This apple cider bourbon smash 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.

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.
But then I aged, just like a good barrel of bourbon. 🙂
And now I love this liquor. My favorite cocktail is a Manhattan but this cocktail is rising in the ranks and I look forward to drinking it when I can get a good apple cider.
It’s such a fun drink that combines great ingredients together to make the best holiday cocktail!
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How to make the this apple cider drink
Pre-step
Get a cocktail shaker, a measuring glass, muddler and a double old fashioned glass.
After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the cocktail shaker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – bourbon, apple cider and lemon.
Step two
Cutting the lemon in half and then in half again and drop the 2 quarters of lemon in the cocktail shaker.
Step three
Muddle the lemon 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.
Step four
Measure out 2 ounces of bourbon and pour it into the shaker.
Step five
Slice a ring out of a Macintosh apple and carefully core out the seeds.
Step six
Measure 2 ½ ounces of apple cider and pour it into the shaker.
Step seven
Fill the shaker halfway with ice, cap it and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Pour the contents into the waiting glass.
Step eight
Cut a couple of quarters off the apple ring and cut a little slit in each quarter. Place the two pieces on the side of the glass. I cut the remaining slice of apples in chunks and add them in the cocktail.
To finish off the garnish, put a cinnamon stick in the cocktail.
Let’s take a closer look.
Here’s the vertical view of this delicious cocktail.
I hope you enjoyed this apple cider bourbon smash 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 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!
Apple Cider Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
- .50 lemon cut in half to be muddled
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 2.5 ounces apple cider
Garnish
- apple wheel (cut in half, then in 4 quarters, slit two of the quarters so you can slide it on the rim) (cut the rest of the apple wheel in chunks)
- cinnamon stick
Instructions
Make it!
- Place 2 quarters of a lemon in the cocktail shaker and muddle it for at least 30 seconds
- Add bourbon and apple cider
- Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice, cap it and shake it at least 20 seconds
- Pour contents in the glass
- Place two slices of apple on the glass, the apple chunks in the drink and a cinnamon stick in the cocktail
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Nichole
I have only recently discovered that I actually like bourbon. Last year for Christmas I got a nice bourbon decanter for my boyfriend because it’s definitely his drink of choice! We are going to love trying out this cocktail 🙂
Elaine
Thanks Nichole! I hope you enjoy it!
serena
This is definitely a year round cocktail! Why limit yourself to just the holidays 🙂
Elaine
Exactly Serena. Brilliant minds think alike!
Traci @ The Kitchen Girl
Nice recipe! I want to gobble those apples up right after I finish that drink. Looks like the perfect holiday cocktail. Thank you for sharing!
Elaine
Thanks so much Traci! It really is!
Beth
This is such a gorgeous cocktail, Elaine! Perfect for this time of year! I just recently tried bourbon again and I really like it! I’ll have to give this a try!
Elaine
Yahoo! Thanks Beth!!!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C
This sounds delicious! My hubby makes apple pie moonshine, and I love that, so I know I’d really enjoy this too. I don’t know if it was bourbon, but I was allowed to have a whiskey drink on New Year’s Eve when I was growing up.
Elaine
Lordie, hold me back with the apple pie moonshine!! I have to check your blog to see if it’s on there.
Gabby | The Tolerant Table
That was quite a mix of alcohol you had back in the day Elaine! I bet you didn’t do that more than once ???? This looks lovely and definitely one I’ll try one weekend soon ????
Elaine
Thanks Gabby and yes. I only did it the once!! 🙂
Chris
Looks delish!
Elaine
Thanks Chris!