An apple cocktail a day can make the fall season a little more spirited

While pumpkin might get all the attention, an apple cocktail can be the crisp, classic flavor that leaves all those other spices in the cabinet. From a seasonal take on a margarita to a libation that hits sweet, sour, and spicy, it can be easy to raise a toast to an apple beverage any fall day.

Certain fruit flavors are common in cocktails. Citrus is a popular choice. From the brightness of a lime to the sweetness of an orange, the flavors are more than just the twist on the glass.

Although apple might be a popular juice and a favorite ingredient in desserts, the bar does not often feature the bounty from the orchard. Even if those ciders might be an alternative for non-beer drinkers, there are more options to sip beyond those bottles.

When it comes to apple cocktails, the key to a great one is the flavor balance. Each apple variety has a different taste. Some celebrate tartness and others are sweet. Just like using an apple in a dessert recipe, it is important to appreciate how all the ingredients work together.

Time to shake up an apple cocktail?

While the margarita is a classic sour cocktail, apple can be used as the sweet note to contrast the acidic ingredients. Teremana Tequila suggests this option to enjoy as summer transitions to fall.

Fresh Orchard Apple Manarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Teremana Reposado
• 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 oz Fresh Apple Juice
• 0.5 oz Agave Nectar

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Continuing on the tequila conversation, the Fuego Manzana brings the spice to the glass. While apple and heat are not necessarily a common occurrence, the slow burn satisfies in a delightful way.

Explaining this apple cocktail, Alberto Guzman Ontiveros, Food and Beverage Manager at Casa Salles said, “This cocktail was created by legendary London bartender, Danny Smith, in the mid 2000s. Danny had a passion for tequila and is known for making great cocktails. The combination of ingredients in this cocktail is a perfect balance of sweet, sour and spice. The cooked agave notes in the tequila combine perfectly with the delicious sweet apple flavors, while the bright freshly squeezed lime juice and the sweet spice of red chill enhance the natural citrus flavors and pepper spice in the tequila!”

Fuego Manzana

Ingredients:

• 2 oz El Tequileño Reposado
• 2 cm Sliced Red Chili Pepper
• 1 Bar Spoon Sugar Syrup
• 1 oz Unfiltered Apple Cider
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 0.5 oz Green Apple Liqueur

Method:

• Add all ingredients to a shaker over cubed ice. Shake until ice cold. Fine strain into a cocktail coupe. Garnish with small red chili.

Although the Cosmopolitan might be having another moment, an apple martini can be celebrate that New York vibe. This cocktail from Milady’s in New York City, celebrates the big apple flavor in a delightful way.

Milady’s Big Apple Martini

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Apple infused SKYY Vodka
• 1 oz Apple infused Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 0.5 oz Clear Creek Apple Brandy
• 0.75 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
• 4 Dashes Malic Acid Solution

Method:

• Throw the cocktail 6-7 times from tin to tin until chilled and diluted. Finish with a lemon twist.

While the name might convey a different classic cocktail, this gin cocktail has a slightly warm, comforting twist with the cinnamon syrup.

Old Fashioned Mill no.4

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Tom Cat Gin
• 1 oz Apple Brandy
• 1 Bar Spoon Cinnamon Syrup
• 1 Dash Apple Bitters
• 1 Dash Angostura Bitters
• Lemon and Orange Twist

Method:

• Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, stir, and strain over a large ice cube in a double old fashioned glass. Garnish with a lemon and orange twist. (and a cinnamon stick just for fun)

Ready to get to the core of the cocktail conversation? Which apple cocktail is too appealing to resist?