ulled cider is a welcome addition to our array of other winter companions – hot toddies, mulled wine and Irish coffee. Sharing the crisp flavour of summer cider, mulled cider is not unlike mulled wine – infused with spices and fruit, providing sugary comfort to those bedraggling winter blues.

While it took Melbourne some time to embrace summer cider, it’s now very much a staple in Melbourne bars and the explosion of creativity seen with cider flavours in the past few years suggests its winter cousin is here to stay.

For a taste:

99 Problems serves homemade mulled spiced apple cider using Monteith's Crushed Apple Cider, cinnamon, old spice, brandy and and slices of apple.

Young and Jackson’s Rooftop Cider Bar (Corner of Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne) offers a variety of homemade mulled ciders sourcing locally produced apple cider from the Yarra Valley. Their ‘Scrumpy’ hot mulled cider is more on the sweeter side, whereas the ‘Napolean’ hot mulled cider – a mixture of apple cider, pomegranate and brandy infused with nutmeg and cinnamon – is more tart. Rooftop Cider Bar also serves Rekorderlig’s winter apple cider and Weston’s ginger infused mulled apple cider.

Gasometer is branching out from the other mulled ciders in town, serving hot pear cider using 2 Brothers Gypsy pear cider as a base and adding with cinnamon, cloves, sugar, orange, brandy and whiskey.

Belgian Beer Cafe and the Brunswick Green (313 Sydney Road, Brunswick) have Rekorderlig’s zesty cinnamon and vanilla infused apple mulled cider.