The perfect cocktail for fall, this Maple Apple Old Fashioned is what you’ll want to be drinking all season long. Bourbon, maple syrup and classic apple cider come together in this tasty cocktail that’s ideal enjoyed under warm blankets in front of a crackling fireplace.
If ever there were a way for me to make my entrance back onto the fall cocktail scene, this Maple Apple Old Fashioned would be it.
I’m the first to admit, I’ve been out of the mixology game for quite some time. Sure, I’ve whipped up a simple mixed drink here and there since the little one made her debut last October, but to be honest I rarely sip cocktails these days – my bod just can’t handle the hangovers as well as it used to!
So when I DO drink a cocktail, I want it to be absolutely delicious. And that’s what this Maple Apple Old Fashioned is. Seriously, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out since I’ve been out of practice for so long, but it has now joined the ranks as one of my favorite cocktail creations ever (along with the French 75 and the Twisted Whiskey Kind of Afternoon, of course) and, now that the babe is officially weaned, you can bet I’ll be sipping on these a lot more often over the next few months.
Before I get into the recipe, I have to tell you my reason for being inspired to create a cocktail that involves everyone’s favorite “accoutrement” for buttermilk pancakes and Belgian waffles: maple syrup! You see, I’ve been in Vermont all week for a fun little blogger conference called Blog Brȗlée. I’ve absolutely loved it because it is a small group of health-minded bloggers/registered dietitians with tailored content and wonderful sponsors in a beautiful location. I mean, what more could you ask for?
There was a ton of information, bonding and exploring in two short days and now I’ve been exploring a bit on my own until I fly out later this afternoon. It’s the longest I’ve ever been away from sweet Raia (and I miss her soooooo much) but the time on my own has been relaxing and inspiring and has left me reinvigorated for both the business and personal side of my life as we jump into this fall season.
And jump into fall we shall! I mean, I sure got into the mood for fall with my trip to Vermont (gah—that foliage though!) But I have to admit that without a trip like that you almost wouldn’t notice that the seasons have changed in our West Coast seaside town of Santa Barbara. I, for one, am determined to break out all the blankets, pillows and candles as soon as I get home (helloooo hygge) even if it’s still 75 degrees out during the day and EVEN if it means I have to make a Maple Apple Old Fashioned to get me in the mood.
Speaking of Maple Apple Old Fashioned’s, I hope you like bourbon, because otherwise you might want to stop reading right here. Yes, bourbon-lovers, this cocktail is for you. If you’re familiar with the Old Fashioned, then you know that there is not much else other than booze in this classic drink. Now, you may wonder why, for such a booze-infused cocktail, I tried to pack both maple and apple in as accompanying flavors, but trust me on this. A little goes a long way to make this the most happening fall cocktail around.
A typical Old Fashioned is made by first muddling straight sugar with bitters, then adding whiskey/bourbon and a slice of orange rind. If you take a look at this Maple Apple Old Fashioned recipe, you’ll see that we basically have all of the similar components, with a few fall-like twists.
We still use the bitters (I mean, how could we not?) but we sub in maple syrup in exchange for the sugar. And rather than infusing the bourbon with orange rind, we add just the slightest bit of apple cider to really give it that “fall” feel.
It really is a simple recipe, and for the amount of fall flavor it packs, I hope you give it a try. I, for one, am looking forward to mixing up some of these as soon as I get home. I’m sure the hubby will appreciate it after a week of solo parenting!
The perfect cocktail for fall, this Maple Apple Old Fashioned is what you’ll want to be drinking all season long. Bourbon, maple syrup and classic apple cider come together in this tasty cocktail that’s ideal enjoyed under warm blankets in front of a crackling fireplace.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce apple cider, plus a little more for rimming the glass
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 2-4 dashes angostura bitters
- Apple wheels for garnish
In a small bowl, mix together the ground cinnamon and sugar. Pour onto a small saucer/dessert plate. Pour some apple cider on a second saucer/dessert plate. (Tip: This cinnamon-sugar combo is PLENTY to rim two to three glasses if you want to up the cocktail recipe.)
Take a rocks glass and dip it first into the apple cider plate and then into the cinnamon-sugar plate. Use a spoon or small ladle to fill the glass with ice and set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the bourbon, apple cider, syrup and bitters. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds or so.
Strain contents of shaker into the prepared glass and garnish with an apple wheel. Enjoy!