Autumn Apple Bourbon Cocktail

This Autumn Apple Bourbon Cocktail is full of all of the warm fall flavors you love! Perfect for Thanksgiving, Halloween, or in front of a campfire. 21 Day Fix and Weight Watchers friendly!

Hey guys! How are you? Ready for a cocktail??

I. AM. 

Not just any cocktail though. 

A full-fledged, fall-in-a-glass, cinnamon-laced, apple cider and bourbon cocktail.

It's so freaking good, friends. 

If you've been following along, you'll know that I've been on a cocktail kick (everyone needs a quarantine hobby) and after mulling it over (<-- see what I did there?) couldn't wait to bring you a great fall bourbon cocktail after my more summery Paloma and Lavender Gin Sour libations. 

Also, can I just say that I am such a sucker for a signature cocktail and this would be the most perfect signature cocktail for Thanksgiving, a Halloween party or even just to enjoy around a campfire. 

Ok, without further ado, let's do some Q&A and then I'll show you how to make it!

Which bourbon is best for this Autumn Apple Bourbon Cocktail?

Honestly, any decent bourbon in the $20-$30 range will be great for this cocktail, but I do have some recommendations for anyone reading this who is new to bourbon and looking for them.

For me, I prefer to use a high-rye bourbon that's 90 proof or over, like the 1792 Small Batch that I used in these photos.

High-rye means that it has a greater amount of rye in the grain mix (or mash bill if you're fancy). This gives the bourbon a little more of a spicy kick than a bourbon that has less rye, which is why I love it for cocktails - it stands out in the best way.

A few other great high-rye bourbons that would be perfect for this are Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon or Bulleit Bourbon. You could also just use a rye if ya like, I just happen to prefer the high-rye bourbon, myself. 

What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?

Ok, so this can vary depending on where you live, but generally, apple cider is unfiltered apple juice (which is why it’s usually darker, cloudy and opaque) and the stuff labeled “apple juice” is filtered until clear and light in color. 

I know in some places people use the term "cider" to refer to what I would call "hard cider", meaning it's alcoholic cider and usually bubbly. That's not what this recipe is calling for. 

Can I substitute apple juice for the apple cider in this Apple Bourbon cocktail recipe?

Yes! If you’re checking out this recipe at a time of year when it’s hard to get your hands on the good stuff, you can totally sub for some 100% apple juice. I highly recommend Simply Apple (it’s kept in the refrigerated section near the OJ) because it tastes a lot closer to cider than shelf-stable apple juice.

What can I do with the extra cider?

Aside from just drinking it when the mood strikes, I LOVE cooking with apple cider! Here are some of my favorites!

• The BEST Apple Cider BBQ Sauce Recipe
• Cider-Glazed Sweet Potato and Apple Bake 
• Thyme Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Garam Masala-Cider Sauce
• Chai-Cider Protein Shake – ok, so no cooking here, but you know what I mean. 

Can I make a pitcher of this for Thanksgiving? 

Yes!! A pitcher or a punchbowl or you could fill one of those cool glass drink dispensers. I've even used an old-school coffee dispenser before (they're actually great at keeping a cocktail cold!).

In fact, I've put a second recipe card below that tells you how to make a bigger batch of it. It serves 6, but you could increase it if needed. 

Oh, and if you put it in a punchbowl, here are some directions to a gorgeous apple ice ring (you could swap part of the water for cider, too)! 

Are cocktails 21 Day Fix approved?

Heck yeah! This is a great 21 Day Fix cocktail! I've also included Weight Watchers points in the recipe card 🙂

Is this Cider Bourbon cocktail gluten-free?

Yep!

Is it vegan?

Yes, it's also vegan!

How strong is this drink? 

This is sort of subjective, but I think it's middle of the road. Not as strong as a martini or a manhattan, but stronger than say, a Tom Collins or a mojito. 

Can I make this drink less boozy?

Absolutely.

You can always add a little extra apple cider (though for my 21 Day Fix friends just note that if you use more than what I've used in the recipe you may need to add all or part of a purple container drink swap to your day).

If you like bubbles, another option would be to add some plain seltzer water!

How to Make an Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail:

First make the cinnamon syrup by adding raw sugar, water and cinnamon sticks to a small pot...

Bring the mixture to a bubble, put the lid on, turn the burner down as low as it'll go and simmer for 2 minutes. Let cool and steep, then strain out the cinnamon sticks and refrigerate until needed. 

To make the cocktail, add to your shaker the cider, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup...

Then the bourbon and bitters. Fill your shaker with ice and shake it until very cold - 5-10 seconds.

Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish if ya like, and enjoy!

                     

Looking for more fall deliciousness? Check out my Ultimate List of 21 Day Fix Fall Recipes!

If you guys give this Autumn Apple Bourbon Cocktail a try, please let me know what you think!! You can leave a comment below or tag me on Insta @thefoodieandthefix. Or if you’re in my private Facebook group, I’d love to see a photo of your creation in there! I hope you enjoy ♥

Don’t forget to save this easy Apple Bourbon Cocktail recipe to Pinterest! ⇓