Saturday, September 06, 2008

Cocktails of the Week: Apple Cider Cocktails

When I was at the grocery store shopping for this wonderful scallops and spinach salad recipe, I bought an entire half liter of apple cider. Then only needed a little bit for the recipe. What to do with the rest?


Although these first days of autumn are the time to start thinking about apple cider, it's still a bit early (and hot!) for spiced cider served full-on steaming in mugs. So how about a crisp cool cocktail--or three-- with apple cider as a base ingredient? I've listed ingredients in "parts" so that you can make as many or as few as you need.

Any or all of them could be "gussied up" with a cinnamon sugar rim on the cocktail glass.

Pama-Apple Cocktail
This first one has a beautiful rich color (and flavor) thanks to Pama pomegranate liqueur.

4 parts apple cider
1 part Pama liqueur
1 part high-quality vodka

Shake all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker and strain into cocktail glasses.

Apple Almond Cocktail
If you add a pinch of cinnamon to this, it's like apple almond crumble in a glass. The perfect combination of after-dinner drink and dessert.

1 part apple cider
1 part amaretto
1 part high-quality vodka

Shake all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker and strain into cocktail glasses.

Seattle Sidecar
I found this one on the Internet. It reminds me of a daiquri...but has a defnite autumnal color and taste.

1 part apple cider
1 part dark rum
1 part orange-flavored liqueur
1/2 part freshly-squeezed lime juice
Splash of simple syrup

Shake all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker and strain into cocktail glasses.

If you have your own tricks for cider in cocktails, please add them as Comments below.

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