This Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail warms the soul on a cold Autumn or Winter day. This is the perfect hot bourbon cocktail! Top it with a cinnamon stick and fresh apple slices for the full experience!
This Apple Cider and Bourbon is the perfect drink to serve at a party during the Fall & Winter months, and for Halloween parties and Cold Weather Holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
You can double, triple or quadruple the cider mixture in a crock pot to keep it nice and warm for serving. Also, the cider mixture is non-alcoholic before the bourbon is added so kids can drink it!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Bourbon Cocktail:
- It's so easy to make with minimal ingredients and ready in just 5 minutes.
- This recipe screams Fall with the Apple Cider and Spices mixed with Bourbon.
- The best cold weather cocktail because it's served warm and takes the chill off.
For more Winter cocktails, check out my Pomegranate Vodka Cocktails and Cranberry Sangria.
Ingredients:
Bourbon-A type of Whiskey. Maker's Mark has a high quality bourbon with flavors of vanilla and oak.
Apple Cider-It doesn't get more Fall than a glass of apple cider. This is served hot for the most festive flavors.
Maple Syrup, Vanilla Extract, Allspice and Cinnamon- Amazing flavors and aromas that are added in small increments to the cider.
*Full recipe ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations:
If you don't want to use Bourbon, any Whisky will work for this recipe. You can even use dark spiced rum or fireball.
For a cold version, try this Apple Cider Cocktail with Vodka.
How to Make a Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail:
Step 1: Pour cider into a medium pot and add 2 cinnamon sticks, vanilla, maple syrup and allspice. Whisk to combine.
Step 2: Bring to a boil, whisk well, then reduce the heat to low and cook for another 3 minutes.
Step 3: Next, add a 1 ounce shot into each cocktail glass.
Step 4: Ladle in the cider over the bourbon to almost the very top of glass. Give it a quick stir and top with cinnamon stick and apple slices.
Step 5: Serve immediately and enjoy!
Expert Tip:
Wait until right before serving before slicing the apples or they will turn brown.
Recipe FAQs:
Sure thing! I make hot apple cider for my kids all the time. They especially love it topped with whipped cream and a little caramel drizzle.
Try Spiced Rum instead!
Absolutely! I am a light weight and hardly ever drink, so my drinks are never made strong:)
More Fall Drinks You Will Love:
Recipe
Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 2 cocktails
Description
This apple cider bourbon cocktail warms the soul on a cold autumn day. This is the perfect cocktail for Fall. I love to top mine with a cinnamon stick and fresh apple slices.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks + 2 more for garnish (optional)
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon of maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon of allspice (or you can use ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, with a tiny dash of cloves. Clove is incredibly strong, so I mean a sprinkle)
- 2 ounces of bourbon (I used Maker's Mark)
- 2 apple slices for garnish
- You will also need cocktail glasses, a medium pot, whisk and shot glass
Instructions
- Pour cider into a medium pot and add 2 cinnamon sticks, vanilla, maple syrup and allspice. Bring to a boil, whisk well, then reduce the heat to low and cook for another 3 minutes.
- Add a 1 ounce shot into each cocktail glass. Ladle in the cider over the bourbon to almost the very top of glass. Give it a quick stir.
- Top with a cinnamon stick and apple slices.
Equipment
Notes
Wait to slice the apples until right before serving, so they don't turn brown.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: cocktails
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: american
Sherry says
Beautiful cocktail for autumn!
Tara Smithson says
Thank you so much Sherry! I really appreciate the review.
Robert says
Really good!