Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

Make this easy Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail for a quick yet delicious pick-me-up on for chilly autumn day. Made with only 4 simple ingredients, and garnished with warm spices, fresh apple slices, and a sprig of rosemary. This drink is like fall in a glass, and great for festive special occasions.

photo of an apple cider bourbon cocktail with a cinnamon stick and rosemary sprig, with apples, pampas grass, and a mixing glass in the background.

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Disclosure: This recipe was originally published on October 2nd, 2021 but has since been revised and improved as of September 1st, 2023. We hope you enjoy the new look!

This cozy cider-bourbon concoction combines the sweet and tart flavors of apples, maple syrup, and lemon juice with the warm richness of bourbon whiskey. It's the perfect drink to warm you up on a chilly fall evening or to share with your loved ones at gatherings this autumn.

It goes right on top of our list of favorite fall cocktails. If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy this Pumpkin Pie Martini, this Apple Whiskey Sour , and this Blood Orange Gin Cocktail, perfect for fall days!

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❤️Why we love this recipe
🍎Ingredients
✨Substitutions
✨Variations
🔪Prep work
📋Instructions
✨Tips & tricks
💭Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes To Consider
📖 Recipe
💬 Community

❤️Why we love this recipe

Made with simple ingredients. You can make this cocktail in just 5 minutes using 4 ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry or fridge. All you have to do is combine, mix, and sip.
Festive and fun. Perfect for fall days, and for a bourbon drinker! Adding rosemary sprig, apple slices, and a cinnamon stick instantly turns this simple drink into a lavish, bartender-worthy drink. It's full of cozy fall flavor. Mix some up for your next party.
Suitable for multiple diet types. It is a gluten-free and vegan-friendly cocktail that can also be made with less sugar and a lower carb count if desired.
Perfect fall cocktail. If you're looking for great fall flavors for any fall gathering including Halloween and Thanksgiving, you'll love this cozy cocktail packed with warming flavors. However, there's nothing stopping you from stocking up on apple cider and enjoying it all year round!

🍎Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.

Maple syrup
Lemon juice. Adds a bright zesty taste and balances out some of the sweetness. Make sure to use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor!
Apple cider. You can easily find apple cider in nearly all grocery stores or supermarkets during the fall season. We especially love picking some up at an apple orchard. You can also make our homemade apple cider recipe if you have some fresh apples to spare!
Bourbon. Use your favorite brand and something that you enjoy drinking on its own.

Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.

✨Substitutions

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

Swap the sweetener. Instead of maple syrup, you can use other sweeteners like honey or agave nectar. You can also use grenadine to give it a beautiful ruby hue. If using honey, be sure to combine it with hot water to dissolve it, then allow it to chill completely before mixing with the drink. Honey on its own will firm up and solidify too much when combined with cold ingredients.
Swap the citrus. We do recommend using fresh lemon juice for the best results, but you can swap it for a little bit of apple cider vinegar, lime juice, or other citrus juices.
No apple cider? In a pinch, you can use storebought apple cider (that is found in the shelf-stable aisle) or apple juice, but the flavor won't be quite the same.
Use a different liquor. No bourbon on hand? You can use any whiskey, like rye whiskey if you'd like. Any dark liquor like spiced rum or cognac would also be tasty with notes of vanilla and spice! Rum or vodka also make great substitutes if you prefer.

✨Variations

Low carb and low sugar. Make this drink sugar-free by using our homemade sugar-free apple cider recipe and maple syrup replacement.
Mocktail version. If you are celebrating with kids or you don't drink alcohol, you can simply omit the bourbon and make a kid-friendly or alcohol-free version. You can add a little something fizzy before serving for a more festive drink. Everyone enjoys being a part of the celebratory toasts!
Make it fizzy. Add more flavor and fizz by pouring a splash of ginger beer or ginger ale into the drink right before serving. If you want fizz without any extra sweetness, try adding some club soda to top it.
Sweeter. If you prefer a more sweet drink, try adding more maple syrup, or apple cider. For sweetness and spice, try a little bit of this autumn spice simple syrup.
Add more garnishes. Aside from rosemary, apples, and cinnamon, you can also add a lemon twist, an orange peel twist, fresh thyme sprigs, star anise, cocktail cherries, or even whole cloves!
Add a dash of bitters. Want to add some more subtle flavor? Try adding a dash of angostura bitters, orange bitters, or even cardamom bitters!
Make a warm cocktail. Craving something extra cozy? Heat up the apple cider and maple syrup gently on the stove, then add lemon juice and whiskey for a tasty warm whiskey drink! You may also like this slow cooker mulled wine!

