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A glass of golden Apple Cider Whiskey Cocktail garnished with diced red apples, a sprig of rosemary, and an apple slice. Whole and sliced apples rest on a light wooden surface beside the glass.
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Apple Cider Thanksgiving Cocktail to Batch Before Guests Arrive

Apple whiskey and cold apple cider over crushed ice, with diced apple in the glass and a sprig of rosemary on top. This apple cider Thanksgiving cocktail also scales to a pitcher for eight that chills for up to four hours, so the drinks are ready before anyone arrives.
Prep Time10 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Apple Cider, Cocktails, Fall, Make ahead, Pitcher Cocktail, Thanksgiving, Whiskey
Servings: 1
Calories: 230kcal
Author: Chop and Cheers

Ingredients

  • ½ Honeycrisp apple about 100 g, or any crisp, sweet-tart apple
  • 2 oz apple whiskey 60 ml, such as Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple
  • ⅓ cup apple cider 80 ml, fresh, lightly tart and non-alcoholic
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig
  • Crushed ice
  • Lemon a squeeze for the soaking water
  • ¼ oz lemon juice 7 ml or 2 dashes aromatic bitters, optional

Instructions

  • Dice the apple into small cubes and cut one thin slice for garnish. Hold them in cold water with a squeeze of lemon.
  • Clap the rosemary sprig between your palms to release its oils.
  • Fill a glass with crushed ice and scatter in the drained diced apple.
  • Add the apple whiskey and cider and stir gently. Taste, and stir in the lemon juice or bitters if the cider is sweet.
  • Tuck the apple slice against the inside of the glass and add the rosemary sprig.

Notes

Pitcher for 8:

stir 2 cups (475 ml) apple whiskey, 2⅔ cups (630 ml) apple cider, 8 dashes aromatic bitters and 4 clapped rosemary sprigs in a 2-quart pitcher and chill for up to 4 hours. Stir, then pour about 4⅔ oz (140 ml) per glass over crushed ice and diced apple, using 4 apples in total. Diced apple keeps in lemon water in the fridge for up to a few hours. Drain well before serving. Use non-alcoholic apple cider, not hard cider.