Every cider we make has a name that means something. Not marketing fluff. Not random words. Real stories that reflect the process, the character, and the philosophy behind the bottle. Here's the truth behind each one.

The Core — Okanagan Apple Cider

The Name: The Core

The Story: This is our foundation — the core of what we do. It's the first cider we made, the expression that defines our approach, and the baseline against which everything else is measured. Clean, crisp, fruit-forward, and balanced. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just apples, fermentation, and precision.

The name also plays on the literal core of an apple — the centre, the essence, the part that holds the seeds for the next generation. It's where everything starts. And for us, The Core is where Hardcore Cider Co. started.

The Character: Flagship. Versatile. The cider that proves apples alone are enough to make something exceptional.

Unhazy Hopped — Hopped Cider

The Name: Unhazy Hopped

The Story: When we decided to make a hopped cider, we knew we'd be compared to hazy IPAs — the trendy, unfiltered, juice-bomb beers that dominate craft beer. But that's not our style. We filter for clarity. We control for consistency. And we wanted a name that made it clear: this is hopped, but it's not hazy.

"Unhazy" is a direct statement. We're not chasing beer trends. We're making cider with hops — dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic for aroma, not bitterness — but filtered to crystal clarity like everything else we make.

The Character: Citrus and tropical hop aromatics. Bright, clean, and refreshing. Hopped without the haze.

Strawberry Ciderita — Strawberry Lemon Cider

The Name: Strawberry Ciderita

The Story: This cider tastes like a margarita — bright, tart, citrus-forward, and refreshing. Fresh BC strawberries and lemon, balanced with cider acidity and carbonation. The name is a mashup: "Cider" + "Margarita" = "Ciderita." Playful, approachable, and exactly what it sounds like.

The Character: Bright, tart, refreshing. Margarita vibes with cider structure. Summer in a glass.

Black Hole — Barrel-Aged Blackberry Cider

The Name: Black Hole

The Story: This is our most contemplative cider — fresh BC blackberry purée aged in oak wine barrels for months, developing deep, layered character. It's dark, complex, and pulls you in. Once you start tasting, you can't stop: dark fruit, oak tannins, vanilla, depth. It's a black hole of flavour — dense, layered, and impossible to escape.

The name also reflects the colour. Blackberry gives it a deep, dark hue that's almost wine-like. The barrel aging adds weight and gravity — literally and figuratively.

The Character: Dark blackberry, oak tannins, subtle vanilla, complex depth. A cider for slow sipping.

Barrel Proof — Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cider

The Name: Barrel Proof

The Story: In whiskey, "barrel proof" means the spirit is bottled at the same strength it came out of the barrel — no dilution, no cutting, no compromise. It's bold, intense, and unapologetic.

Our Barrel Proof is aged in freshly dumped Okanagan Spirits whiskey barrels, absorbing oak, vanilla, caramel, and char. It's the most barrel-forward expression we make — built for whiskey drinkers who want something different but equally intense.

The name is a promise: this cider is proof that barrels matter.

The Character: Bold, barrel-forward, unapologetic. Oak, vanilla, caramel, and whiskey warmth.

The Vault — Names You Won't See on the Public Store

Some of our most interesting names belong to ciders that never go public. The Vault is our limited release program — small-batch expressions too labour-intensive, too experimental, or simply too limited to sell publicly.

Past Vault releases have included a raspberry expression — bold, tart, and made with fresh BC raspberries added post-fermentation. The name reflected the same philosophy as everything else we make: direct, honest, and a little uncompromising. It sold out to Cider Club members before it ever reached the public store.

Future Vault releases are in development. The names — and the ciders behind them — will be worth waiting for. Cider Club members hear about them first.

Join the Cider Club — Get Vault Access

The Hardcore Standard

Names matter. They tell a story. They set expectations. And they reflect the philosophy behind the bottle.

The Core is our foundation. Unhazy Hopped is our clarity. Strawberry Ciderita is our fun side. Black Hole is our depth. Barrel Proof is our intensity. The Vault is where the most interesting work happens.

Every name means something. Every cider delivers on that promise.

— Hardcore Cider Co.
100% Okanagan apples. Real BC fruit. No shortcuts.