Delicious Ways To Spike Your Apple Cider

Autumn and winter months bring hygge season, where many seek a cozy and comfy atmosphere. And nothing indicates warm and welcoming like sipping fireside favorites such as cider drinks. While staying at home, we are getting crafty with batching cocktail recipes involving apple cider. With winter days ahead, warming up with cider-based cocktails is the best way to stay cozy this season. With fresh, apple cider on hand, you have the makings of all sorts of libations especially with its complexity and rich taste. To distinguish apple cider from apple juice, it is kind of the rawest form of apple juice that you can get that is actually health beneficial. So, cheers to good health! Below are a few of cider-based cocktails that are perfect for a chilly afternoon, or for holiday hosting.

Apple Cider Mule

Ingredients:

1 oz. Ving Vodka
1 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Apple Cider
1/4 Reed’s Ginger Ale
Sliced Apple Wedges for Garnish
Sprinkle with Pumpkin Pie Spice

Method:

Combine vodka, apple cider, lemon juice and ginger ale in a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain over ice. Garnish with apple wedges, cinnamon sticks and Pumpkin Pie Spice.

Apple Pie Spritz

Ingredients:

1 part Redemption Rye
2 parts apple cider
1 dash angostura bitters
Josh Cellars Prosecco
Garnish with lemon twist

Method:

Add ingredients other than the prosecco to flute and lightly stir to mix ingredients. Top with prosecco and garnish with expressed lemon peel.

Zesty Diplo Cider

Ingredients:

2 oz Diplomatico Mantuano Rum
3/4 cups water
lemon spice tea bag
1 oz apple cider
1 tbsp brown sugar
cinnamon stick
lemon slice

Method:

Bring water to boil in saucepan. Next, toss in lemon spice tea bag and steep for 5 minutes. Remove bag and stir in sugar, apple cider, Diplomatico Mantuano Rum, and cinnamon stick. Heat just to steaming. Now, garnish with cinnamon stick and lemon slice. Optional: add ½ tsp of butter to mug.

Heated Affair

Ingredients:

2 oz Partida AñejoTequila
6 oz Hot Spiced Apple Cider
Heavy Cream

Method:

In a small warm wine glass, add Tequila and hot apple cider. Float heavy cream. Garnish with grated fresh nutmeg over cream.

Spice on Ice

Ingredients:

1 ¾ oz. Wemyss Spice King Whisky
1 ¾ oz. Apple Cider
1 ¾ oz. Fever Tree Ginger Ale

Method:

In the glass build over broken block ice and stir with a swizzle. Garnish: Caramelized apple crisp and straw.

Pumpkin Apple Cider

Ingredients:

2 oz Broken Shed Vodka
1 1/2 oz apple cider
1 oz Re’al, Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup
Graham Crackers for garnish

Method:

Add all ingredients to the shaker with ice. Shake, strain and pour into martini glass. Garnish rim glass with crushed Graham Crackers.

Apple Cider Mule

Ingredients:

.5 oz Humboldt Vodka
2 oz apple cider
1 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz ginger syrup *
Splash of seltzer

Method:

Build all ingredients over ice in a copper mug. Stir well, and garnish with lime or apple wedges.

*Directions for ginger syrup: Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and a 2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped. Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow the ginger to steep for at least one hour. Strain and refrigerate.

Photos: Courtesy