I guess I’ve been a little busy lately and have not been posting to my blog. The cold weather is approaching, and I’ve been thinking about pumpkins, cider, sweaters, roaring fires, warm blankets, and shorter days. The last thing on this list is not a favorite of mine but it’s just a fact of life…days become shorter, and the night comes upon us way too early. Living in the Northeast, it’s especially evident. But, on the bright side, there’s more time to snuggle in front of a fire with a warm blanket…a plaid blanket. I’m not sure why “plaid” is important, but it just seems like a Fall kind of thing so why not?
Anyway, now that I’ve set the stage, let’s explore some of the delightful drink options for a night in or a night outside by the fire.
On a recent trip to Kansas City, I found myself at the Louisburg Cider Mill. It’s a fun place to go in the Fall. They have a pumpkin patch, a general store, a corn maze, and an activity area for the kids! Of course, their specialty is apple cider and apple cider doughnuts. They also have musicians who play on weekends so it’s a complete day filled with music and sweet things to eat and drink.
While sitting at one of the outdoor picnic tables sipping my warm apple cider, I thought about the many Fall-type drinks that are created using this elixir as it’s main ingredient.
Let’s check a few of them out! There are many, many versions of these and others that have been carefully created by bartenders and craft cocktail gurus. I’m sure you may have had one or all of these at some point but in case you haven’t, here’s a few of the cider-based drinks to try this season.
Apple Cider Sangria:
- Apple Cider
- Apple Pie Whiskey
- Caramel Vodka
- A crisp white wine
- Garnish: Granny Smith apple slices, lemon & orange slices
- Rim of cinnamon sugar
Apple Cider Margarita:
- Apple Cider
- Silver Tequila
- Triple Sec
- Garnish: apple slices & cinnamon sticks
- Rim of cinnamon sugar
Apple Cider Cocktail:
- Apple Cider
- Bourbon
- Ginger beer or Ginger ale
- Lemon Juice
- Orange Bitters
- Garnish: apple slices & cinnamon sticks
Apple Cider and Cream Cocktail:
- Apple Cider
- Any one of these…dark rum, caramel vodka, cinnamon schnapps
- Garnish: Whipped cream with nutmeg, cinnamon sticks
- Optional spices to add: cinnamon, cloves, allspice
For something warm, try something that you can make in a large pot and share with friends!
Hot Cranberry and Apple Cider:
- Apple Cider
- Cranberry Juice
- Rum
- Cloves
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Garnish: Orange slices, Apple slices and Cranberries
Create and explore some of your own. All the above cider drinks can be tweaked to your liking. Have a great time experimenting with Apple Cider. Let me know if you create an especially delicious one! Hot or cold, it will surely warm you up from the inside out during these cooler days!
Cheers!