Want an easy cocktail for fall and winter? Try Apple Cider and Whiskey! These two ingredients go hand in hand, the spicy whiskey complimenting the sweet tart cider perfectly. The great part about this pairing? You can drink it hot or cold! Make it as a lowball cocktail with big chunks of clear ice, or opt for hot spiked cider spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Here’s how to make both of them, depending on your mood!
Apple cider and whiskey: the ideal pairing!
Apple cider and whiskey are the ideal pairing for fall and winter cocktails! They work together cold as a lowball cocktail, or hot as spiked cider. For the cold version of the drink, you can use any type of whiskey, but we have some favorite types (keep reading). Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
Whiskey of any type (see below)Apple ciderOrange wheelIce, to serve
Mix the whiskey and apple cider, add big chunks of clear ice and an orange wheel. Done!
Types of whiskey to pair with apple cider
There are specific types of whiskey that pair best with cider in the lowball version of this cocktail. When you pair cold cider with whiskey, you’ll want that signature spicy burn on the finish. The sweet flavor of bourbon can get lost here (unless you pair it with a complimentary spirit like orange liqueur or vermouth like in this Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail). Here are a few notes on how each type of whiskey pairs with cider in this drink:
Rye whiskey pairs well, with its signature spicy burn on the finishBlended Scotch is another great choice that balances well on the finish Tennessee whiskey and Canadian whisky like Jack Daniels or Crown Royal are great choicesBourbon works, but the flavor is less noticeable in the lowball drink. Try it in this Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail or the hot version!Irish whiskey is very mellow: it works if you’re looking for something very easy to drinkFireball whisky is fantastic with cider: go to Fireball and Apple Cider
Variation: make hot whiskey spiked cider!
Are you looking for a hot version of apple cider and whiskey? Make up a batch of hot spiked apple cider! This recipe is easiest to make party-sized as a 6 serving drink! Here’s what’s different:
Simmer 6 cups apple cider with 1 cup whiskey, along with cinnamon and whole cloves. See the recipe below for quantities!Any type of whiskey works. Again, they’ll all have different flavor variations. If you’re looking to use bourbon, the warming flavor works best in the hot version of this drink.
What to look for when buying cider
What’s the best type of cider to pair with whiskey? In all our drinks with cider, we look for a few things:
Find unfiltered cider if you can. Unfiltered cider contains the pulp and sediment. Filtered is clear and light in color, basically like apple juice. Choose unfiltered for the best flavor and color for cocktails.Pasteurized vs unpasteurized: Pasteurizing apple cider makes it more shelf stable. Unpasteurized cider has more risk of bacteria, and can turn into hard cider or apple cider vinegar over time. Try to find pasteurized cider.
More ways to pair apple cider in cocktails
Got cider? There are so many ways to pair it with types of liquor to make into tasty fall cocktails! Here are a few of our top choices:
Bourbon: Make an Apple Cider Bourbon CocktailFireball whisky: Try Fireball and Apple CiderTequila: Go for an Apple Cider MargaritaVodka: Try an Apple Cider Martini or Apple Cider MuleChampagne: Go to Apple Cider MimosaWine: Try Apple Cider Sangria
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3 ounces* apple cider 1 ½ ounces whiskey (rye, blended Scotch, Tennessee, Canadian, bourbon, or Fireball) Orange wheel Ice, to serve (try clear ice!)
For the spiked hot cider (serves 6)
½ teaspoon whole cloves 3 cinnamon sticks 6 cups apple cider 1 cup whiskey
