Craft Cider & Mead Tasting in New Orleans (45 Minutes)

New Orleans is better known for cocktails and beer than cider, which makes this 45-minute tasting a useful change of pace. At Broad Street Cider, Diana and Jon explain why an urban cidery works here while pouring four 3-ounce samples of their dry, handmade cider. You get a close look at a small operation, not a long production tour.

I like the small group limit of 10, since you can ask questions without shouting over a crowd. I also like the practical format: a short tasting at 3:30 p.m. leaves plenty of time to explore New Orleans before or after.

The main consideration is flavor. These ciders and meads are dry and effervescent, not sweet, soda-like drinks. If you prefer sugary fruit cider, the tasting may challenge your expectations. It is also strictly 21 and up, with no children allowed in the tasting room.

Key points to know before booking

• Four 3-ounce pours: The tasting gives you a clear sample of the house style without turning into an all-day drinking session.
• Diana and Jon host the experience: Expect direct conversation about cider, mead, ingredients, and the small-batch process.
• Maximum of 10 people: The compact group size makes questions and personal attention easier.
• Dry, sparkling drinks: The ciders are made for people who enjoy a crisp, less sugary profile.
• Rear patio meeting point: Begin and end at Broad Street Cider, 2723 S Broad St, with the tasting starting at 3:30 p.m.
• Cheese may be available: Broad Street Cider does not serve hot food, but cheese pairings are offered on most days.

Why a cider tasting belongs in New Orleans

New Orleans has a famous drinking culture, but that culture is not limited to the usual cocktails. This tasting gives you a different way to think about the city’s drinks scene: small-scale, handmade, and focused on conversation.

The setting is an urban cidery, which is part of the appeal. You are not being sent out into the countryside for an orchard visit. Instead, you meet at Broad Street Cider and learn how cider can be made in a city setting. That answers the basic question many people have before booking: why is there a cidery in New Orleans?

I like experiences that explain their own place in a city. This one does not pretend cider is New Orleans’ oldest or most famous drink. It simply gives you a look at another part of the local beverage scene, with Diana and Jon talking through what they make and why they make it.

The experience is also social by design. You sit with a small group of people who have come for the same reason, but you do not need to arrive as a cider expert. The format works just as well if you are curious, skeptical, or trying cider for the first time.

Meeting Diana and Jon at Broad Street Cider

Your meeting point is the rear patio at Broad Street Cider, 2723 S Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70125. The activity begins and ends there, so you do not need to manage a second pickup point or find your way across the city during the tasting.

The start time is 3:30 p.m. That is a useful slot for a New Orleans itinerary. You can spend the earlier part of the day elsewhere, then make your way to Broad Street Cider for a focused drink experience. Since the tasting lasts about 45 minutes, you still have your evening open afterward.

Broad Street Cider is near public transportation, which helps if you do not want to rely on a car. You should still allow enough time to reach the rear patio, particularly if you are coming from another part of the city. The information provided does not promise a transfer service, so plan to make your own way to the address.

Diana and Jon are central to the experience. This is not a presentation delivered from a script while you sit quietly. The format is a conversation with the people behind the drinks, so your questions can shape the discussion. Ask about ingredients, the difference between cider and mead, or why a particular pour tastes dry rather than sweet.

That direct access is valuable in a small operation. You are hearing from the people who actually make the drinks, not just someone repeating a general description of cider.

Four pours, each at a sensible size

The tasting includes four 3-ounce ciders. That gives you 12 ounces in total if all four pours are the same size, enough to compare the drinks without committing to full glasses of every style.

The sample menu lists cider as the starter, while the experience also introduces Broad Street Cider’s meads. The selection can include both categories, and the lineup gives you a chance to notice how fruit, sweetness, acidity, bubbles, and other ingredients affect the finished drink.

The 3-ounce pours are a smart format for comparison. A full glass can make the first drink seem appealing simply because it is familiar, while a small pour lets you pay attention to changes from one sample to the next. You can decide which style suits you before buying more.

The drinks are described as dry and effervescent. Dry means the finished drink has little obvious sweetness. Effervescent means it has a lively sparkle rather than a flat texture. Together, those qualities make for a crisp profile, but they may surprise anyone expecting a sweet apple drink.

This is where the tasting earns its keep. You are not just drinking four samples. You are learning what Broad Street Cider means by dry cider, and you can test your own assumptions in a low-risk way.

What the cider and mead may taste like

The available tasting range includes named pours such as Duchess of Devonshire, English Rose, Red Fairy, and Peach mead. These names suggest variety, but the important point is not memorizing them. It is noticing how different a dry cider or mead can be from the supermarket versions many people know.

The Peach mead, for example, can appeal if you want fruit character without an overly sweet finish. The other highlighted ciders give you several ways to compare aroma and texture. Since the exact selection may change, treat these names as examples rather than a guaranteed menu for your date.

I appreciate the warning about dryness because it helps you book with realistic expectations. Cider is often sold as a sweet, easy drink, and mead can carry the same assumption. Here, the house style leans toward drinks that are very drinkable because they are crisp and restrained, not because they taste like fruit punch.

If you already enjoy dry wine, sparkling drinks, or tart fruit flavors, you may find the tasting easy to appreciate. If you usually avoid cider because it tastes too sweet, keep an open mind. This is a good place to test that opinion.

If you strongly prefer sweet drinks, ask questions early. Diana and Jon can explain what is in each pour and help you understand the differences. The tasting is meant to teach you about the drinks, not force you to like every one.

The value of learning from a small-batch maker

The price is $19 per person. For a 45-minute tasting with four 3-ounce pours and direct time with the makers, I consider that a fair price, especially if you want a compact activity rather than a large attraction that takes half a day.

