Cheers!! Bourbon & Cinnamon~Apple Cider Cocktails

As promised, a delicious apple cider cocktail that is perfect for any autumn party or just for fun on a Sunday afternoon!  We enjoyed these "grown-up" apple cider cocktails at our 

Sunday afternoon get-together.  Click here for the story: A Fall Gathering

Here are the cast of characters:

Apple Cider

Bourbon, we use Maker's Mark

Apple Schnapps

Ginger Ale, we used Vernor's

Cinnamon Sticks

optional for fancy drinks:

Cinnamon/Sugar  and one orange for rimming glasses

 Honey Crisp apples for garnish

For a crowd, if you plan to use a punch bowl, beverage jar with ladle or a beverage dispenser like I did... below is the recipe for a large portion:

RECIPE FOR A CROWD:

1/2 gallon of apple cider (8 cups)

2 cups bourbon

2 cups apple schnapps

2 cinnamon sticks

***

Add together and let chill for 2 hours to overnight.

***

Just before guests arrive, add 1 two-liter of Ginger Ale (8 cups)

***

Add apple slices and garnishes

Rim glasses with cinnamon/sugar 

Add ice to a glass and pour.  

Enjoy!

RECIPE FOR A SINGLE GLASS:

1 part apple cider (3 oz)

1 part ginger ale (3 oz)

1 shot bourbon

1 shot apple schnapps

If you care for a stronger cocktail, add additional bourbon to taste.

Pour over ice, garnish and enjoy.

For garnish, slice apples across the middle to get beautiful full circles.

 To remove seeds, use a small decorative cookie cutter.

 Press and remove seeds, discard star shape, to reveal apple round with a star cut-out.

 For additional garnishes, use the fleshy good part of the apple and make additional star shapes.

 Feeling adventurous??  Try using other shapes, like acorns, pumpkins or other seasonal cut-outs.  Too cute!!

If using apples for garnish, remember to soak them in lemon water so they don't turn brown.  

Get ready to rim the glasses!!

Use a cut orange or lemon.  Lightly rub the mouth of the glass or rim with the citrus juice.

Gently press glass into a cinnamon-sugar mixture and then stand the glass upright.

 TIP:

If you have an empty cinnamon container, add sugar to it and add a teaspoon of your favorite cinnamon, shake...

and with a sharpie marker- note the new contents of the spice tin. 

It's not fancy--but it works!  

This way you'll always have homemade cinnamon-sugar at the ready. 

 Just refill the tin as needed.

Add ice.

 Pour the Bourbon-Cinnamon Apple Cider cocktail over ice and garnish with apple slices!

 How cute are those little star-shaped apples!?

 Easy and delicious!!  

Cheers!!!

Linked to:

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday

The Scoop via Stone Gable