Autumn Spiced Apple Brandy Cocktail

Leaves are blowing in the wind. Pumpkins are piled high at the market. Football season is in full effect. Yet, this warm Bay Area weather has me stuck in a summer state of mind. I needed something to set my seasons straight. Inspired by Scott Beattie’s delicious apple chip recipe, I knew I had to come up with a festive cocktail to match. A little apple brandy got the creativity juices flowing, and the demerara spiced cordial sealed the deal. Finally, autumn has officially arrived . . .

Autumn Spiced Apple Brandy Cocktail

An apple brandy based cocktail with a spiced cordial and garnished with homemade cinnamon apple chips

Servings: 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

For the cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz apple brandy
• 1/4 oz Averna
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz unfiltered apple juice
• 1/2 oz demerara spiced cordial
• 2 dashes old fashioned bitters
• apple chip (for garnish)

For the demerara spiced cordial

• 1/2 cup demerara sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 oz Demerara rum
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 allspice berries
• 1 cinnamon stick (broken into pieces)
• 1 star anise pod
• 6 white peppercorns
• 1/2 nutmeg (cracked)

For the apple chips

• 1 gala apple
• cinnamon
• sugar
• simple syrup
• sprig mint

INSTRUCTIONS

To make the apple chips (allow 5 hours in advance to prepare)

1. Preheat oven to 150 °F. Wash and slice the apple into 1/4 inch slices, removing any seeds. Dip the apple slices into simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) and place onto a silicone baking mat.
2. Sprinkle the apple slices with cinnamon and sugar.
3. Garnish some of the slices with mint (also dip in simple syrup).
4. Place the tray into the oven and bake for 5 hours, or until golden brown. Set the apples chips on a wire rack to cool and get crisp.

To make the demerara spiced cordial

1. Add the spices to a small saucepan over medium heat. Shake the spices back and forth so that they do not burn.
2. As soon as the spices become toasty and aromatic add the water and sugar. Stir continuously to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a simmer and turn the heat to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes, remove from heat, and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Add demerara rum and let cool.

To make the cocktail

1. Add the apple brandy, Averna, lemon juice, apple juice, cordial, and bitters to your shaker.
2. Fill your shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
3. Strain and serve up in a chilled coupe glass.
4. Float a freshly made apple chip on top for garnish.

(images by HonestlyYUM)