Cider has blown up over the last two years in Australia because the major players finally figured out that it gets taxed at the wine rate, which is significantly lower than a beer tax rate. So they pumped a lot of dollars into massive marketing campaigns and everyone started to like cider, which was great, meant all us tiny players don't have to do any advertising apart from saying we've got it! Methode Cider is bloody good, but most of the shit that's getting pumped out these days is nasty.
Cider should be as dry as a nice Champagne.
When I get a minute I'll try and get some photos of the other spirits.