Cocktail Spotlight - Apple Cocktails, Round 1

Many of my facebook friends chose 'apple' as one of their favorite flavors in winter cocktails. There is nothing like the taste of apple in a winter cocktail - it is soothing, warm, and comforting, especially in front of the fireplace on a cold night. These cocktails incorporate the apple flavor by liquor, liqieir, or juice/cider.

Apples have long been a favorite cocktail flavor. Whether it is hot apple cider, chilled apple juice or one of the tasty apple brandies, the flavor of the apple makes a great foundation for many mixed drinks. You will find that apple mixes well with a variety of flavors from the obvious cinnamon and caramel to the not-so-obvious mango and rosemary. When you are buying apple juice look for a bottle with the fewest additives for the truest flavor or, better yet, go with an organic apple juice as these typically have no extra ingredients.

 

Modern Mule

  • 1 oz Citrus Vodka
  • 1/2 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liq
  • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
  • fill 50/50 Apple Juice & Ginger Beer
  • Garnish apple slice and lemon slice

Prep - Build all ingredients in an ice-filled collins glass or large rocks glass with ginger beer poured last. Stir gently. Garnish apple and lemon slice.

 

Spiced Apple (one of the signatures at my Martini Bar)

  • 2 oz Pearl Apple Pie Vodka or Oddka Apple Vodka
  • 1/2 oz McGillicuddy's Apple Pie Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz Apple Cider
  • 1/2 oz Fresh Cinnamon Syrup (2 cinnamon sticks broken into 4 - infused into simple syrup)
  • sprinkle fresh ground cinnamon-sugar on top
  • Garnish apple alice

Prep - Build all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sprinkle fresh cinnamon-sugar. Rimming glass with cinnamon-syrup (optional).

 

Applejack (staple after-dinner drink at Martini Bar and one of my favorites)

  • 2 oz Laird's Applejack Brandy
  • 1/2 oz diluted maple syrup (diluted half with water)
  • 1/2 oz pulp-free orange juice
  • 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • Garnish lemon peel & orange peel

Prep - Build all ingredients in a mixing glass or tin. Shake well. Strain into large rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish peel from a lemon and orange.

 

Jolly Rancher (sweet and sour novelty drink, spring/summer cocktail, but fun)

  • 1/2 oz Three Olives Green Apple Vodka or Pinnacle Grape Vodka or Watermelon vodka
  • 1/2 oz peach schnapps
  • 4 oz cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz fresh lemon sour
  • Garnish 2 gummy jolly ranchers or orange/cherry umbrella

Prep - Build all ingredients in a mixing glass or tin. Shake well. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass. Garnish gummy ranchers or umbrella.

 

Corpse Reviver (classic drink that has been re-invented many times)

  • 1 1/4 oz Brandy
  • 3/4 oz Calvados or apple brandy (Laird's)
  • 3/4 oz sweet vermouth

Prep - Build all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with half ice. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe.

 

Hot & Fruity Toddy (variation on Hot Toddy, hot drink great for old man winter)

  • 1 oz apple brandy
  • 1 oz Gran Gala Orange Liq
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 dashes of orange bitters (available at specialty stores, like the restaurant store in Camp Hill)
  • Hot water
  • Garnish apple slice or orange twist or both

Prep - Buiild all ingredients in an Irish Coffee glass with handle or after-dinner glass (no ice), except hot water and bitters. Top with hot water and bitters. Stir well. Garnish apple, orange, or both.