Name: Easy Apple Cider Cocktail
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 4 whole vanilla beans (or 4 cinnamon sticks); 3 cups rye whiskey or bourbon; 5 cups apple cider; 1 cinnamon stick; 3 whole cloves; 2 star anise pods; 10 ounces infused whiskey; cinnamon sticks for garnish

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Looking for the perfect cozy cocktail to celebrate changing leaves and chilly nights? Make a batch of this hot apple cider cocktail with cinnamon, cloves, and infused bourbon for a taste of fall in every sip!

whiskey apple cider cocktail in a glass with a cinnamon stick laid on top surrounded by red and orange leaves

Table of Contents

This apple cider cocktail recipe is everything I love about this time of year. It’s warm and cozy, full of warming spices, and makes me think of fall leaves and chilly evenings.

We love to sip on this warm cider all fall long whether it be on camping trips, during an evening around the fire pit in our backyard, on crisp fall days, or as a nightcap to our family’s Thanksgiving feast. And it’s definitely a must after a day of leaf peeping in North Carolina or a trip to one of our Charlotte, NC pumpkin patches!

This perfect fall cocktail is as simple as simmering some cider with warming spices, and then adding a little extra kick infused bourbon. I’ll teach you how to infuse your own alcohol or you can buy some at the store.

overhead shot of two glasses filled with whiskey and apple cider topped with two cinnamon sticks and surrounded by orange and red fall leaves

How to infuse your own alcohol

I love making this easy apple cider cocktail with flavored bourbon or rye whiskey. It adds an extra layer of flavor to the drink.

You can find all kinds of flavored whiskeys at your local liquor store, but you can also infuse it yourself. My favorite version of this cocktail is with vanilla-infused bourbon, but cinnamon-infused whiskey is incredible, too.

What I love about infusing your own whiskey at home is that you can control the amount of flavor and spice that you add to the spirit.

And it’s not hard at all! All you’ll need is your favorite liquor, an airtight jar or two, and the right amount of flavor and spice. In this case, I like to use 4 whole vanilla beans or 4 cinnamon sticks for 3 cups of bourbon or rye whiskey.

Add the alcohol and the split vanilla beans or cinnamon sticks to the jar, seal it up, and let it infuse for a couple of weeks, or until you think it tastes good. Shake it occasionally while it infuses.

When it’s done, strain and use! That’s it!

For even more details, friend Susannah has an incredibly detailed step-by-step guide for making homemade cinnamon whiskey.

What alcohol can be mixed with apple cider?

When it comes to spiking apple cider, we tend to opt for dark spirits like rye whiskey, bourbon and dark rum, rather than clear liquors like vodka, gin or light rum.

Whisky and apple cider is a classic flavor combination, and whiskey is often the most recommended spirit when it comes to making an alcoholic apple cider cocktail.

Both rye whiskey and bourbon pair well with fall and winter warming spices that are often found in hot apple cider recipes like cinnamon and cloves. It’s why both spirits work in my pumpkin old fashioned, too!

Dark rum is another dark liquor that is also a popular choice for spiking apple cider and could certainly be used in this recipe in lieu of whiskey or bourbon. Make sure you are using dark rum (not light rum) because the flavors will complement those of the spices in the cider.

And a good, but more unexpected, spirit pairing for apple cider is vodka. Because vodka doesn’t add a ton of flavor when adding it to a cider cocktail, consider increasing the spices in the cider, adding some ginger for an extra kick, or adding a splash of cinnamon simple syrup.

glass of spiked apple cider orange liquid topped with a cinnamon stick on a marble background with red and orange leaves

What you’ll need to make this apple cider cocktail

To make my apple cider cocktail, you will need:

Fresh apple cider: Pick up some fresh cider at the grocery store or at your local apple orchard (our local favorite is Windy Hill Orchard and Cidery). Make sure to grab apple cider and not apple juice!
Whole spices: We are going to simmer the cider with whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise pods. Feel free to add some pieces of whole dried ginger or cardamom pods as well if you like! I also like to garnish the cocktails with whole cinnamon sticks.
Infused whiskey: I like vanilla or cinnamon whiskey in my apple cider cocktails. Feel free to use dark rum if you prefer!

If you choose to infuse your own whiskey, you will need bourbon or rye whiskey and whole vanilla beans or cinnamon sticks.

One nice thing about this cocktail recipe is that it doesn’t require any fancy tools. You’ll need:

A pot for simmering the cider
A Thermos or pitcher, for serving
Mugs or heat-proof cocktail glasses
1-2 large jars for infusing the whiskey (optional)

Check out the recipe card below for exact instructions and ingredient measurements.

two glasses of spiked apple cider cocktail garnished with cinnamon sticks on top on a marble background surrounded by orange and red leaves

How to make a whiskey apple cider cocktail

You know I love easy recipes and this one is as easy as they come.

Batched cocktails like this one are also great for parties since you can prep them ahead of time and everyone can serve themselves throughout the evening.

To prepare the cider, add the cider, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise to a saucepot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Take the cider off the heat and strain. If you’re serving it right away, you can transfer it to a heat-proof pitcher. If you want to keep it hot to serve later, pour it into a Thermos or keep it warm in a slow cooker.

For each cocktail, add about 1 cup of the spiced cider to a mug or heat-proof glass along with 1 ounce of infused whiskey. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!

Recipe variations

While I think the sweetness of the cider is enough to make this drink perfectly sweet, you have a few options if you’d like to make it a little sweeter:

Add orange peel or orange slices to the pot while simmering the cider,
Add a splash of pure maple syrup to the pot while simmering the cider, or
Add a splash of simple syrup to each cocktail along with the whiskey.

As I mentioned above, you can also add your own favorite spices to the cider. Cardamom, ginger, and allspice are great additions.

You can even try serving this apple cider cocktail cold instead of hot! Make the spiced cider, then allow it to cool completely. Mix the spiced cider and the whiskey using a cocktail shaker or stir together over ice in a cocktail glass.

Try rimming the glass with cinnamon sugar or topping the drink with ginger beer for an extra fun twist!

glass of apple cider topped with a cinnamon stick and surrounded by fall leaves that are red and orange

What is the difference between bourbon and rye whiskey?

Above, I mentioned a dark spirit like rye whiskey or bourbon is typically used to spike apple cider.

So what’s the difference? What makes a whiskey bourbon?

In order for a whiskey to be bourbon, it must be made from a fermented mash made of at least 51% corn. Rye (in the United States) must be made from a fermented mash of at least 51% rye grain.

Both whiskeys must be distilled to no more than 80% ABV, and diluted with water to at least 40% ABV but no more than 62.5% ABV in the bottle. They must also be aged in a charred oak container, but there isn’t a requirement for how long it has to age.

Bourbon can only be made in the US, but rye can be made anywhere in the world.

two glasses of whiskey apple cider cocktails with cinnamon sticks on a background of vibrant red and orange fall leaves

Bourbon tends to be a little sweeter and have more caramel, chocolate, and fruity notes than rye, which is drier and spicier, with more herbal notes.

I recommend using bourbon in this apple cider cocktail if you tend to prefer a slightly sweeter drink and rye if you like your drinks a bit spicier and dryer.

Looking for more great cocktail recipes for the fall and holiday season? Try a Cranberry Bourbon Smash, Apple Cider Margarita or Christmas White Russian.