Seattle Cider Co. 'Basil Mint' Hard Cider, Washington

Fresh basil, cool mint, and tart apple open with an unusual balance of savory, floral, and refreshing tones. Seattle Cider Co. 'Basil Mint' Hard Cider, Washington, is a medium-dry botanical cider fermented with fresh herb leaves, with the original recipe employing equal additions of freshly muddled basil and mint. Its restrained sweetness and clean finish reflect the brand’s longstanding effort to push American cider beyond conventional fruit-driven styles.

Product Details:

• Producer: Seattle Cider Co.
• Founder: Joel VandenBrink
• Current Head Cidermaker: Dave Takush, 2 Towns Ciderhouse
• Original Head Cidermaker: Brent Miles
• Style: Medium-dry botanical hard cider
• Base: Fresh-pressed apples
• Ingredients: Fresh-pressed apples, cane sugar, basil, mint, malic acid, and sulfites
• Botanicals: Fresh basil and mint leaves
• Fermentation: Fermented with fresh basil and mint
• Brix: 1.8
• ABV: 6.9%
• Gluten-Free: Yes

Sensory Description:

Fresh basil leads the aromatics with green, savory intensity, followed by floral mint and crisp apple. The palate is medium-dry, balancing modest cane sweetness with tart apple acidity and the sharper lift of malic acid. Basil supplies depth through the mid-palate while mint brings a cooling herbal accent rather than overt sweetness. The finish is clean, lightly floral, and distinctly refreshing.

Awards & Accolades:

• Double Gold: CIDERCRAFT Awards 2025; SIP Magazine Best of the Northwest 2023
• Platinum: SIP Magazine Best of the Northwest 2024
• Gold: Northwest Cider Cup 2026, Botanical / Herbed / Spiced / Hopped; Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2021, Best in Class; Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2018; Pacific Northwest Cider Awards 2016; World Cider Championships 2016
• Silver: Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2026; World Beer Cup 2026; Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2025; Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2023; Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2022; SIP Magazine Best of the Northwest 2021; SIP Magazine Best of the Northwest 2019; CIDERCRAFT Awards 2017
• Bronze: Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition 2024, 2016, 2015

Producer’s Background:

Founded by Joel VandenBrink in 2013, Seattle Cider Co. became Seattle’s first cidery since Prohibition and established its identity around fresh-pressed Washington apples, limited sweetness, and unconventional ingredients. Basil Mint began as a spring seasonal under original head cidermaker Brent Miles, whose introductory recipe used 59 pounds each of freshly muddled basil and mint per batch. The brand was acquired by French agricultural cooperative Agrial in 2016 and became part of 2 Towns Ciderhouse in January 2026. Seattle Cider’s current records list 324 competition awards, including 19 individual honors for Basil Mint.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve well chilled at 4 to 7 degrees Celsius in a stemmed cider glass, white wine glass, or tulip glass to preserve its herbal aromatics and tart finish. Pair with chèvre, pesto pasta, Vietnamese or Thai herb-driven dishes, grilled chicken, sushi, spring vegetables, or salads with citrus vinaigrette. It can also be poured over ice with cucumber and fresh basil or used as the sparkling component in a gin-based cider cocktail.