🔪Prep work

Squeeze the lemon juice, and run through a fine metal sieve to get rid of any chunks or seeds.
Slice the apple garnishes into thin rounds or wedges (your choice).
If you are using our homemade sugar free apple cider, you can make it up to 10 days in advance.
Chill the cocktail glasses in the freezer or fill them with fresh ice while you make the drink.
Measure out all remaining ingredients.

📋Instructions

Add lemon juice to a mixing glass filled about halfway with ice. (Image 1)

Pour in the maple syrup. (Image 2)

Hand pouring lemon juice into a mixing glass with pampas grass and apples in the background.

Hand pouring maple syrup into a mixing glass with pampas grass and apples in the background.

✨Pro Tip: Add the least expensive ingredient first (lemon juice), and the most expensive ingredient last (the liquor), and taste as you go! That way, if you mess something up you won’t waste expensive ingredients, and you can adjust along the way.

Add the apple cider. (Image 3)

Followed by the bourbon. (Image 4)

Hand pouring apple cider into a mixing glass with pampas grass and apples in the background.

Hand pouring bourbon into a mixing glass with pampas grass and apples in the background.

Stir with a bar spoon to chill. (Image 5)

Strain with a Hawthorne strainer into a chilled old-fashioned glass, rocks glass, or even a martini glass. (Image 6)

Hand mixing a drink with a bar spoon in a mixing glass with pampas grass and apples in the background.

Hand pouring a drink into an old fashioned glass from a mixing glass with pampas grass and apples in the background.

Garnish with a rosemary sprig, apple slices, and a cinnamon stick. Serve right away!

photo of an apple cider bourbon cocktail with a cinnamon stick and rosemary sprig, with apples and pampas grass in the background.

✨Tips & tricks

Use real apple cider. If possible, use fresh apple cider from a local orchard or farm, or the refrigerated section at the store. The flavor is often more vibrant and natural compared to commercial brands that you find in the shelf-stable aisle.
Use fresh lemon juice. Since there are so few ingredients in this recipe, make them all count. Fresh lemon juice definitely adds the best flavor.
Taste and adjust sweetness and tartness. Depending on the sweetness of your cider or the tartness of your lemons, you might want to adjust the quantities of maple syrup or lemon juice. Taste and adjust according to your preference.
Chill all the ingredients (and serving glasses) beforehand for best results. This cocktail is stirred over ice and then strained, so having cold ingredients and a glass to serve it in will keep it nice and cold.
If making this drink for the first time, add the least expensive ingredient first, and the most expensive ingredient last, and taste as you go! That way, if you mess something up you won’t waste expensive ingredients, and you can adjust along the way.
Use large ice cubes or spheres when making this drink so it doesn't get watered down as easily when mixing.
Use a bar spoon to stir until the mixture until thoroughly chilled.
If you don't have a mixing glass, feel free to use a cocktail shaker or a mason jar with a lid, and strain the drink through a metal sieve.

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💭Frequently Asked Questions

Should the drink be stirred or shaken?

Since we are using a mixing glass, stirring is the best way to go. However, if you have a cocktail shaker or a mason jar, you can shake instead. However, this may break the ice and water down the cocktail faster.

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

This drink is best served right after mixing. However, you can premix the ingredients and just stir them with fresh ice and serve when you're ready.

Can I make a large batch of this drink?

To make a large batch, multiply the measurements of each ingredient by the number of servings you'd like, and add them to a large pitcher. Stir, then add to ice filled glasses. You can also add ice to the pitcher, but just be aware that it may melt and water down the drink.

More Recipes To Consider

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