• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fearless Dining
  • New to GF? Start Here
  • GF Resources
    • Safe Gluten Free Dining Tips
  • Recipes
  • GF Cookbooks
    • Pantry
  • About Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • New to GF? Start Here!
  • Recipe Index
  • Check Out My Gluten Free Cookbooks!
  • Gluten Free Dining Tips
  • About Fearless Dining
  • Contact Me
  • Follow Along

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Chef Recipes

    Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

    Published: Oct 16, 2017 · Modified: Sep 16, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 7 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you love apple cider, this apple cider bourbon cocktail should go onto your happy hour drink list! Crisp apple flavor blends beautifully with bourbon, adds a hint of cinnamon, and you have the perfect fall cocktail!

    We are loving the cooler fall weather!! Get ready for the weekend with these delicious Cocktail Recipes.

    the top view of two apple rum cocktails
    Jump to:
    • Ingredient notes:
    • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • Serve with:
    • What other alcohol goes best with apple cider?
    • Tools:
    • Recipe
    • Community

    Fall is all about flavor. We have an uncle who has an enormous apple tree in his backyard. Each year he picks a lot of the apples and makes a homemade apple cider out of it. He serves it at our family Thanksgiving celebration every year.

    Although I don't have his homemade apple cider to make this apple cider bourbon cocktail, I created this cocktail as a tribute :-).

    Ingredient notes:

    • Bourbon - I love the flavor of apple cider and bourbon and it is my alcohol of choice for this recipe. It has a sweet mellow flavor that works so well with the cinnamon and apple flavors.
    • Apple cider - You can also use a mulled apple cider. If you can't find cider or mulled cider, you can heat your apple juice with a cinnamon stick to get some of the flavors.
    • Honey - I used this for the rim so the cinnamon sugar would stick. You do not have to use an expensive honey. Just use an inexpensive wildflower or other honey type.

    I really like the big jug of apple cider that I found at Trader Joe's. Whole Foods has these big jugs too. Keep your eye out at the farmer's market or farm stand as those apple ciders are really fresh!

    I admit I am partial to bourbon, and if you love bourbon as I do, you will want to try this Crushed Grape Bourbon Cocktail.

    A glass of bourbon apple cider. An apple slice is garnishing the glass and a cinnamon stick is in the drink.

    One valuable lesson I learned when making this cocktail recipe is to choose what I use to make the rim sticky more carefully. I used honey along the rim and then dipped the rim in coarse sugar and cinnamon. What I didn't foresee was the honey running down the glass.

    The next time I use honey, I would use a Q-tip to apply just a tiny bit of honey to the rim. This should prevent dripping! Pretty picture, or not so pretty, this bourbon cider cocktail is so worth making!!

    If you aren't a bourbon drinker, you can use several different liquors in this cocktail. Some are better than others. it all comes down to this question:

    Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    What kind of apple cider is best for this bourbon cider cocktail?

    The word cider is a little generic. For this cocktail, you want a cider made with crisp, slightly tart apples if you can find that. My favorites are Gravenstein apple cider and Fuji apple cider. Fresh ciders from the farmer's market are especially good.

    What else can you spike apple cider with?

    We love to spike our apple cider...here are some of our favorite liquors: dark rum, whiskey, vodka, and white run.

    Can you make this a frozen drink?

    You can absolutely make this a frozen drink by adding it to a blender with ice! Blend it until smooth

    Serve with:

    • How to Fire-Roast Hatch Chiles and The 12 Best Hatch Chile Recipes!
    • Gluten Free Savory Asparagus Goat Cheese Tart
    • Crispy Gluten Free Fried Cheese Sticks Recipe
    • How To Roast Shishito Peppers {Easy!}

    What other alcohol goes best with apple cider?

