Apple Cider and Whiskey (Hot or Cold!)

Apple cider and whiskey are an ideal cocktail pairing! Here’s how to mix them up as a lowball cocktail or as spiked hot cider.

If you’re looking for an easy cocktail for fall or winter, try apple cider and whiskey! These two ingredients go hand in hand, with the spicy whiskey complementing the sweet and tart cider perfectly.

The best part about this pairing is its versatility. You can drink this one hot or cold! Make it a lowball cocktail with big chunks of clear ice, or opt for hot spiked cider spiced with cinnamon and cloves.

They’re both delicious, so I’m not picking favorites. And I want you to test them out for yourself!

What you’ll need

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 I have some favorites I’ll share in a minute.

Here are the basic ingredients:

• Whiskey
• Apple cider
• Orange wheel
• Ice, to serve

For your cocktail, mix the whiskey and apple cider, add big chunks of clear ice, and top with an orange wheel. You’re done!

Picking your whiskey

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 complementary spirit like orange liqueur or vermouth.

Here are a few more notes on how each type of whiskey pairs with cider in this drink:

• Rye whiskey pairs well with its signature spicy burn on the finish.
• Blended Scotch is another great choice that balances well on the finish.
• Tennessee whiskey and Canadian whisky, like Jack Daniels or Crown Royal, are great choices.
• Bourbon 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 drink.
• Fireball whisky is fantastic with cider. I like it in my Fireball and Apple Cider.

Make it hot!

If you’re hosting a seasonal party, a batch of hot spiked apple cider is always a hit. This recipe is easiest to make as a 6-serving drink! Here’s what’s different:

• Simmer 6 cups of apple cider with 1 cup whiskey, along with cinnamon and whole cloves.
• 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.

Tips for buying cider

In all of my drinks with cider, I 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.
• Try to find pasteurized cider. Pasteurizing apple cider makes it more shelf-stable. Unpasteurized cider has a higher risk of bacteria, and can turn into hard cider or apple cider vinegar over time.

More apple cider cocktails

Got cider? There are so many ways to pair it with types of liquor to make tasty fall cocktails! Here are a few of my top choices:

• Tequila: Apple Cider Margarita
• Vodka: Apple Cider Martini or Apple Cider Mule
• Champagne: Apple Cider Mimosa
• Wine: Apple Cider Sangria

01

Apple Cider Margarita

02

Apple Cider Cocktail

03

Apple Cider Sangria

04

Apple Cider Martini

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