Bourbon Apple Cider

Secret ingredients

Every decent recipe has a few secret ingredients, and there are a few twists you can try for your apple cider bourbon cocktail.  

• For a sweet twist, dip the rim of your cocktail glass into apple cider, and then into cinnamon sugar and garnish with a cinnamon stick and cocktail cherries. 
• For a lighter apple cider cocktail, leave out the vermouth and orange bitters, and stir together the bourbon, apple cider, and lemon juice. Strain into a short glass filled with ice and top with ginger beer.   
• For a sweeter drink that’s lower in alcohol, replace the apple cider with apple juice. 

Can you make a non-alcoholic Apple Cider cocktail?

Even though apple cider and bourbon are the perfect match, there are some great apple cider mocktails that will give you the same satisfaction and warmth as this fall classic. 

For an easy apple cider mocktail, pour apple cider into a highball glass. Add a dash of maple syrup and apple cider vinegar and stir until combined. Top with ice and ginger beer, then garnish with sliced apple, a cinnamon stick, and a sprig of rosemary.

To make a warm apple cider mocktail combine apple cider, sugar, cinnamon, star anise, whole cloves, orange juice and peel in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the whole spices from the liquid and strain into mugs.