Honeycrisp Bourbon Sidecar
Woodford Reserve is my whiskey of choice, and highly recommended for this cocktail.
Combine in your favorite rocks glass filled with ice:
2 oz. Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey
2 oz. Honeycrisp apple cider
1 oz. Cointreau orange liqueur
¼ oz. maple syrup
Dash of Angostura bitters
Candied orange, cinnamon stick, and fresh thyme sprig for garnish
If cereal, yogurt, instant coffee, Oreo cookies, and even protein powder can be decked out in the “pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, insert-fall-flavor-here” treatment, then cocktails are a must. It’s a no-brainer, and not just because it also happens to be zombie season.
Traditionally, the Sidecar cocktail combines cognac or bourbon with orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and sweetener. It’s fairly simple and really forgiving when you need to swap in whatever happens to be on hand. And at this time of year, anything apple is always on hand.
My favorite variety of apple cider—Honeycrisp—finally returns widely in the autumn. It’s rich, fresh, and crisp in flavor. And while apple may generally play second to pumpkin in October, it’s clearly the favored choice in a cocktail for many reasons.
This seasonal take on the Sidecar combines that sweet apple flavor with bourbon, orange liqueur, and a touch of maple for sweetness. Don’t forget the garnishing final touches, making this thing as easy to photograph as it is to sip. Cheers!