Savour the season with an apple harvest cocktail

The Citizen

25-04-2025

Inspired by traditional orchard drinks and old-world European liqueurs, this apple harvest cocktail is simple to make but full of character. Served in a small stemmed glass, it's the kind of drink you might pour after a walk through fallen leaves, or as a slow sip while dinner cooks in the background .The base is apple brandy or Calvados, a spirit that's rich with fruit and oak, paired with a splash of dry cider and a touch of spiced syrup. It's strong enough to stand alone, but smooth enough to sip slowly.
Ingredients
40ml Calvados or apple brandy
20ml dry cider (still or lightly sparkling)
10ml spiced syrup (see below)
Optional: dash of Angostura or orange bitters
For the Spiced Syrup:
100ml water
100g brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 small piece of star anise
Strip of orange peel
Method
To make the syrup, simmer all syrup ingredients together for 10 minutes. Cool and strain. In a mixing glass, combine the Calvados, spiced syrup and bitters (if using). Stir gently with ice until chilled. Add the cider and give it a final gentle stir. Strain into a small stemmed glass. Serve as is, or garnish with a dried apple slice or twist of orange peel.
Variants
Swap the dry cider for a small pour of mulled cider if you're looking for something even more comforting.
For a richer, more rounded flavour, try replacing half the Calvados with a dark or spiced rum. For a lighter version use a crisp, sparkling apple juice instead of cider.