Updated 13th December 2021 There are so many good apple ciders available to buy this time of year and if you’re looking for a delicious winter cocktail, it pairs so well with cognac, brandy and whiskey. Cognac is a brandy from the same named region of France. When I’m serving cognac, I love to add a slice of fresh orange and topped with ginger ale. I’m making this seasonal variation on that drink by replacing the ginger ale with fresh apple cider. It is only in the recent years that I developed my love of bourbon and Cognac. I do prefer these over whiskey and this shocks me because of my Scottish heritage (sorry grandad) whiskey has more of a bite and a burn. Actually, I take that back. I do enjoy The Balvenie which is a good aged Scottish whiskey. I also have a recipe for Hot Apple Cider which is great for the kids because it has no alcohol. You can serve this hot or cold. Picture below. Below, you can see my decanter of Louis VIII Cognac that only comes out at Christmas time (and is my most expensive prop). As you can see, it is getting close to needing to be filled, yikes. Obviously you don’t have to use this brand of Cognac, Hennessy or Hine are my everyday favorite brands. I like to make this drink in a pitcher and this recipe serves 4 people. You can also make in a martini shaker. This easy spiked apple cider is like a blend of a Cognac High Ball and a Sidecar. It makes you want to grab a blanket and sit by a blazing fire. If you’re not a fan of cognac, it can be made with brandy or whiskey.
