Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ounces fresh apple cider (½ cup)
- 2 ounces bourbon or whiskey
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) pure maple syrup
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- Ice cubes (for shaking and serving cold)
- Apple slices, for garnish
- Cinnamon stick, for garnish (optional)
- Fresh rosemary sprig, for garnish (optional)
- Star anise, for garnish (option
Instructions
- Prepare your glass: If serving cold, fill a rocks glass with fresh ice. If serving warm, have an Irish coffee mug or heat-resistant glass ready.
- Combine ingredients in shaker: Add the apple cider, bourbon, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and a generous pinch of ground cinnamon to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake: Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Seal the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels very cold. This chills the drink and helps the maple syrup blend smoothly.
- Strain and serve (cold version): Strain the cocktail over fresh ice in your prepared glass. Alternatively, strain into a coupe glass without ice for an elegant presentation.
- Warm version (optional): Instead of shaking with ice, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and warm over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes until steaming but not boiling. Pour into a heat-resistant mug.
- Garnish beautifully: Add a fresh apple slice to the rim of the glass. Insert a cinnamon stick as a stirrer. For extra visual appeal, add a star anise or fresh rosemary sprig.
- Adjust to taste: Take a sip and adjust if needed. Add a splash more maple syrup for sweetness, a squeeze of lemon for tartness, or a dash more cinnamon for spice.
- Serve immediately: Enjoy your apple cider cocktail while it’s perfectly cold (or warm). The flavors are best when freshly made.
Notes
- Use fresh, unfiltered apple cider rather than apple juice for best flavor
- Bourbon is traditional, but spiced rum, apple brandy, or rye whiskey also work beautifully
- Adjust maple syrup amount based on cider sweetness
- For a mocktail version, omit bourbon and add sparkling water or ginger beer
- Can be made in batches by multiplying recipe and mixing in a pitcher
- Fresh lemon juice is essential; bottled juice doesn’t taste the same
- The cocktail can be served over ice, neat in a coupe, or warm in a mug
- Rim the glass with cinnamon sugar for extra sweetness and presentation
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (2 minutes if serving warm)
- Category: Cocktail / Beverage
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail (approximately 7 oz)
- Calories: 225
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 8mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg