Bourbon Apple Cider Recipe
Written by Our straightforward Bourbon Apple Cider recipe captures the essence of fall! Enjoy this perfect autumn cocktail's refreshing blend of bourbon, apple cider, and a hint of lemon.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 232
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 3 oz apple Cider
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ¾ oz Maple syrup
- Ice cubes
- Apple slice and cinnamon stick - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Highball Glass
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Measuring Jigger
Instructions
- Chill a highball glass.
- Pour ¾ oz Maple syrup into the shaker.
- Add ¾ oz fresh lemon juice.
- Add 3 oz apple Cider.
- Finally, add 2 oz Bourbon to the mix.
- Fill the shaker with ice, cap it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
- Fill your highball glass with fresh ice cubes. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture over the ice.
- Garnish with a thin apple slice and cinnamon stick, and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon on hand, you can substitute rye whiskey or brandy (especially apple brandy). Both will give a different flavor profile but still work well with the apple cider.
- Apple Cider: If you can't find apple cider, unfiltered and unsweetened apple juice is a good alternative. Depending on the type of juice used, you may want to slightly reduce the amount of Maple syrup in the drink (especially for juices with added sugar).
- Maple syrup: if you’re out maple syrup, you can replace it with honey syrup (simply mix together 2 parts honey and 1 part hot water, and stir until well combined). You can also use cinnamon syrup or any type of spice syrup (all spice, gingerbread mix, etc.).
- Lemon Juice: If you run out of lemons, use lime juice instead. It's more tart than lemon juice, so adjust to taste. Although fresh juice is always best, you can use bottled lemon juice for this recipe as well.
Making a Pitcher of Bourbon Apple Cider:
- To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of bourbon, 24 oz of apple cider, 6 oz of lemon juice, and 6 oz of maple syrup.
- Combine the bourbon, apple cider, and lemon juice in a large pitcher. Add ice and stir well.
- Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into highball glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container. It should last for up to 4 days.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Bourbon Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic bourbon substitute. Several brands are available that mimic the flavor of bourbon without the alcohol. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also make your own bourbon substitute by infusing together rooibos tea and a bunch of spices of your liking (vanilla and cinnamon are always a good way to start). Mix all the ingredients together, add hot water, cover and let it infuse for at least 3h (the stronger the better, so if you have time let it infuse overnight. In that case, you can either let it rest in the fridge once the liquid has cooled down). Give it a taste, adjust the spice level if necessary and strain it once you’re happy with the result. Stored properly (in an airtight container in the fridge), this “tea-whiskey” can be kept for up to a week.
- Apple cider substitute: Instead of apple cider, use unfiltered apple juice. It's naturally alcohol-free.
- Follow the original steps using these non-alcoholic substitutes and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.