This whiskey apple cider co*cktail screams fall in its flavors and is the perfect cozy co*cktail to celebrate changing leaves and chilly nights.
Looking for other fall co*cktails and great co*cktail recipes for the holiday season? Try a Cranberry Bourbon Smash, Apple Cider Margarita or Christmas White Russian.
This apple cider bourbon co*cktail recipe is everything I love about this time of year: from the chill in the air, to the vibrant colors on the trees, and a signature cozy fall flavor with warming spices; it totally encapsulates my fall feels.
This perfect fall co*cktail is as simple as simmering some cider with warming spices, and then adding a little extra kick with notes of vanilla or cinnamon infused bourbon (you can either buy the bourbon already flavored at the store or infuse it yourself!).
We love to sip on this warm cider all fall long whether it be on camping trips, during an evening around the fire pit in our backyard, on crisp fall days, or as a nightcap to our family’s Thanksgiving feast.
What you’ll need to make this bourbon apple cider co*cktail recipe
These are the tools you’ll need to make this spiked apple cider co*cktail:
Large mason jar or other container to infuse the bourbon or whiskey
Small saucepan or pot
Thermos or pitcher, for serving
co*cktail glasses or mugs
And here are the ingredients you’ll need to make an apple cider bourbon co*cktail:
5 cups apple cider (fresh apple cider is best, if you can’t find apple cider, use unfiltered apple juice)
1 cinnamon stick
2 star anise
3 whole cloves
2 ounces of bourbon, per co*cktail (vanilla or cinnamon infused or flavored)
Cinnamon sticks or apple slice for garnish
For the infused bourbon:
2 cups bourbon
1-2 vanilla bean pods or 1-2 cinnamon sticks
How to make a whiskey apple cider co*cktail
You know I love easy recipes and this one is as easy as they come: this boozy apple cider involves just a few simple ingredients, simmering them together over medium or low heat, and then adding a little extra kick with bourbon or whiskey (you can get detailed instructions in the recipe card below!)
I also love that you can make this recipe for one, two, or a few because no shaking, juicing or extensive step-by-step drink making is required. It’s perfect for a fall gathering because it is a festive co*cktail that you can make a big batch and can keep it warm in a crockpot.
While I think the sweetness of the cider is enough to make this drink perfectly sweet, you could add orange peel or orange juice, real maple syrup or pure maple syrup to the saucepan while it simmers to make it a little sweeter
You can either buy your liquor already infused (many different brands offer cinnamon or vanilla infused whiskey or bourbon at grocery stores or liquor stores) or you can make your own following the detailed instructions below!
While this is a warm co*cktail, you could also make this co*cktail cold…infuse the cider with the spices and then remove from heat and allow to cool. Mix the co*cktail with the liquor using a co*cktail shaker and ice or just stir together in a co*cktail glass. If making cold, you could add some ginger beer or ginger ale for a extra flavor boost!
In making the cold version of this co*cktail it would be so fun to add a cinnamon sugar rim too!
What alcohol can be mixed with apple cider?
When it comes to spiking apple cider, we tend to opt for dark spirits like whiskey, bourbon and rum rather than clear liquors like vodka, gin or light rum.
Whiskey or bourbon and apple cider is a classic flavor combination, and whiskey is often the most recommended spirit when it comes to making an alcoholic apple cider co*cktail. Whiskey or bourbon also pairs well with fall and winter warming spices that are often found in hot apple cider recipes like cinnamon and cloves.
Dark rum is another dark liquor that is also a popular choice for spiking apple cider and could certainly be used in this recipe in lieu of whiskey or bourbon. Make sure you are using dark rum (not light rum) because the flavors will complement those of the spices in the cider.
And a good, but more unexpected, spirit pairing for apple cider is vodka. Because vodka doesn’t add a ton of flavor when adding it to a cider co*cktail, consider increasing the spices and maybe adding some ginger for an extra kick.
What is the difference between whiskey and bourbon?
Above, I mentioned a dark spirit like whiskey or bourbon is typically used to spike apple cider. (And the recipe card points you to the fact that you can use whiskey or bourbon.)
So what’s the difference? What makes a whiskey bourbon?
The main difference between different types of whiskeys and bourbon is geographic and the ingredients used in the distilling process.
What makes whiskey bourbon is that the mash (the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled) must contain 51% corn.
And on top of that, the mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less, put into a barrel at 125 proof or less, and must not contain any additives. Plus, it must be aged in a new charred oak barrel.
If all of those things happen, your whiskey is actually a bourbon.
How to infuse your own alcohol with different flavors
This easy bourbon apple cider co*cktail recipe calls for flavored whiskey or bourbon, which you can buy in a store or make yourself! I prefer using vanilla infused bourbon when I make this for us at home, but I think cinnamon infused bourbon would be delicious too (and if you don’t feel like infusing your own alcohol, you could always add a Cinnamon Simple Syrup to your drink).
While I do have some brief instructions for infusing your own whiskey with vanilla or cinnamon in the recipe card of this post, my friend Susannah has an incredibly detailed step-by-step guide for making homemade cinnamon whiskey.
What I love about infusing your own whiskey at home is that you can control the amount of flavor and spice that you add to the spirit.
And that it’s actually not that hard! All you need is your favorite liquor, a mason jar, and the right amount of flavor and spice. Pour the bourbon into a jar, submerge the spices and let it sit until you think it tastes good. That’s it!
whiskey apple cider co*cktail
Yield: 5-6
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
This whiskey apple cider co*cktail screams fall in its flavors and is the perfect cozy co*cktail to celebrate changing leaves and chilly nights.
Ingredients
- Ingredients for the infused whiskey or bourbon:
- 3-4 vanilla bean pods or 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cups (750 ml) of whiskey or bourbon
- Ingredients for the co*cktail:
- 5 cups apple cider
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 star anises
- 2 ounces vanilla or cinnamon whiskey or bourbon, per co*cktail
- cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
- Instructions for the infused whiskey or bourbon:
- If using vanilla bean pods, split the pods lengthwise. Divide whiskey or bourbon among two large 16-ounce airtight jars. Submerge vanilla bean pods or cinnamon sticks into the bourbon. Store in a cool, dry place for 1 to 2 weeks, shaking the jars occasionally to mix the spices. Taste after one week to determine flavor intensity. The bourbon is done infusing when it tastes good to you.
- Instructions for the co*cktail:
- Make the apple cider. Pour the apple cider into a small saucepan or pot. Add cinnamon, cloves, and star anise to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low or low and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes
- Remove cider from heat and strain into a thermos or a pitcher.
- Make the co*cktail. Pour one cup cider mix and two ounces infused whiskey or bourbon into a co*cktail glass.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Notes
You do not need to make your own flavored whiskey or bourbon. Feel free to purchase it already flavored at your local liquor or grocery store.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 269Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 0g
