Apple Cider Old Fashioned

Apple Cider Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail with a delicious fall twist! A simple fall cocktail for the whiskey lover.

It’s been way too long since I made a new cocktail for you guys, so obviously it’s time for a new one. Nothing says fall like apple cider and what better way to use it in a cocktail than one of these Apple Cider Old Fashioned.

My husband and I have discovered that Colorado has A LOT of great distilleries. We’ve been to several here in Denver and discovered a great one up in Vail as well. Going on the tours is interesting because you learn how it’s made. Of course the best part is the tasting afterwards.

My husband is a huge fan of whiskey and bourbon so those are the majority of the tours and tastings we’ve done. He prefers to just sip it as is, which is a bit much for me. However, his second favorite way to have it and what he always orders when we go out is either an old fashioned or a Manhattan. Now those I can get behind.

If you’ve never made a classic old fashioned, it’s really easy and doesn’t use a million ingredients like some cocktails do. All you need is whiskey or bourbon, simple syrup or a sugar cube, bitters and an orange peel. Since the ingredients are so few I think it’s important to use a good quality whiskey. In other words don’t buy the cheap stuff on the bottom shelf for $10 that’s going to leave you with a giant headache.

There are only a few differences between the ingredients in this Apple Cider Old Fashioned and the classic version. The first and most obvious one is the addition of apple cider. The next was to substitute simple syrup with maple syrup. Real maple syrup friends, always the real stuff. I don’t know what’s in that pancake syrup we all ate when we were kids, but don’t use it in this drink…or any of my recipes that call for maple syrup.

The final differences, which are optional, are the garnishes. There’s still an orange slice (or orange peel if you prefer), but I also added an apple slice and a cinnamon stick. The cinnamon stick is perfect for stirring and infuses even more of that warm fall flavor. Cheers!

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