A. Glad you liked it. We serve Hot Cider in the Shabbos House Sukkah only because we’re eating outdoors and it’s cold out that time of year. Aside for a local connection there’s no deeper significance behind our “custom”. Upstate is Apple Country, you can see many of the orchards while driving on the Thruway, so Cider is a popular drink here. And no, I don’t spike it. The flavor is pure cider cooked with cinnamon sticks.