Celebrate the fall with this Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail. It’s a crisp, sweet drink with a little hint of cinnamon. It’s a simple drink to make, and it’s so refreshing and perfect when you have a lot of fresh cider in your home.
This is the best fall drink; it’s fall in a glass. The apple cider combines nicely with the alcohol, and the bourbon doesn’t overpower this drink. The cinnamon and apple create a crispness that is so refreshing and lovely.
Fall is in the air over here. We went from blistering 100-degree days to cold, cloudy, and autumny weather.
Apples are in the grocery stores, and they are crisp and delicious. So, I thought, what better way to celebrate apple season than with this fabulous cocktail?
But before we dive into this drink recipe, you might like to look at a few of my delicious fall recipes.
Don’t miss out on these fun recipes!
So, I must confess that I don’t drink cocktails much since I don’t have the enzyme to break down the alcohol. But my husband assures me that he wishes that was the case for him. It’s frustrating to miss out on this part of dining.
Ok, I’m sharing this because despite being intolerant to alcohol, I tasted this drink and loved it. Of course, my husband put a small amount of bourbon in mine, but it was lovely.
So, as you can imagine, my husband is in charge of the drink department over here. He created this drink, and I think you’re going to like this one.
What’s in an Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail?
This drink has few ingredients, yet the taste is crisp, refreshing, and delicious!
- Apple Cider
- Bourbon
- Cinnamon Stick
- Apple Slice
- Crushed Ice
Why You’ll Love this Drink
- The apple cider is refreshing and light
- It is a beautiful fall drink
- The cinnamon flavors pair nicely with the apple
- Add more or less of the bourbon
- It makes a great mocktail
- Can be made cold or warm
- It’s super simple to make
- It’s pretty with a slice of apple on top
What Kind of Bourbon Should I Use?
We used Makers Mark Bourbon, but since I’m not a bourbon connoisseur, The liquor we used is mellow and not overpowering, and the applied cider taste came through. I’m going to leave that up to the experts. Here are the bourbons they suggest to us for a cider cocktail.
Honestly, the bourbon that we bought tastes excellent, in my opinion, even though it wasn’t on this list.
How to Make This Easy Bourbon Drink
Step 1 – Prep the Glass
Place some maple syrup on a small plate. Make sure the plate is wider than the rim of your drinking glass. Coat the edge of the glass with maple syrup. On another plate, place a layer of granulated sugar on the plate. Take the maple-lined rim and dip your drink in the granulated sugar.
Coat the rim well with the sugar.
Step 2 – Slice an Apple
Slice an apple horizontally so that the slice is round. You can view the specific how-to slice apple instructions down below.
Step 3 – Add Crushed Ice to the Glass
Fill your small glass 3/4 full of crushed ice
Step 4 – Add Ingredients
Add apple cider and bourbon to your glass. Add a cinnamon stick and use that to stir the drink. Top with the apple slice.
Can I Make This Cider Drink Without Alcohol?
I had this drink both ways! So, yes, you can make this drink without alcohol. Maybe instead of the bourbon, add a tiny bit of sparkling cider too.
Can I Make This Cocktail in Advance?
It’s a simple drink; I would wait to make it fresh. Prepping the glasses with the sugar could be done an hour before serving.
Can I Make it With Apple Juice?
I couldn’t find Martinelli’s apple cider in our grocery store, so I used their apple juice. I loved the fluid and found it to taste like a crisp apple!
What Brand of Cider Do You Prefer?
If you can find some fresh farm cider, that would be what I prefer. But, if that’s not an option, we love Martinelli’s Apple Cider or Juice. I’m not sure how they
I love Martinelli’s apple juice and cider since it tastes so delicious. Here’s a little quote from their company about their products.
“Not made from concentrate like many other brands, Martinelli’s premium 100% juice has no added water, sugar, or chemical preservatives. Many people refer to Martinelli’s as “liquid gold” and say it’s the best-tasting apple juice in the world.
Can I Make This Recipe in a Large Batch?
So, making a large batch of this cocktail is pretty simple. On my recipe platform, as pictured above, you can adjust the number of servings you want to make. I love this recipe option that is so convenient and easy to personalize!
How to Sugar the Rim of a Glass
Step 1 – Pour Maple Syrup on Plate
Place a small amount of maple syrup on a small plate
Step 2 – Coat Glass Rim
Place your glass upside down with the rim touching the maple syrup. Make sure to coat the whole edge.
Step 3 – Place Sugar on a Plate
Place a layer of sugar on another small plate. Now place your maple syrup-coated glass rim in the sugar. Rotate the edge around the sugar to coat it thoroughly.
How To Slice The Apple
Instead of slicing the apple the traditional way, you’re going to cut it horizontally. Turn your apple, so the top and bottoms are horizontal on your cutting board. Then take your knife and cut right into the apple, going vertically. You should have a nice round apple slice rather than a wedge.
Remove seeds from the middle of the apple slice.
Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients
Drink Ingredients
- 1 shot Bourbon 1 shot is equal to 1.5 ounces
- 4 ounces apple cider You can use apple juice instead
- crushed ice
Sugared Glass Ingredients
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
Garnish
- 1 slice apple
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
Prep the Glass
- Place a small amount of maple syrup on a small platePlace your glass upside down with the rim touching the maple syrup. Make sure to coat the whole edge.
- Pour a layer of sugar on another small plate. Now place your maple syrup-coated glass rim in the sugar. Rotate the edge around the sugar to coat it thoroughly.
Slice the Apple
- Turn your apple so the top and bottom are horizontal on your cutting board. Then take your knife and cut right into the apple, going vertically. You should have a nice round apple slice rather than a wedge.
- Remove seeds from the middle of the apple slice.
Make the Cocktail
- Add crushed ice to your sugar rim glass. I like to fill the glass with about ¾ ice.
- Pour apple cider and bourbon into the glass. Stir with a cinnamon stick.
- Top with your apple slice.
This fall, we are heading to Vermont to visit with family. The MacIntosh apples make the best cider, which may cause a fantastic apple cider bourbon cocktail. I want to try making this drink with fresh farm apple cider.
I’ll let you know how it tastes later!
Happy Fall, friends!
Cheers,
- 4th of July Wreaths - May 28, 2025
- My Favorite Flower Inspiration - May 24, 2025
- Outdoor Oval Rugs and More - May 21, 2025
Leave a Reply