Montague Jazz Apple Cider

Montague Cider House had their first release this season. As they own the master licensee for the Jazz Apple in Australia they have the exclusive right to use the trademarked name. So they put it to good use creating the Montague Jazz Apple Cider, which, you guessed it is made from the Jazz apple.

Launched in Australia April 2009, Jazz Apples are a cross of its parent varieties, Gala and Braeburn. Generally regarded as one of the best eating apples on the market. It was developed in New Zealand in the late 1980’s. orangepippin.com called it: Proof that supermarket apples are no longer bland and boring, Jazz has crisp flesh with a superb rich pear drop flavour. While Brian Frange, the Internet’s apple tasting funny man said:

@RealCiderReview – They taste fine but their odd shape reminds me of a talentless child who wants attention. Valiant effort but annoying.

— Brian Frange (@brianfrange) November 23, 2016

At the recent Cider Festival, I caught up with Gavin of Montague Cider who explained to me how they have the exclusive rights to the making a single variety jazz apple cider.

The Nose

I was expecting something fruitier from the Montague Jazz Apple Cider. A cooked apple note shows itself straight after popping the cap. However, this is quite biscuity. The plain biscuit best dipped into your tea.

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The Taste

What Montague have made is a light and crisp little number. The balance between the acid and the flavour of the jazz apple which only, really, shows up late in the game. The biscuit factor is back here in the taste. It reminds me of some of the ciders that have spent time on lees, it gets a little toasty.

Montague Jazz Apple Cider is crystal clear with just slight, yellow-green tinge. Looking through the glass you won’t see any bubble but on the tongue, the spiky little buggers are there.

Final Thoughts on Montague Jazz Apple Cider

Just not sure about this. It’s like a painting and not a sculptor. By that I mean it’s certainly interesting but not exactly deep. There are only a small handful of apples that make excellent single variety ciders. The Jazz apple may not be one of these but it puts in a damn good show.

Maybe I’m not getting it. Maybe it’s like jazz music, It’s about the notes they don’t play. It’s complexity is restrained by being only born out of the jazz apple. It’s worth a try, if for no other reason to know what jazz apples taste like in a cider.

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