    • Rum works well with apple cider because it is on the sweeter side. You could even drizzle a little dark rum on top
    • Honey Liquor is really good if you want something different. I used honey liquor in these Honey Strawberry Gin Cocktails, and it was delicious!
    • Vodka will work in this cocktail, but it will not turn out as sweet.
    Two glasses of bourbon apple cider cocktail. A cinnamon stick is in the glass and both glasses are garnished with apple slices.

    Are you ready to try this Bourbon Apple Cider recipe?

    Tools:

    1. A cocktail shaker and strainer set makes chilling this cocktail a breeze!
    2. Your favorite bourbon!

    Recipe

    Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

    Sandi Gaertner
    An easy cinnamon bourbon apple cider cocktail recipe.
    4.8 from 10 votes
    dairy free allergen icon
    an egg free allergen icon
    gluten free allergy icon
    nut free allergen icon
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections Save RecipeSaved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Cocktail Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 215 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 ounces bourbon
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups apple cider
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker.
    • Put on the lid and shake.
    • Use the strainer to pour into two glasses.
    • This bourbon apple cider cocktail can be served straight up or on the rocks.
    • Optional, rub honey along the rim and dip into cinnamon sugar

    Notes

    The word cider is a little generic. For this cocktail, you want a cider made with crisp, slightly tart apples if you can find that. My favorites are Gravenstein apple cider and Fuji apple cider. Fresh ciders from the farmer's market are especially good.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 187mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!
    Share by Text

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

    lemon e-cookbook cover image

    If you love the recipes you are finding on my blog, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter (and get my free gluten free lemon desserts e-cookbook!)

    « Gluten Free Chestnut Flour Scones with Bacon and Apple
    The Ultimate Walmart Gluten Free Shopping Guide Updated 2021 »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patty

      November 01, 2021 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      I want to add …we did not need the sugar and honey. It was tasty without them! Salud!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        November 02, 2021 at 5:03 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed it, Patty. Thank you so much!

        Reply
      • Shannon

        November 23, 2021 at 5:13 pm

        Are you saying it doesn’t need it in the cocktail or on the rim? Thinking of making this for thanksgiving

        Reply
        • Sandi Gaertner

          November 24, 2021 at 9:55 am

          Hi Shannon. I was referring to the cinnamon sugar around the rim, it is optional. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

    2. Patty

      November 01, 2021 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      Very very good drink. Looks beautiful, it is refreshing and perfect for this time of the year!!!

      Reply
    3. Debra C.

      October 16, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      I so desperately want to head up to Apple Hill east of Sacramento for apples and cider and all things fall. Now with this drink it's a MUST 😀 Fall is such a wonderful time of the year and I'm looking forward to celebrating with this delicious drink - cheers!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        October 17, 2017 at 10:07 am

        I didn't know there was an Apple Hill where you could pick apples. It sounds beautiful!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    A picture of my face standing in front of landscape bushes

    Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. I have created hundreds of delicious family-friendly gluten free recipes with easy step-by-step directions. Many recipes are also dairy-free. A gluten free lifestyle has never been easier!

    More about me →

    Easy Dinner Recipes:

    • Easy Gluten Free Stuffed Peppers
    • Gluten Free Skillet Lasagna
    • Gluten Free Quiche with Sausage and Tomato
    • Italian Gluten Free Meatloaf Recipe
    • How to Make Gluten Free Ramen Soup
    • Quick & Easy Ground Pork Fried Rice

    More Dinner Recipes!

    Trending Gluten Free Recipes:

    • 8 Tasty Ways To Enjoy Shishito Peppers {Easy Recipes}
    • The Best Gluten Free Blueberry Scones
    • Proposition Chicken's Gluten Free Fried Chicken Recipe
    • Sweet Gluten Free Apple Fritters
    • The Best Flaky Gluten Free Biscuits
    • The Best Gluten Free Bread Machine Bread {Dairy Free Too!}

    Click for more Trending Recipes.

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Web Stories

    Copyright © 2014-2022 Fearless Dining