Apples to Apples: Bantam’s Rojo Cider

Bantam Rojo Cider, $8, available at Bacco’s Wine + Cheese. (Photograph by Dave Bradley. Jessica Weatherhead/Team.)

Good news for ciderheads still mourning the loss of La Grande, last spring’s funky, barrel-aged, limited-release spinoff from the Cambridge cidery Bantam. The latest special offering: Rojo, a cider that’s been fermented with ale yeast (which yields a cloudier look and a drier finish than Bantam’s flagship brew, Wunderkind) and aged with sour cherries and black peppercorns. You can find it on tap at local craft-beer bars such as Bukowski and Five Horses Tavern, but we strongly suggest scooping up a food-friendly bottle or two from the retail shelves—you know, just in case you find yourself feasting on rich, meaty fare (its perfect complement) at some juncture.