Apple Cider Bourbon Old Fashioned
There are few combinations more perfectly suited to September than bourbon and apple cider. This cocktail takes the beloved structure of a classic Old Fashioned and wraps it in the flavors of a crisp autumn orchard. The result is amber-hued, seductively aromatic, and deeply satisfying.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz fresh apple cider
- 1/2 oz caramel syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Ice (preferably one large cube)
- Apple slice and a cinnamon stick, to garnish
Instructions:
- Add the caramel syrup and both bitters to a mixing glass or rocks glass and stir to combine.
- Add the bourbon and apple cider.
- Fill with ice and stir gently for about 30 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
- Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
- Express an orange peel over the surface, then garnish with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
This cocktail glows a warm amber in the glass, with the cinnamon stick standing tall like an autumn flagpole. The nose is all orchard warmth and vanilla oak; the sip delivers a smooth, caramel-forward sweetness with a long, spiced finish. This is the drink you make when you want the evening to feel like a moment worth remembering.