Cozy up with this simple and delicious apple cider bourbon cocktail that's perfect for chilly fall evenings. Follow my easy steps including a special step that elevates this cocktail from great to mind-blowing.
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this festive drink at home. It's a great excuse to invite some friends over and it's also the perfect drink to serve on Thanksgiving.
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Apple cider is all about fall and I'm always so happy when it starts to show up on the grocery shelves. I add it to butternut squash soup, cranberry sauce, and stuffings for squash. I even reduce it to a syrup to use on fall desserts
And I make this seriously fabulous cocktail. Truth: when we have fall parties, this apple cider bourbon cocktail is always a guest.
❤️ Why you'll love this easy bourbon cocktail.
For so many reasons, this may become one of your favorite fall cocktails.
- Easy. It's super easy to make with only a few ingredients.
- Make-ahead friendly. Make a large batch ahead for your next party and stash it in jars in the freezer.
- Versatile. You can serve this over the rocks or as a cozy hot drink kept warm in a slow cooker.
- Taste. The flavor of this cocktail is elevated by warming it on the stove with a cinnamon stick. This infuses the drink with a lovely spiced taste that's perfect for fall.
- Crowd-pleaser. It doesn't have a strong alcohol flavor and Is always popular with any crowd I make it for.
🍎 What's in an apple cider bourbon cocktail?
You will only need a few simple ingredients to make this cocktail.
- Apple cider - It doesn't need to be fresh apple cider. I always use Martinelli's Apple Cider that comes in bottles. Don't confuse this with apple juice. They are not the same thing.
- Bourbon - Keep your best bourbon for sipping and instead use a mid-level bourbon in this cozy cocktail. I use Elijah Craig which is available at Total Wine.
- Ginger Beer - You can substitute ginger ale if you don't have ginger beer. I purchase Fever-Tree's light version for reduced calories.
- Lemon juice - fresh squeezed is best, but when I make large batch of this recipe, I confess to using lemon juice in a jar.
- Maple syrup - Be sure to use pure maple syrup. It takes the place of a simple syrup and adds to the great fall flavors in this cocktail.
- Cinnamon stick - Use one about 3 - 4 inches long.
- Garnishes - Cinnamon sticks, apple slices cut from fresh apples, and fresh rosemary.
👯♀️ What alcohol goes well with apple cider?
- Steer towards a dark liquor such as whiskey, Bourbon (which is a type of whiskey), Scotch (another type of whiskey) and dark rum to stir into this apple cider cocktail.
- Likewise, steer away from clear liquors such as vodka and gin.
For a non-alcoholic option, eliminate the bourbon. Ginger beer has a negligible alcohol content and is advertised as a non-alcoholic beverage.
👩🍳 How to make an apple cider cocktail.
This recipe is easy to make and captures the flavors and aromas of fall. With just a couple of basic tools you can mix it up in just a few minutes.
Detailed instructions for making this broccoli cheese casserole are in the recipe card below, but here's an overview!
Step 1
Infuse. To mix up this easy bourbon apple cider cocktail, first add the cider, bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup to a heavy-bottomed pot on the stove over medium heat. Drop a 3-4" long cinnamon stick to the pot.
Bring to a very gentle simmer and reduce the heat to keep the liquid just below a simmer for 5 minutes.
Allow to cool to room temperature before removing the cinnamon stick. This infusion of a cinnamon flavor turns this great cocktail into something fabulous.
Step 2
Shake. Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the cooled liquid. Shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass or highball glass.
Step 3
Finish. Finally, top it off with ginger beer and garnish with an apple slice, cinnamon stick and fresh rosemary sprig.
Note:
Hot apple cider bourbon cocktail: If you prefer to serve this as a hot apple cider cocktail, you may want to heat the liquids in a slow cooker or crockpot and keep it on low. With this approach, add the ginger beer to the pot with all the other ingredients and serve straight from the slow cooker.
🥳 How to make a large batch for a party.
For a dinner party of a total of 10 people, I recommend making at least one gallon of this cocktail.
Recipe for One Gallon Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients
- 54 ounces apple cider
- 36 ounces bourbon
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) lemon juice
- 36 ounces ginger beer or ginger ale
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) maple syrup
- 4 Cinnamon sticks, each about 3-4 inches long
Directions
Follow the instructions in the below recipe card.
🙋♀️ FAQ
Absolutely! This works especially well since one step is to infuse the cocktail with cinnamon but the overall flavors won't be as complex. You may also want to reduce the maple syrup as apple juice tends to be sweeter than apple cider.
Yes! I do this all the time before a party. Make the entire recipe up to pouring it in rocks glasses and topping with ginger beer. Store in airtight containers, such as jars, in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
When you're ready to start the party, pour the cocktail over ice, top with ginger beer, and garnish.
Easy Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail (Chilled or Hot)
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 6 ounces apple cider
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 4" cinnamon stick
- 4 ounces ginger beer
Garnishes
- 2 apple slices
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 sprigs of rosemary
Instructions
- Combine the apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a medium sauce pot over medium heat. When bubbles begin to form around the edges of the pot, add the cinnamon stick.Lower the heat to keep the liquid just below a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the liquid to cool to room temperatureRemove the cinnamon stick.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the cooled cocktail mixture. Shake for 30 seconds and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass or highball glass.Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with freshly cut apple slices, cinnamon sticks, and sprigs of rosemary.
- Hot apple cider bourbon cocktail: If you prefer to serve this as a hot apple cider cocktail, you may want to heat the liquids in a slow cooker or crockpot and keep it on low. With this approach, add the ginger beer to the pot with all the other ingredients and serve straight from the slow cooker.
Notes
How to make a large batch for a party.
For a dinner party of a total of 10 people, I recommend making at least one gallon of this cocktail.Recipe for One Gallon Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients- 54 ounces apple cider
- 36 ounces bourbon
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) lemon juice
- 36 ounces ginger beer or ginger ale
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) maple syrup
- 4 Cinnamon sticks, each about 3-4 inches long
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