Three Apple Cocktails for fall

Written By Emily Vikre

Every year - EVERY YEAR - September rolls around and I think to myself, “wow, September really takes itself seriously in Duluth.” It could have been beach weather one day ago, but September hits, and you immediately feel a bitterness to the edge of the wind. You may even spot a snowflake, as if it were made to order to signal that winter is around the corner. (I mean this literally. I was on the beach swimming two days ago, and this morning I’m pretty darn sure I saw a snowflake.)

Crispness in the air translates into an immediate desire for crispness in our fruit. That’s right, it’s apple season. Let’s embrace the spirit AND the fruit of the season with a few of our favorite apple cocktails!

Cedar And Cider

The name of this cocktail is also it’s recipe. It’s a favorite that we return to again and again. Between the berry and spice complexity of our Cedar Gin and the sweet-tart juiciness of fresh apple cider, this cocktail is so easy, but tastes like far more than the sum of its parts.

  • 2 oz. Vikre Cedar Gin

  • 4-5 oz. fresh apple cider, hot or cold!

Stir the ingredients together. If hot, serve in a mug, if cold serve in a glass with ice.

Pink LAdy

The pink lady is a Prohibition-era classic that looks pink and pretty but is remarkably tart and refreshing. Not to mention the combination of gin and apple brandy packs a punch. The first time I ever had this cocktail was on a visit to Austin, Texas when we were there for a distillery conference! It was so delicious and memorable, it has had a special place in my heart ever since.

  • 1.5 oz. Vikre Spruce Gin

  • 1/2 oz. apple brandy or apple jack

  • 1/2 oz. grenadine

  • 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

  • 1 oz. egg white

  • brandied cherry for a garnish (optional)

First shake all the ingredients (except the cherry) in a shaker without ice to froth. Then, crack open the shaker, add ice and shake more until chilled. Strain into a cocktail coupe and garnish with a cherry.

Apple Old Fashioned

This cocktail takes the format of an old fashioned but works some concentrated flavor into it by using cooked down apple cider as part of the sweetener. I love to also use the spiced apple bitters from our friends at Dashfire in this, but if you just have Angostura bitters, don’t worry, it will still be delicious! I often use a mix of whiskey and aquavit instead of just whiskey in cocktails because I like how it makes it a little less sweet and gives a hint of baking spice. And in this case, our aquavit spices are particularly beautiful with the flavor of apple.

  • 1 oz. Vikre Øvrevann Aquavit

  • 1 oz. Vikre Hay & Sunshine Whiskey

  • 1/4 oz. reduced apple cider*

  • 1 tsp. maple syrup

  • 2 dashes spiced apple bitters (optional)

  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir all the ingredients with ice and strain into a low glass with a large ice cube (or 1-2 small ice cubes).

*To make the apple cider reduction, cook 1 cup of fresh apple cider at a simmer until it has been reduced to 1/4 cup. Allow to cool before using.

Three Apple Cocktails for fall
Emily Vikre
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