Apple Cider Bourbon Smash
This apple cider bourbon smash is a dreamy cocktail recipe that comes together with just three ingredients. It’s the perfect festive drink to serve all season long!
Hard Liquor
Bourbon, oh, how I love thee. That wasn’t always the truth. In fact, my nose used to crinkle at the thought of sipping it.
But then I aged, just like a good barrel of bourbon.
And now I love the flavor of this liquor. My favorite bourbon cocktail is a Manhattan but this apple cider bourbon smash recipe is rising in the ranks, and I look forward October and November when I can get good, fresh apple cider.
It’s such a fun drink that combines great ingredients to make the best holiday cocktail! Try it at your next Thanksgiving gathering.
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Helpful tips
- Muddlers come in handy when you are crafting cocktails. But if you don’t have one, you can use the back of a wooden spoon to extract the juice and the zest from a lemon.
- Do you like regular whiskey better than bourbon? Just make an apple cider whiskey smash by substituting the same amount of whiskey for bourbon.
- Apple cider is sweet, so there is no need to use a sweetener. Try the recipe as written and if you find it needs some sweetener, only add 1/4 ounce of either simple syrup, maple syrup, or honey.
- I like to use fresh herbs for garnish. My two favorites are thyme and mint, but basil is another great choice.
- For the apple garnish, you can use any apple you prefer but my favorites are Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith apples.
How to make the this apple cider bourbon smash
Pre-step
Get a cocktail shaker, a measuring glass, muddler and double old fashioned glasses.
With a sharp knife, cut a thin apple slice from the equator of an apple, cut in half and then cut out the seeds and the core. Set it aside for garnish along with two cinnamon sticks.
After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the cocktail shaker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – bourbon, apple cider and lemon. (A)
Step two
Cut the lemon in half and then cut each half in quarters. You will end up with 8 wedges. (B)
Step three
Add the lemon to the shaker and muddle the wedges for at least 2 minutes. You want to extract as much of the fresh lemon juice and zest from the skins as you can. Look at it all! (C)
Step four
Measure out 4 ounces of bourbon. (D)
Step five
Measure 5 ounces of apple cider. (E)
That’s one robust-looking cocktail. (F)
Step seven
Add fresh ice to the glasses. I use big ice cubes.
Add 1 cup of ice to the shaker, cap it and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain, divide and pour the drink between the two glasses.
Step eight
Add a half slice of apple and one cinnamon stick to each glass. I also add fresh thyme sprigs to each glass, but that is optional.
Let’s take a closer look at the bourbon whiskey apple cider cocktail. (That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?)
And the other glass.
Here’s the vertical view of this delicious cocktail.
I hope you enjoyed this apple cider bourbon smash cocktail recipe. It’s so delicious.
Other bourbon recipes
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
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Apple Cider Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
- 1 lemon (cut in half then each half in quarters. You will end up with eight pieces)
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 5 ounces apple cider
Garnish
- 1 slice apple wheel (thinly sliced – seeds removed and cut in half)
- 2 cinnamon stick
Optional
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
Make it!
- Place lemon wedges (8) in the cocktail shaker and muddle for at least 2 minutes. You want to extract as much lemon juice as you can and bruise the skin for the zest.1 lemon
- Add bourbon and apple cider.4 ounces bourbon, 5 ounces apple cider
- Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice, cap it and shake it at least 20 seconds.
- Add fresh ice to glasses. Strain, divide and pour the liquid into the glasses. Add 2 lemon wedges to each glass.
- Place two slices of apple in each glass along with 1 cinnamon stick and 2 sprigs of thyme.1 slice apple wheel, 2 cinnamon stick, 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
- Muddlers come in handy when you are crafting cocktails. But if you don’t have one, you can use the back of a wooden spoon to extract the juice and the zest from a lemon.
- Do you like regular whiskey better than bourbon? Just make an apple cider whiskey smash by substituting the same amount of whiskey for bourbon.
- Apple cider is sweet, so there is no need to use a sweetener. Try the recipe as written and if you find it needs some sweetener, only add 1/4 ounce of either simple syrup, maple syrup, or honey.
- I like to use fresh herbs for garnish. My two favorites are thyme and mint, but basil is another great choice.
- For the apple garnish, you can use any apple you prefer but my favorites are Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith apples.