Apple flavors make a great foundation for building drinks. They play well in a shaker with a wide variety of herbs and spices, citrus flavors, and other craft spirits, so it’s no wonder beverage directors and mixologists are embracing the region’s terroir- driven ciders and apple spirits to create new recipes and reinvent the classics. We tapped a few local outposts and Manhattan’s best bars for these tasty pomme-focused cocktails to try at home.
Newburgh Cidertini
6 MINT LEAVES
1 oz HOUSE INFUSED CITRUS VODKA 1 oz LEMON JUICE
.5 oz APPLE INFUSED VERMOUTH
.5 oz YELLOW CHARTREUSE
GRAFT HOP TROPIC CIDER
Pell Estate
1.5 oz NEVERSINK SPIRITS APPLE BRANDY
1 oz UNCOUTH VERMOUTH APPLE MINT
1 oz ORCHARD HILL TEN66 POMMEAU
Stir ingredients together and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with orange twist.
Courtesy Dan Pucci / Beverage Director / Wassail / New York, NY
Come Hill or High Water
1 oz ORCHARD HILL TEN66 POMMEAU
.75 oz BLACK DIRT APPLE JACK
.5 oz LUSTAU “ESCUADRILLA” AMONTILLADO SHERRY
.25 oz HONEY SYRUP
.25 oz VICARIO NOCINO WALNUT LIQUEUR
Stir ingredients together and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.
Courtesy Stephanie Schneider / Owner, Mixologist / Huckleberry Bar / Brooklyn, NY
All Souls Reviver #1
.25oz BLUME MARILLEN
APRICOT BRANDY
Stir until balanced, then strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with dried violet flowers.