Name: Apple Cider Bourbon Smash Cocktail
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients: .50 lemon (cut in half to be muddled); 2 ounces bourbon; 2.5 ounces apple cider; cocktail shaker; muddler; apple wheel (cut in half); cinnamon stick; rocks glass

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This apple cider bourbon smash cocktail recipe is so yummy that if you like bourbon, you are going to love this drink! This cocktail is very festive this time of year, but you can drink it year round. I give you permission.

Hard Liquor

Bourbon, oh, how I love thee. It wasn’t always the truth. In fact, my nose used to crinkle up whenever I thought of sipping it.

When did I have my first taste of bourbon? Many years ago, when my palate was attuned to beer and wine, my two friends, Ron and Ray, and I decided to sample the contents of my parents’ liquor cabinet. Did my folks know? No. But they wouldn’t have had a problem with it.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

I talked about this before but it’s worth repeating.

I remember sampling many of the liquors and liqueurs. Note to my readers: If you are interested in sampling all types of spirits, don’t do it in one sitting! Bourbon, whiskey, Drambuie, scotch, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Creme de menthe don’t mix well in the stomach. That was some of what we sampled. And the list goes on.

So, yeah. Don’t be like Lainey, Ron and Ray. Choose to wake up the next day without groaning or wanting to run to the bathroom. Believe me, it’s not fun.

My mom mainly drank whiskey and vodka. She’d have a vodka tonic or whiskey and water. I would sometimes sip whichever concoction I made before I brought it to her. (Yes, I’ve been making drinks for a very long time.) And I’d think to myself, “Why the heck would anyone want to drink this?”

Glurg.

Here is another apple cider cocktail recipe on the blog: Jaye’s caramel apple cider spritzer

How to make the Apple Cider Bourbon Smash Cocktail

The ingredients: we have Knob creek bourbon, lemon, and apple cider. That’s it!!

I start by cutting the lemon in half and then in half again. I drop 2 quarters of lemon in the cocktail shaker, get my muddler and muddle away for a minute. The purpose is to get the juice out of the lemon but to also get the lemon zest out of the skin.

Pourin’ out the Hard Stuff

Next, I measure out 2 ounces of bourbon and pour it into the shaker.

I also slice a ring out of a Macintosh apple and carefully core out the seeds.

I measure 2 1/2 ounces of apple cider and pour it into the shaker to meet up with the rest of the ingredients.

I grab a rocks glass out of my cabinet, fill the shaker halfway with ice and cap it. I shake vigorously for 30 seconds and pour the contents into the waiting rocks glass.

I cut a couple of quarters off my apple ring and cut little slit in each quarter. I place the two pieces on the side of the glass I cut the remaining half slice in chunks and plop them in the cocktail. To finish off the garnish, I put a cinnamon stick in the apple cider bourbon smash cocktail.

Voilà!

Bottoms Up

Let’s take a closer look.

Here’s the vertical view of this delicious cocktail.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe!! It’s so delicious.

Please feel free to leave me a comment. What was your first bourbon encounter? I’d love to know.

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this apple cider bourbon smash or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!