Why We Don't Have a Tasting Room (And Why That's Good for You)

If you've been following Hardcore Cider Co., you might have noticed something: we don't have a tasting room.

No farm-to-table restaurant. No gift shop. No Instagram-worthy patio overlooking the orchards.

And that's intentional.

But here's the thing: we almost did.

The Original Plan: A Tasting Room in Vernon

When we started Hardcore Cider Co., we had big plans for a tasting room at our cidery in Vernon. We even secured a liquor licence for it.

The vision was beautiful: a picnic area under the apple trees, serving flights and pints, with customers enjoying cider in the shade while looking out over the orchards. It would have been the perfect Okanagan experience.

But as we got deeper into the business, we realized something: running a tasting room would pull us away from what we do best — making exceptional cider.

So we made a tough decision: we shelved the tasting room plans and focused on the cider itself.

We've Seen Beautiful Tasting Rooms with Mediocre Cider

We've visited some beautiful Okanagan cideries with stunning tasting areas — gorgeous patios, perfect Instagram backdrops, all the bells and whistles. But the cider? Not good.

When you focus on the tasting room experience, the cider often becomes secondary. The energy, money, and attention go into creating a beautiful space and hosting guests — not into tending the orchards, growing premium fruit, and perfecting the fermentation. We didn't want to fall into that trap.

The Real Issue: Time Away from What Matters

Running a tasting room would take us away from tending to the orchards, growing the fruit, and making the cider. Those are the things that actually matter. Those are the things that make great cider.

The Tasting Room Model: Great for Tourism, Not Always Great for Cider

Running a tasting room is expensive. Even with the liquor licence in hand, we would have needed staff, furniture and infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, retail inventory, marketing to drive foot traffic, and insurance. All of that overhead gets passed on to you in the form of higher prices. We'd rather spend our money on making better cider.

Our Business Model: Quality First, Overhead Second

At Hardcore Cider Co., we focus on three things: growing premium apples on our estate orchards, making exceptional cider with real BC fruit and zero shortcuts, and getting that cider to you at a fair price.

By skipping the tasting room, we keep overhead low. That means lower prices for you, more investment in quality, and better accessibility — you don't have to drive to Vernon to get our cider.

Better Value: Bottles vs. Tasting Room Prices

A pint at a tasting room runs $8–12. A tasting flight runs $12–18. A 750ml bottle of Hardcore Cider is $18.50–21.95 — or $17.92 per bottle for Cider Club members. With a bottle, you get more cider for your money, enjoyed wherever you want.

But What If You Want to Taste Our Cider?

1. Order Online

We ship across Canada. Free shipping on orders over $250. Detailed tasting notes with every order. Better value than tasting room prices.

2. Join the Cider Club

If you want guaranteed access to every cider we make — including Vault releases that never go to the public store — the Cider Club is the only way in.

• 💰 $215 per case — 12 bottles at $17.92 each
• 🚚 Free Canada-wide shipping on every delivery
• 🔒 Locked-in pricing for life for the first 50 founding members
• 🏛️ The Vault — guaranteed allocation of limited small-batch releases that never go public
• ✅ Guaranteed allocation of every cider we make
• 💸 10% off all additional purchases year-round
• 📦 Premium tasting notes and member surprises with every delivery

Join the Cider Club

3. Find Us at Select Markets and Festivals

While we don't have a permanent tasting room, we do travel to select markets and festivals across Canada. We'll pour samples, answer questions, and share our story. Keep an eye on our website and social media for upcoming events.

Could We Change Our Minds?

Maybe. We still have that liquor licence. If demand grows and we can build a tasting room without compromising quality, pricing, or the time we need to tend the orchards and make cider, we might revisit the idea. But for now, we're focused on what matters most.

The Bottom Line

We don't have a tasting room because we'd rather focus on making great cider and keeping our prices fair. By skipping the tasting room, we keep overhead low, invest more in quality, and stay focused on craft — not tourism.

If you want to experience Hardcore Cider Co., order online, join the Cider Club, or find us at select markets and festivals. And when you do, tag us at @hardcoreciderco.

Join the first 50 founding members and lock in your rate.

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