Simple & Elegant Soul Food Recipes

Smoked Cinnamon Apple Cider Bourbon Smash Cocktail

This is a cozy cocktail that would be the perfect drink to enjoy next to a crackling fire. Snuggle up on the couch and enjoy each sip of crisp apple cider and bold smokey bourbon.

It’s that time of the year! The temperature is dropping outside, fire places are in full use, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the need for a good cocktail is at an all-time high.

Whether you’re looking to host Thanksgiving or just cozy up next to the fire before the family comes rolling in for the holidays, this bourbon apple cider cocktail is the perfect drink to have in hand.

Ingredients:

For the agave simple syrup

Agave syrup – 60 ml / 32 gr / 2 oz / ¼ cup;
Water – 60 ml / 2 oz / ¼ cup;
2 Cinnamon Sticks.

For the cocktail

Apple Cider – 118 ml / 1 oz / ½ cup;
Bourbon – 60 ml / 2 oz / ¼ cup;
Orange Liquor – 10 ml / 2 teaspoons;
Thyme – optional;
Cinnamon sticks – optional;
Apple slices – optional.

Instructions:

For the simple syrup, bring the agave, water, and cinnamon sticks to a simmer in a sauce pan. Once simmering, turn the gas off and allow the mixture to cool down.

To make this cocktail smoky, grab a fresh cinnamon stick, an old plate (be sure it’s one you don’t care too much about / metal would be great!), a lighter, and your cocktail glass. Carefully run the lighter under the tip of the cinnamon stick until it begins to smoke (you might need to be persistent…). Place the cinnamon stick on the plate and cover with your cocktail glass. You should begin to see smoke in the glass. Keep the glass like this until you’re ready to pour in your cocktail.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the apple cider, bourbon, orange liquor, and 1 tbsp. of the agave syrup. Shake well. Or it might be better to just stir it using a cocktail teaspoon… If your cider is carbonated you might experience pressure within the cocktail shaker and it might “blow up” on you.

Pour into cocktail glasses and top with fresh thyme, cinnamon sticks, and/or apple slices.

For an extra smoky flavor, run a lighter under the thyme or cinnamon stick until it begins to smoke.

Ideas:

- Agave syrup short cut: If you don’t want to make a whole batch of agave simple syrup, just add 3 teaspoons of agave and 1 tbsp. water to the cocktail shaker when you are adding all the other ingredients. The caramel flavor will still come through.
- Storing agave simple syrup: Keep leftover agave simple syrup in a jar in the fridge. Easily use it in cocktails over the next few weeks!