All the hard work — the dreaming, the change in job from executive chef at Burlington’s Spencer’s at the Waterfront to full-time cider maker, one of the most important chef jobs in Southern Ontario, to full-time cider maker — is beginning to pay off for Chris Haworth.
Since leaving Spencer’s and creating West Avenue Cider, Haworth has been leading Toronto’s cider renaissance since its first press one short year ago.
And now, having won five medals at a top U.S. cider competition, the Toronto-based cidery is also making an international name for itself.
West Avenue yielded one gold, three silvers and a bronze at the Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) recently held in Michigan. The small-batch hard cider producer owes the winnings to innovative recipes coupled with careful fermentation and the region’s quality fruit.
“We’re thrilled with the accolades we’ve received locally and abroad,” said Haworth. “Our philosophy is that great cider starts in the orchard, so we use only the best locally-grown fruit.”
Earlier this year, West Avenue’s flagship cider, Heritage Dry, was awarded the title of Best Cider in Ontario at the first annual Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention’s Hard Cider Competition.
Haworth’s cultural background is the influence behind Heritage Dry – an artisanal take on pub-style ciders found in England. Likewise, his culinary roots as a former chef in top U.K. restaurants inspires the company’s barrel-aged and cask-conditioned ciders.
When he’s not harvesting fruit in countryside orchards, Haworth can be found in the city, collaborating with Toronto’s finest bars, breweries and restaurants to produce one-off, experimental ciders.
Haworth runs West Avenue alongside his wife, Amy Robson. The couple lives in Toronto with their two children.
“We aim to bring traditional country flavours to the city with each batch we make,” said Robson. “These medals showcase our cider, but are also recognition for local farmers and the growing Ontario cider industry.”
The GLINTCAP competition took place March 22-23, 2014 and received 483 entries.
West Avenue’s medal-winning entries:
Gold:
• Whetherfield – New World Cider
Silver:
• Gold Dust – New World Cider
• Heritage Dry – New World Cider
• Barret Fuller’s Secret – Wood Aged Cider & Perry
Bronze
• Cherry Beach – Specialty Cider & Perry
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