Apple Blossom Cocktail
My favorite time of year is the spring and summer because that’s when all the great fruits are in season. You’ve got peaches, plums, cherries and strawberries. But just because those stone fruits aren’t available doesn’t mean I’m out of fruit options. As a matter of fact now is prime apple season.
While apples are usually abundant in the fall, there are plenty of varieties still available. Some of my favorites are Fujis, Granny Smiths and Pink Ladies. While the Granny Smiths and Pink Ladies are a little more tart and ideal for baking, the Fujis are very sweet and perfect for a snack. But all varieties make great ciders and all go wonderfully with one of my favorite winter liquors: Applejack.
I’ve been an Applejack fan for years and while I’ve always used the classic Laird’s, I recently received a bottle of Barking Irons Applejack. Created in 2015 by Elliott Phear and Casey McGrath, these men wanted a liquor that would showcase the culture of New York City’s infamous Five Points and Bowery. They were able to achieve just that by using ciders made of local Jonagold, Macoun, and Gala apples. Then they distill the cider down to an apple Eau de Vie that’s aged in charred oak barrels, which produces a delicious, potent apple liquor, that’s similar to Laird’s but has a flavor all its own. Unlike Laird’s, Barking Irons has more cinnamon flavors, definitely has more punch and is like eating fermented apples right out of the barrel. While I probably wouldn’t drink the liquor straight, it definitely makes for one hell of a cocktail.
The 1930’s Apple Blossom seemed like the perfect drink for this awesome Applejack. Because the Barking Irons has such potent apple flavors, it melds wonderfully with the apple cider. Add a little raspberry syrup and some orange bitters and you end up with a fruity cocktail that’s not too sweet but is full of flavor. While I usually drink Applejack in the fall, the Apple Blossom is a great drink in the late winter and early spring; which is fitting since now is prime apple blossom season. Those pretty little pink and white flowers are blooming in apple orchards everywhere. So, don’t do what I used to do and limit yourself to autumn for a sip or two of Applejack. Turns out, just like the fruit from which its made, Applejack, especially Barking Irons, is good all year long.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces applejack
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 1/4 teaspoon orange bitters
- 1/4 teaspoon raspberry syrup
Instructions
- Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a slice of apple and serve.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Barking Irons provided me with the Applejack 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.
