Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

This bourbon apple cider cocktail is the perfect drink for Fall. Served either warm or cold, this boozy apple cider is also a great cocktail for a crowd.

This post was originally published in October 2020 and has been updated for content.

Fall is by far my favorite season. I love all the smells, flavors and activities that come with this time of year. This cocktail is made with simple ingredients, but perfectly spiced to give you all of those warm, fuzzy fall feelings!

This cozy cocktail is a great recipe for trick or treating, a fall gathering or a Halloween party this fall season. This is a great recipe to serve with a caramel apple bar, pepperoni pizza dip and a big pot of 3 bean chili!

🍎 Ingredient notes

• Apple Cider/Juice - I love using real apple cider for this cocktail because it is unfiltered and has a more complex flavor to it. Apple juice, on the other hand, is filtered and has a sweeter, more straight forward flavor. Depending on availability and your preference, either can be used.
• Bourbon - The addition of bourbon whiskey is a great pairing to the apple cider in this easy recipe. It's a bit sweeter than regular whiskey so it's works nicely for this cocktail.

📋 Substitutions and variations

• Non-Alcoholic - To make a non-alcoholic apple cider drink, simply omit the bourbon.
• For a Crowd - This cocktail is a great idea for a get together or party during the fall holiday season. We love making this on Halloween night to have when the neighbors swing by. Make a large batch of this recipe and serve this as a warm cocktail out of a slow cooker. For a cold version of this drink, serve it out of a large beverage pitcher.

🥃 Step by step instructions

First, combine the fresh apple cider with the orange juice, lemon juice and spices in a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.

Once it comes to a boil, lower the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes to combine all of the flavors. Take the mixture off of the heat and stir in the bourbon and honey.

Serve the mixed drink warm in a mug, garnished with a cinnamon stick. They can also be served cold in a cocktail glass over ice, garnished with fresh apple slices or orange slices.

⭐ Expert tips

• The best way to make this cocktail is to make sure to add the honey and bourbon after the mixture is off of the heat. The honey can create a bitter taste when boiled and the alcohol will cook off from the bourbon.
• When serving this drink cold, make sure to cool it completely before serving it over ice. If not, the heat from the drink will melt the ice quickly and water the drinks down.

🥘 Alternative cooking methods

Slow Cooker - Combine the cider, juices and spices in a slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours. Stir in the honey and the bourbon and set to the warm setting for serving.

⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions

Making this cocktail in advance is a great way to save time when hosting a get together. The cider, juices and spices can be mixed up to 24 hours ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat the ingredients up on the stovetop per the instructions and then mix in the bourbon and honey.

If you are serving this drink cold, make and cool the cocktail and store it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours in advance.

For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for this boozy bourbon apple cider cocktail!

🥂 More cocktail recipes

If you loved this easy bourbon apple cider cocktail recipe, check out these other fun cocktail recipes that I know you will love too!

• Rossini Cocktail
• Whiskey Blood Orange Smash
• Cranberry Moscow Mule
• Grapefruit Cocktail with Elderflower

📖 Recipe

Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

Amanda

This bourbon apple cider cocktail is the perfect drink for Fall. Served either warm or cold, this boozy apple cider is also a great cocktail for a crowd.

5 from 45 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Cocktails, Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 274 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 cups apple cider
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup lemon juice approximately 1 ½ - 2 lemons
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 5 cinnamon sticks
• 6 ounces bourbon whiskey
• ¼ cup honey

Instructions

 

• Combine apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, nutmeg and one of the cinnamon sticks in a medium size pot on the stovetop.
• Heat the mixture over medium high heat until it just begins to boil, then lower the heat to medium low and allow the mixture to simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the bourbon and the honey.
• Serve the drink warm in a mug garnished with a cinnamon stick or cool the mixture completely and serve in a glass over ice.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 1 quart of spiked apple cider, or four 8-ounce servings

• Make sure to add the honey and bourbon AFTER the mixture is off the heat; the honey can create a bitter taste when boiled and the alcohol will cook off from the bourbon.
• When serving this drink cold, make sure to cool it completely before serving it over ice. If not, the heat from the drink will melt the ice quickly and water the drinks down.

 

Substitutions and Variations

• Apple Cider/Juice - Apple cider has a more complex flavor to it as it is unfiltered. Apple juice is filtered and has a sweeter, more straight forward flavor. Either can be used in this recipe, depending on availability and preference
• Bourbon - A nice bourbon whiskey pairs perfectly with apple cider. It's a bit sweeter than regular whiskey so it's works nicely for this Fall cocktail.
• Non-Alcoholic - To make a non-alcoholic apple cider drink, simply omit the bourbon from the drink.
• For a Crowd - This cocktail works great for a party or get together. Double or triple the recipe and serve it out of a slow cooker to keep it warm. For a cold version of this drink, serve it out of a large beverage pitcher.

 

Alternative Cooking Methods

• Slow Cooker - Combine the cider, juices and spices in a slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours. Stir in the honey and the bourbon and set to the warm setting for serving.

 

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

• The cider, juices and spices can be mixed up to 24 hours ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat the ingredients up on the stovetop per the instructions and then mix in the bourbon and honey.

• If serving this drink cold, make and cool the cocktail and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours in advance.

 

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1drinkCalories: 274kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 274mgFiber: 1gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 69IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg

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