Join us for our Cider Edition of Cocktails by Candlelight. Cider was an essential staple of Virginia culture in the 18th century. Apples for cider and eating were critical to the agricultural economy in which George Mason and his contemporaries lived. Cider meant hard cider in our vernacular. Fermentation was an art as well as a science that preserved the vital nutrients of the fruit for year-round consumption. Apples that produced superior cider were highly prized and shared by friends and neighbors such as Mason and George Washington.

Join us for a special Cider Edition of Cocktails by Candlelight on April 30 at 7 p.m. Charlotte Shelton of Albemarle CiderWorks will guide us as we explore varieties of apples grown in the 18th century and the critical importance of cider in colonial and early American society.

As we taste two different ciders, Charlotte will give us the background on these two historic varieties of cider: Albemarle (or Newtown) Pippin and Virginia Hewe’s Crab. You can try them along with us by ordering from Albemarle CiderWorks in advance. Join the live discussion on Facebook on April 30th at 7 p.m.

To order your cider, visit the Albemarle CiderWorks shop.

The ciders are available in a special bundle for this program which is available with discounted shipping [Promo Code: GunstonHall]. This bundle is available only for this program and must be ordered by April 20th in order to arrive in time for the event. Participants in the Northern Virginia area may purchase cider by April 22nd to pick up at Gunston Hall April 24-29.