The value is less about the total amount of cider and more about the comparison and explanation. Twelve ounces split across four styles would not be a bargain if you were simply drinking without context. Here, the conversation helps you understand the differences and decide what you would order afterward.

The small group matters, too. With a maximum of 10 people, you should have a better chance of asking about ingredients or production than you would at a crowded public tasting. The experience is still a group activity, so it is not a private consultation, but the size keeps it personal.

Group discounts are available, which may improve the price for a party booking together. The supplied details do not specify the discount amount, so check the final booking price rather than assuming a fixed saving.

The experience is also short enough to fit around paid sightseeing. You are not giving up an entire afternoon, and you can pair it with another central New Orleans plan before or afterward. That flexibility is part of the value.

Cheese, snacks, and what not to expect

Broad Street Cider does not serve hot food. You should not arrive expecting a full meal, kitchen service, or a long food pairing menu.

Cheese pairings are available on most days, which can be useful with dry cider and mead. Cheese gives you something savory to taste alongside the pours and may help you notice how food changes the balance of acidity and fruit.

Because the pairing is offered most days rather than promised for every tasting, do not rely on it as your lunch or dinner. Eat beforehand if you need a proper meal, and treat the cheese as an optional addition to the tasting.

This limitation is easy to manage if you plan for it. A 45-minute experience does not need a full meal, but knowing the food policy prevents a disappointing surprise. The focus here is the drinks and the conversation with Diana and Jon.

A good fit for curious drinkers, not every group

This experience suits you best if you enjoy small businesses, local makers, and guided tastings where questions are welcome. You do not need a strong background in cider. In fact, uncertainty can make the tasting more useful because you can compare several styles before forming an opinion.

It is also a good choice for a couple or small group looking for something beyond the standard New Orleans bar circuit. The setting encourages social conversation, and the short duration makes it easy to add to a day of sightseeing.

The activity is strictly for people 21 and older. No children are allowed in the tasting room, and the policy is not flexible. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

The experience may not suit you if you want a full brewery-style tour, a long meal, or a sweet cider flight. The information provided focuses on tasting and conversation rather than a detailed walk through a large production facility. You should book it for the drinks and the people behind them.

Planning the afternoon around a 3:30 p.m. tasting

The 3:30 p.m. start time is fixed in the supplied details, so build your day around arriving at Broad Street Cider before then. The rear patio is the stated meeting point, and the activity returns there when the tasting ends.

Since the tasting takes about 45 minutes, you can plan a later dinner or evening activity without giving up too much time. The central location also makes it practical to explore the city before or after, although you will need to arrange your own transportation between stops.

The experience is often reserved about 23 days ahead. That is a useful planning clue, especially if your New Orleans dates are fixed. I would reserve earlier for a busy weekend or a small party, since only 10 people can join each session.

Broad Street Cider is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, with updates posted on its social media accounts. On other days, it is generally open for guided tastings only. If the listed time does not work, you can request a special tasting time. If Diana and Jon are in town, they are usually happy to try to accommodate the request.

The confirmation arrives when you book. Keep the start time, address, and rear patio detail handy so you do not waste time looking for a different entrance.

Cancellation and basic booking rules

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

The cut-off uses New Orleans local time. That matters if you are booking from another time zone or changing plans late in your trip.

Because this is a small-group activity, last-minute changes can affect the provider more than they would at a large attraction. I would make your plans before booking, then keep the 24-hour deadline in mind.

How this compares with a standard New Orleans bar stop

A normal bar visit gives you a drink and the freedom to move on. Broad Street Cider gives you a reason to slow down and compare what is in the glass.

You get four separate pours rather than choosing one drink from a large menu. Diana and Jon can explain the process, and you can ask why a cider is dry, how mead differs from cider, or what ingredients shape the flavor.

That does not make the tasting better for everyone. If you already know exactly what you want and prefer a relaxed full drink, a standard bar may suit you more. If you want context and a guided introduction, the $19 tasting offers more substance.

I also like that the experience does not require a whole day. New Orleans has enough major sights, music, food, and wandering to fill your schedule. This tasting adds a focused stop without taking over the trip.

Should you book the Broad Street Cider tasting?

Book it if you want a short, personal introduction to dry cider and mead, especially if you are curious but unsure what you like. The strongest reasons are the small group, the chance to speak with Diana and Jon, and the four-pour format that lets you compare styles without spending much time or money.

It is particularly useful for people who think they dislike cider because it is too sweet. The dry, sparkling house style may give you a different view. The named pours, including Duchess of Devonshire, English Rose, Red Fairy, and Peach mead, also suggest enough range to keep the tasting interesting.

Skip it if you need a family activity, a full meal, or a guaranteed sweet drink. The strict 21-and-up rule, lack of hot food, and dry flavor profile are clear limits.

For the right drinker, this is a modestly priced New Orleans stop with real personality. Reserve ahead if your schedule is firm, arrive at the rear patio, and come ready to ask questions.

FAQ

How long does the cider and mead tasting last?

The experience lasts about 45 minutes.

How much does the tasting cost?

The price is $19 per person. Group discounts are available.

How many drinks are included?

The tasting includes four 3-ounce pours. The sample menu identifies cider as the tasting starter, and the experience also features Broad Street Cider’s meads.

Are the ciders sweet?

The ciders are dry and effervescent. You should expect a crisp, sparkling style rather than a sugary drink.

Where does the tasting begin?

It begins at the rear patio of Broad Street Cider, 2723 S Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA.

What time does the tasting start?

The listed start time is 3:30 p.m.

Are children allowed?

No. Broad Street Cider is a bar, and the tasting room is strictly for people 21 and older.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.