The Perfect Fall Cocktail - Spiced Whiskey Cider

When fall arrives, I start thinking red wine instead of white wine, and whiskey instead of vodka and gin. Instead of bright and light drinks, I start seeking out richer, more full-bodied wines and cocktails that are warming and smell & taste of the season. And one of my favorite fall cocktail creations? My spiced whiskey cider!

I always look forward to the change in seasons. In Florida, the seasonal changes are less pronounced but still very noticeable, especially the transition from summer to fall. The rain stops falling, the humidity goes away, and the temperature drops to comfortable levels. Sunsets are stunning as the sky turns shades of orange and pink every evening, we open up our sliders all day to bring the cool air into our house and enjoy the great outdoors both inside and outside, and we start dining al fresco.

We also eat and drink differently as the fall transition occurs. Soups and stews make regular appearances on our weekly dinner menus, and our favorite warm weather dishes (think chili, meatloaf, beef bourguignon, and lasagna) also grace the dinner table. And while we drink white wine year-round, we stock up on our favorite red wines and drink them often as they are a perfect match for warm-weather food. The same goes for spirits and cocktails. We trade in the light and refreshing ones (think mojitos, palomas, and daiquiris) for richer and more complex ones (think negronis, old-fashioned’s, and other brown-liquor based drinks).

Lately I’ve been experimenting with whiskey-based drinks and wanted to create a cocktail that complemented the fall season. To me, that meant a rich, warm spirit (like whiskey, bourbon, rye, or scotch), paired with fall spices and seasonal fruits like apples and oranges. I picked an American whiskey because it has a sweet and slightly smoky character, and the wooden cask aging imparts a nice earthy character to the spirit as well. I also used apple cider, which is ubiquitous in the fall, and one of my favorites to drink either hot or cold.

For the spice, I immediately thought cinnamon which goes so nicely with apples, and oranges as well. I ended up using Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire Whiskey which in infused with a cinnamon spiced flavor. Don’t you DARE use Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, which is simply cheap, sweet, and harsh whiskey that tastes exactly like Atomic Fireball Candies (that’s not a good thing)! I also used Cointreau (an orange-flavored liqueur) to introduce the orange notes into the drink. And finally, I added a few dashes of orange bitters for additional depth of flavor and as a counter-balance to the sweetness of the apple cider.

While I serve this cocktail cold over ice, it would also taste great heated and served in a mug – try it both ways and let me know what you think!

This is my last post of the year as I start my December vacation from blogging! Thanks to all of you who follow my blog - I really appreciate it! And I hope you all have a relaxing, safe, and festive holiday season. I'll be back January 6th to share some of my epic kitchen mishaps over the past 20 years!

Spiced Whiskey Cider (makes 1 cocktail)

2 ½ oz. Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire Whiskey

2 ½ oz. fresh apple cider

1 oz. Cointreau or another orange-flavored liqueur

3 dashes Angostura orange bitters

Orange peel for garnish

Combine the first four ingredients into a shaker. Add ice and shake until frost forms on the shaker, about 20 seconds. Strain and pour into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with the orange peel.