re going to suggest that, this Thanksgiving, we get back to our roots and drink cider.
Not that industrial sluice that comes in cans, but, rather, one of several absolutely gorgeous Quebec ciders available at Vintages right now. To wit: St-Nicolas Pom’Or Tradition Crackling Cider, St-Nicolas Brut Crackling Strong Cider and, our personal favourite, St-Nicolas Rosé Crackling Cider. The latter, we’re thinking, would stand its own ground against turkey and manage to complement it as well.
Cidrerie St-Nicolas produces, by far, some of the best Canadian ciders we’ve ever tasted. The Cremant won the hoarder over a few years ago in a blind taste test. Now, we have even more to be thankful for with the three new additions. All three have fresh, crisp, flavours—especially the Pom‘Or, which is a little like stepping into an orchard. The Brut should be reserved for those with a bit of a sweet tooth and the Rosé is, frankly, just something special.
But, as with all things brought in through Vintages, they won’t be here forever, so don’t take them for granted.
St-Nicholas Pom’Or Tradition Crackling Cider, VINTAGES 179473. $13.95.
St-Nicolas Brut Crackling Strong Cider, VINTAGES 277442. $16.95.
St-Nicolas Rosé Crackling Cider, VINTAGES 275362. $19.95.
