I haven't been blogging much lately, as work has been keeping this Lush rather busy, but I still find time to shake up a cocktail on a Monday or Tuesday night. A great libation always helps me write a little better too! Doesn't it help all great writers?

Anyway, when fall rolls around, that means I'm putting Applejack, a bonded apple brandy, in nearly all my drinks. And I'm drinking apple cider morning, noon and night, so why not add that in a cocktail? This little creation includes three iterations of apple with Applejack, spiced apple cider (Trader Joe's version is a fave) and an apple slice garnish. The Grand Marnier balances out all that apple with some orange flavor and adds an extra boozy kick. I lined the glass with some Vermont maple sugar that my parents gave me to create a festive look and add a little more sweetness. Sooooo perfect on cocktails. Thanks mom and dad! If you can't get your hands on maple sugar, then a cinnamon sugar combo would work equally well. Batch this up and serve as a punch during Halloween, or serve individually for a lovely pre-Thanksgiving dinner cocktail. You might even make Matt Damon jealous...

How You Like Them Apples?
Ingredients:

• 1/4 oz lemon juice
• 3 oz spiced apple cider (I used Trader Joe's)
• 1 1/2 oz Applejack
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
• Maple or cinnamon sugar for garnish
• Apple slice for garnish

- Chill a martini glass and run an apple slice around the rim, so you can garnish it with the maple sugar.
- In a shaker, combine the lemon juice, apple cider, Applejack and Grand Marnier with ice.
- Shake and strain into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with an apple slice.