5 Spiced Apple Cocktails Perfect For Christmas
The aroma of apples, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg have always captured the traditional essence of winter season and festive spirit of Christmas. This is probably the reason why everything from spiced baked apples and stuffed apples to apple pies and apple cakes dominate our feast tables throughout this season. But have you ever wondered how the festive aromas and flavours can also transform your cocktails during Christmas and the holiday season?
The infusion of apples as well as flavour-packed spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg and even a dash of vanilla can elevate cocktails made with a wide range of spirits, from whiskies to gin and vodka. Of course, adding a dash of apple cider can also add to the allure of the cocktails you serve up at those Christmas parties at home. And a garnish of a slice of apple or macerated apples at the bottom of your cocktail glass can add so much more to the look of your drinks.
So, this Christmas, let your cocktails infused with spiced apples be the vessels carrying the festive spirit into your homes. Carefully blend apples, spices and spirits to symbolise the generosity of spirit that Christmas embodies perfectly. Here are some cocktails you can do this with.
1. Cinnamon Apple Fizz
The simplicity of this spiced apple cocktail is its greatest selling point, not to mention the fact that its ingredients are very easy to get and the recipe itself is very easy to follow. All you need to do is fill a cocktail shaker with ice, 50ml apple cider, 25ml of good gin like Tanqueray or Gordon’s, 15ml cinnamon syrup and a dash of lemon juice (add more lemon juice to adjust the tanginess). Shake well until thoroughly chilled, then strain the Cinnamon Apple Fizz into a tall glass packed with ice and top it off with club soda. Don’t forget to add an apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish.
2. Spiced Apple Martini
Give your classic vodka martini a delightful festive twist with this Spiced Apple Martini. To make this cocktail, get the best quality vodka you can, like Ketel One or Ciroc. Fill a cocktail shaker with 50ml of this vodka, 100ml apple juice, 25ml cinnamon schnapps, simple syrup and ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass then garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and an apple slice. You can also rim the martini glass by dipping it in apple syrup and cinnamon powder for a more festive appeal.
3. Warm Apple Pie Cocktail
Who doesn’t love to dig into some warm apple pie around Christmas? Well, what if you could sip on a holiday cocktail and get the flavours of your favourite apple pie? To do that, just get 150ml apple cider, 50ml Captain Morgan rum, 25ml cinnamon schnapps and some whipped cream. Heat the apple cider, then pour in the rum and the schnapps and transfer into a heatproof mug. Top it off with the whipped cream. Add a garnish of ground cinnamon and nutmeg for that apple pie finish.
4. Apple Cinnamon Whisky Sour
Love a traditional Whisky Sour? Well, this Christmas is just the time to give it a festive upgrade with apples and spices. Fill a shaker with ice cubes, 50ml good quality blended Scotch like Johnnie Walker or Black Dog, 25ml of fresh lemon juice, 25ml apple cider and around 12ml of cinnamon syrup. Shake it all up vigorously for 15-20 seconds, then pour over some ice into a chilled glass. Garnish this Apple Cinnamon Whisky Sour with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick.
5. Hot Apple Toddy
Hot toddy is always a heartwarming drink to have during winter season, and especially around Christmas. Here’s how you can make it even more festive and delicious this year. Take 100ml hot water and combine 50ml whisky like Johnnie Walker or Antiquity Blue, 50ml apple juice, 2 teaspoons of honey, a cinnamon stick and some cloves if you want. Stir until the honey dissolves completely, then let the Hot Apple Toddy steep and infuse for a few minutes. Serve it in a big mug or wide, heatproof whisky glass with a lemon twist, apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish.
