photo by Elana Amsterdam via flickr.com

Thanksgiving Day is just over a week away and this year, we’re gearing up for the Turkey-pocalypse with a four-part drink guide. Today, we’re covering the ubiquitous apple, especially in its sweet/hard cider varieties. For this most American of holidays, nothing beats cider as the drink of choice. During the early colonial era, cider and fruit based-fermentables ruled the table, outpacing even beer in popularity due to its ease of production and lack of impact on the sometimes paltry grain production.

Autumn Rocks

recipe and photo courtesy of Sobieski Vodka

• 1 oz. CAMUS VS Cognac
• ¼ oz. Lucid Absinthe
• 2 oz. hard cider
• 1 oz. lemonade

Lemon zest for garnish

In a shaker add all ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with ice and garnish with lemon zest and serve.

Autumn Sangria

recipe and photo courtesy of HobNob Wines

• 1 cup vanilla vodka
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 apples
• 2 pears
• 1 orange
• 2 bottles HobNob Chardonnay

Combine vodka, sugar, apple cider and pumpkin pie spice in a large pitcher and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Chop fruit (apples, pears, orange), add to mix and marinate overnight. Add chilled Chardonnay. Serve over ice.

Fall Harvest

recipe and photo courtesy of Sobieski Vodka

• 1 oz. Sobieski Cynamon Vodka
• 2 oz. hard cider
• ¼ oz. vanilla simple syrup
• ¼ oz. lemon juice

Cinnamon stick for garnish

In a shaker add all ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into a glass, garnish with a cinnamon stick and serve.

November Sunrise

recipe and photo courtesy of Blue Nectar® Tequila

• 1 oz. Blue Nectar® Reposado Tequila
• 3 oz. hard cider
• ¼ oz. crème de peach
• ¼ oz. marmalade syrup

Chopped peaches and mint for garnish

In a cocktail shaker add all liquid ingredients and ice. Shake and strain into a mason jar. Garnish with chopped peaches and mint and serve

Spiked Apple

recipe and photo courtesy of Ketel One® Vodka

• 1 oz. Ketel One® Vodka
• ½ oz. Stirrings® Apple Liqueur
• 1 oz. apple cider
• ½ oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake over ice. Pour contents into a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

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