We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Annise and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Urban Tree Hard Cider started back in 2014 while enjoying a sunday family supper with my sister and brother in law over a great bottle of English style cider. We were (are) big fans and aficionados of cider and had been accustomed to drinking the sweet national brands. This particular evening, we just so happened to be enjoying a european cider than we obtainined while touring England’s cider country earlier in the year.

The flavor profiles we were experiencing were so different and unique it initiated conversation regarding our love for cider and the limited availability of true english style ciders here in the states. We realized that the american perception of cider was mislead by super sugary ciders and we felt a deep passion to find a way to represent this timeless apple beverage in it’s truest form. It was then that the idea for Urban Tree took root and from there grew into the desire to bring that awareness of cider style to the great poeple of Atlanta.

What should our readers know about your business?
Opened in 2016, UrbanTree Cidery is Atlanta’s first cidery and is located in the West Midtown area of the city. We create award-winning hard cider in-house for guests to enjoy an authentic grove-to-glass experience. We take great pride in the quality of our ciders and the creativity & diversity of our flavor profiles that are distributed statewide.

Running a small business is no easy task and I think anyone who runs a business will agree. As we are all aware, the effects of the pandemic over the last year and a half has been extremely challenging for businesses, especially small ones. The desire to perservere and the ability to adapt thorughout these times has been an interesting life lesson in business ownership.

Our mission from the day we started on this adventure was to create something great and maintain that level of greatness. We are extremely dedicated to our craft and love what we do. You truly can taste the passion in every sip of our ciders.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Anytime friends and family comes to Atlanta, I have a few favorite go-tos for sure! Atlanta has a GREAT food scene– I think all activites would be based around where to eat. We would absolutely visit Buttermilk Kitchen for breakfast — their chicken & waffles are the best in Atlanta. The new food hall at The Works has the best cheesesteaks I have found in Atlanta so far! The newly opened Puttshack is the most fun game of mini golf and you can walk across the street to the West Midtown staple- Ormsby’s for a wide varitey of craft beverages. JCT kitchen and The Optimist are right around the corner for lunch or dinner!

For a special occassion dinner (and what’s more special than spending time with friends and loved ones), I would make reservations at Lazy Betty in Edgewood. They offer a curated 6 course tasting menu with wine pairing that is an absolute must-do!

If we’re not eating, a walk or scooter ride along the East Side belt line trail stopping at Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market and Piedmont Park is a great way to explore the city on a sunny day. I have 2 furbabies (and a family of dog lovers) that enjoy visitng Fetch Dog park.

Attending an Atlanta United soccer game is fun for the whole family even if your not the worlds biggest soccer fan! The supporter groups create such a fun environment with chants and drums plus Mercedes Benz stadium fan first model makes sure you don’t go broke during games!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Starting a brand new business is a daunting task however, when you have the right people in your corner it is a little less stressful and consuming. I am forunate to have started UrbanTree Cidery with my sister Maria and brother-in-law Tim. They are both 15 years older than me (they’re going to be mad at me!) and have the experience of owning and managing other businesses together that are successful. Their leadership and mentorship throughout the past 6 years (and still to this day) has cultivated me into the business woman that I would not be without them. The believed in me and my work abilities and gave me the ability to spead my wings while starting and growing a buiness together.

Website: www.urbantreecidery.com

Instagram: @urbantreecider

Twitter: @urbantreecider

Facebook: @urbantreecider

Yelp: yelp.com/biz/urban-tree-cidery-atlanta

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.