You know it’s Fall when the leaves start changing and the apple cider cocktail recipes come out. While there are many great cider drinks out there, I find that most of them are either too sweet or too simple. As a home bartender, I want something that isn’t impossible but also tastes like I know what I’m doing. This, for me, means something slightly unexpected but that works really well. I recently worked up this drink for a client and had to share it with you as well. The ingredients are fairly common, so hopefully you’ll be able to whip this one up soon!
My new favorite apple cider cocktail happens to be topped with butterscotch cream. I call it Falling in Leaves. As with my other favorite cocktails, like this one, it brings together a range of flavors. The ingredients range from salty to tart to sweet and spiced. It’s easy and you can make it two different ways. I’ve included the standard recipe below, but you can heat up the cocktail portion for a hand-warmer version. Applejack is an aged apple brandy and brings to mind woolen sweaters and raking leaves as you sip it. If you don’t have any applejack, bourbon works well too. Cheers!
Falling in Leaves
Ingredients
- 4 oz heavy cream
- 0.5 tsp instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 2 oz apple cider
- 1.5 oz Applejack or bourbon
- 0.5 oz allspice dram
Instructions
- Add cream and pudding mix to a bottle with a lid (like a Crew Chubby Bottle). Shake vigorously for 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for 20 seconds.
- Strain into a lowball glass with a large ice cube.
- Top with half the butterscotch cream topping from Step 1.
- (Optional) Garnish with an anise pod, a cinnamon stick, a dash of nutmeg, and/or a dried apple.
If you love apples and are looking for more Fall cocktails, try these apple juice and rum drink recipes.
