These Spiked Cider Cocktails Will Warm You Up and Get You Tipsy at the Same Time
These boozy apple cider cocktails are perfect for holiday parties!
When it's freezing outside and the thought of braving the elements for a drink just doesn't seem that enticing, there's nothing better than sipping an apple cider cocktail (or two) on the couch. Fall weekends may be reserved for picking and eating apples, but winter ones call for drinking them—cozied up in sweats at home.
These easy apple cider cocktails can be made with just about any spirit (from tequila, to rye, to rum) and most recipes can even be doubled or tripled, depending on the size of your crew. There's everything from Spiked Apple Cider and Apple Cider Sangria, to a Spiced Apple Cider Mule. Try them out, pin your faves and cheers to apple-flavored boozy bevs being back and better than ever.
Related: 84 Sweet and Savory Apple Recipes to Indulge In This Fall
Best Apple Cider Cocktail Recipes
Party Favors
The Bar at Hotel Zachary
“Perfect for a Windy City winter—or any kind of winter, really—this cocktail has bright apple notes in addition to a well-balanced bourbon punch," says Josué Mancero, mixologist at The Bar at Hotel Zachary in Chicago, IL.
Ingredients:
2 oz Saint Liberty Bourbon (or bourbon of your choice)
1 oz spiced apple cider honey
? lemon
Barspoon of allspice dram
Soda water
Orange peel, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Directions:
Shake ingredients over ice and pour into a highball glass.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange peel.
818’s Tequila Honeycrisp
818 Tequila
Leave it to Kendall Jenner to create our new favorite cocktail featuring her 818 Tequila, spiced apple cider and a very Instagram-worthy backdrop. We're going to channel her every time we make a batch this season.
Ingredients:
1 ? oz 818 Reposado Tequila
? oz lemon juice
2 ? oz spiced apple cider
? oz honey
Directions:
Shake over ice and pour into a rocks glass with one ice cube.
Garnish with cinnamon sticks or apple slices.
Related: 32 Girly Cocktails Perfect for Girls' Night In
Spiked Apple Cider
Ed's Lobster Bar
Who wouldn't want to curl up with a warm mug of this Spiked Apple Cider recipe, courtesy of Ed's Lobster Bar in New York City? The best part is the large-batch recipe makes a ton so you'll have plenty left over for guests or you know, yourself.
Ingredients:
1 gallon apple cider
? cup lemon juice
10 pieces star anise
20 cloves
Honey
Maple syrup
12 cinnamon sticks
5 dried all spice berries (crushed)
Pinch cayenne
Directions:
Combine all spices in a pot and toast in the dry pot over medium heat for a few minutes.
Add the cider and the lemon and stir.
Keep the mixture at just below simmer for a half hour to 45 minutes.
Strain out spice pieces.
Pour 1.5 oz of rum and a 1/4 oz of Pernod or Ricard into a mug, then top with the hot cider.
Serve with a cinnamon stick.
The Botanical Cider Cocktail
W?lffer Estate
W?lffer Estate may be synonymous with Summer in a Bottle Rosé, but now they have another beverage to add to their portfolio: cider. No. 139 Botanical Cider was crafted from locally-grown apples handpicked in New York State and infused with herbal extracts blended by Mab & Stoke, a modern herbal wellness company.
Ingredients:
? oz simple syrup
? oz lemon juice
2 slices of cucumber
1 basil leaf
4 mint leaves
8 pomegranate seeds
1 slice of starfruit
Directions:
Muddle cucumber, mint, and basil in a shaker.
Add simple syrup, lemon juice, and Pink Gin into the shaker.
Add 1 large scoop of ice.
Shake and double strain into a stemmed wine glass.
Fill with ice to the brim.
Top with botanical cider.
Stir with a bar spoon.
Top with starfruit and pomegranate as a garnish.
Related: 50+ Best Rosé Wines of 2022
Apple Cider Sangria
iStock
Sangria definitely doesn’t need to be a summer-only beverage. Infuse the wine-laced Spanish drink with one of our favorite fall and winter flavors: apples.
Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
? cup Calvados or Applejack
Mixed apples (cored, diced and tossed with lemon juice to prevent browning)
1 bottle sparkling wine
Directions:
Combine apple cider, Calvados, and chopped apples in a pitcher and chill for at least 1 hour.
Pour into glasses and finish with sparkling wine, making sure each serving has chopped apples.
Spiced Apple Cider Mule
CAZADORES
Meet the Tequila Mule. Apple cider powder and nutmeg take this Moscow Mule variation to the next (cozy) level.
Ingredients:
1 ? oz Tequila Cazadores Reposado
1 tsp spiced apple cider powder
1 lemon wedge
Ginger beer, to top
Nutmeg, for garnish
Mint sprig, for garnish
Directions:
In a mixing glass, combine the first three ingredients with ice, shake and serve over the rocks.
Top with ginger beer and sprinkle nutmeg.
Garnish with lemon and mint.
Related: 15 Fun Tequila Cocktails For An Unforgettable Cinco de Mayo
Sagamore Cider
Sagamore Spirit
The perfect mix of sweet and spicy—and ideal for Sunday Funday'ing next to a fire. Another bonus? This recipe is batch-able if you’re mixing for a crowd.
Ingredients:
8 oz apple cider
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Few dashes cinnamon
2-4 cinnamon sticks, or garnish
Apple slices, for garnish
Directions:
Add apple cider, lime juice, simple syrup and cinnamon stick to a small pot.
Bring to a gentle boil for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, add whiskey and stir to mix.
Strain into your favorite mugs.
Garnish with apple slices, cinnamon sticks and a dash of cinnamon.
Captain Morgan's Hot Cider
Captain Morgan
We never met a cocktail with cinnamon spice and spiced rum that we didn't like. The Captain's Hot Cider included.
Ingredients:
3 oz apple cider
? oz cinnamon syrup
Apple slice, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Directions:
Build in glass and heat ingredients.
Stir to combine.
Add garnish and serve in a clear mug.
Apple of My Eye
Aberfeldy
A fruity, clean and polished malt with a touch of honey and spice, this whiskey-based cocktail pairs well with orange bitters and apple cider—and weekends outdoors.
Ingredients:
? oz simple syrup
? oz Ancho Reyes
? oz lemon juice
2 dashes Regans Orange Bitters
Apple cider
Directions:
Top with apple cider and serve in a collins glass.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Cidralini
Clinton Hall
Go beyond basic apple cider with a refreshing Cidralini from Clinton Hall. The locally-loved brewpub combines dry sparkling apple cider, white peach puree, peach and orange blossom water and lemon juice for the perfect bubbly brunch cocktail.
Ingredients:
4 oz dry sparkling apple cider
1 oz white peach puree
? oz peach blossom nectar
1 splash of orange blossom water
1 bar spoon of fresh lemon juice
Directions:
Stir ingredients (except for the cider) in a mixing glass.
Pour into a coupe glass.
Add dry sparkling apple cider.
Fall Feels
Montaukila
Born in Montauk, and produced in Mexico, Montaukila is a 100% blue agave tequila that's so good in this 'Fall Feels' libation with apple cider, star anise and a cinnamon sugar rim.
Ingredients:
4 oz Montaukila Anejo
2 oz Grand Marnier
8 oz apple cider
? tsp sugar (for rim)
? tsp cinnamon (for rim)
Apple slices (for garnish)
Star anise (for garnish)
Directions:
Mix together sugar and cinnamon and coat the rim of the glass.
Combine ingredients in a glass of your choosing and stir together; ice is optional.
Garnish with apple slices and star anise.
Up next, 15 of the best no-bake apple desserts.