Spiced Rum Cider
Los Angeles is a weird place. We’ll have days and days… and days of sunshine and hot weather and then suddenly, without warning the temperature drops and the skies open up. For the past week it’s been in the mid-50’s and raining here. Now, I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal in some parts of the country, but here in Southern California, that’s pretty, damn cold.
When the temperature drops like that, all I think about is how I can warm up. I pull out my sweaters and my corduroys, my Uggs and my heavy jackets. But that’s not the only way I warm up. I also head to my kitchen and start making things like soups or stews or piping hot cocktails.
In the past when I’ve craved a hot cocktail, I’ve made a Toddy or Hot Buttered Rum. But this time of year, with all the apples available, there’s nothing I like better than a big mug of hot spiced apple cider. While I usually make my own, the other day I was in Trader Joe’s just walking up and down the aisles when I spotted their version. For a bottled cider, it’s pretty, damn good! So, I grabbed one and my mind immediately went into overdrive. I mean, there are just so many things you can do with cider. You can drink it cold or hot. You can drink it straight or spiked. You can use it for sauces or baking. But I prefer to drink it, and I usually take it with a little extra something. So, I started to think… what would make a really good hot, festive cocktail?
I knew I needed rum or bourbon and a little more spice would be nice. And then I remembered… I had a bottle (or two) of Be-Mixed’s Ginger Lime mixer. That was perfect because the ginger would bring out the spice in the cider, while the lime would be a nice compliment to the apples and rum. It was the perfect combination without the extra work. But the best thing about this cocktail is there’s not one drop of simple syrup. That’s right, no sweetener. That’s okay, though because between the apple cider and the Be-Mixed, trust me, you don’t need it.
Served up warm or cold, this cocktail is perfect for this time of year and will carry you all the way into spring. While you could enjoy it over ice, I’m gonna keep it hot. Like I said, when it’s this cold outside, there’s just nothing better than a big mug of hot spiced cider, especially if it’s spiked.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces a good aged rum (I used Angostura 7 year)
- 3/4 ounce Be-Mixed Ginger Lime
- 5 ounces spiced cider
Instructions
- Pour the cider into a mug and warm it up in the microwave until piping hot, set aside.
- Pour the rum and Be-Mixed into a mixing glass and stir to combine.
- Stir the rum mixture into the mug of cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a slice of apple and serve.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Be Mixed provided me with the mixers for recipe testing. As always, any opinion expressed is my own and is not influenced in any way by the manufacturer/PR firm as I only review products that I have personally tested and endorse.
