My Dad’s a former banker turned grade-school science teacher. The main reason he left the corporate world in his 40s was because his job was incredibly unfulfilling, but also…summers off, man! Truly I’ve never met someone who enjoys their job more but he definitely takes advantage of those lazy summer days.
Cutting the lawn, lounging in the hammock, reading books, going on bike rides, making Pomodoro Sauce and…inventing cocktails. Because when you’ve got nothing in particular to do, and nowhere in particular to be, the liquor cabinet starts looking more like a fun challenge then a weekend-only indulgence. (And if you know my Dad, Rolling Rock obviously doesn’t belong in the liquor cabinet and thus is not a weekend-only indulgence!)
Anyway, every summer he concocts a signature cocktail to sip in the aforementioned hammock. A few years ago there was always a pitcher of “Smurfs”, aka blue raspberry lemonade vodkas, at the ready. This past summer was all about Whiskey Sours, while a different summer revolved around “The Keith Shandy”. Typically a shandy is beer mixed with soda, ginger beer, or juice, and while most would spike a beer with lemonade and call it a day, my Dad went ahead and added vodka too. What can I say, he’s quite the mixologist.
I’m channeling my Dad’s clever approach to cocktailing with today’s fall-inspired recipe of Sparkling Maple Bourbon Ciders, aka maple syrup-spiked bourbon topped with fizzy hard cider, aka extra-giggly giggle juice!
The idea to make a bourbon/cider-type drink has been with me for almost a year now. Literally I thought of it at the tail end of last fall but instead of squeaking out a post late in the season, I popped it into my calendar for the following year. 2017. Today!
I guess I wasn’t as desperate (read: sleep deprived) back then because the cocktail was originally supposed to be just bourbon and apple cider. Then my youngest decided to stop sleeping and now I do things like call my eye doctor to fill the topical medication my dermatologist prescribed and, well, wreak havoc on everyone’s life.
That is to say, this drink is STRONG. The recipe makes enough for 2, but you’ll want to split it with a partner, partner! If you’re only feeling regular giggly, you can of course use non-alcoholic apple cider in place of the hard cider, too.
Now, let’s talk about the maple syrup in this drink. It plays so well with the caramel-vanilla undertones of bourbon and does NOT make for a sweet drink. I detest sweet cocktails and would never do that to you. There’s only 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup per drink and it simply compliments the bourbon and hard cider flavors. A wee squeeze of lemon juice helps brighten up the drink if you feel it needs it.
I also feel like it has to be said that if you don’t like bourbon, you probably won’t like this drink. If you do like bourbon, and hard cider, and all things deliciously delicious, then you’ll probably love this fun sparkling cocktail!
Who’s thirsty?
There is nothing complicated about this recipe. Add 1 shot bourbon (1-1/2oz) and 1/2 teaspoon pure maple syrup to each of 2, 16oz glasses, then stir to combine. Maker’s Mark is my bourbon of choice – remember, you can get those little airplane-sized bottles if you don’t want to commit to purchasing a big bottle – and be sure to use pure maple syrup versus pancake syrup. Spring for the good stuff and I promise you’ll never go back!
Fill the glasses to the top with ice then divide 1 can hard cider between the two of ’em. Smith & Forge is a dry, not too sweet cider that’s available pretty much everywhere. My other favorites include Bold Rock Cider, made in Virginia and North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and Sociable Cider out of Minneapolis.
Give the drinks a stir then bottoms up, my friend! Cheers – and enjoy!
Sparkling Maple Bourbon Ciders
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup not pancake syrup
- 2 shots bourbon 3oz total, Maker's Mark recommended
- 1 can hard cider Smith & Forge or Bold Rock recommended
- lemon wedges optional
Instructions
- Divide maple syrup and bourbon between two 16oz glasses then stir and fill each glass to the top with ice. Divide cider between glasses then garnish with a lemon wedge, if desired, and serve.
Notes
- You can use regular cider in place of the hard cider if you're feeling normal giggly.
Just tried this for the first time tonight. Delicious! It’s my new favorite fall drink. Thank you!
made these on Friday and LOVED them!! Making them to enjoy at my nephew’s baseball game tonight :)
haha exactly 3 years later, here I am looking up the recipe to make tonight!
But now its to enjoy while carving pumpkins with (if you can call it that) my 7 month old daughter :)
Made this – so easy and delicious! I agree with using Smith & Forge, some other ciders are too sweet.
Wow! Making it when friends come over next time!
I have been trying to like bourbon for years. I like whiskey but bourbon has not sat well with me for some reason. Until this past summer! I found Breckenridge Bourbon (while in Estes Park) and I fell in love with it. If you haven’t tried it yet you must.
I’m totally going to make this drink, hopefully this weekend. Gotta get to Hyvee!
Yes, please! (And Kristen, don’t forget to try some of the great hard ciders the local DM area breweries are creating, on your next date night . . . delicious!)
Have you ever had any problems with bourbon being a Celiac? I also have Celiac disease and have been a little scared to drink it because I’ve heard mixed things, but I love bourbon.
So the urban legend is that some distilleries add part of the malted barley/rye/etc mash back into their whiskey/bourbon – this might be the case for smaller distilleries, but commercial ones like Maker’s Mark do not. That said, I only drink Maker’s and have never had an issue.
I ADORE bourbon. My favorite is Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery, based in Swisher, Iowa. I love hard cider too. I will try this out. Sounds great!
I’ve been there – so beautiful!
My husband and I are (finally!) digging up our wedding bourbon this weekend so, this looks like a wonderful Sunday afternoon on the porch drink. And thanks for the Virginia shout out, I used to live near Bold Rock Cidery! :)
Ummm – FUN!!! Such a beautiful part of the country, too!
A lovely feature about your father! I don’t drink but these look light and refreshing :)
He’s a character! ;)
Looks good!
For locals, I’ll put a plug in for winterset cidery. I’m guessing their semi-dry would work wok for this. And their cherry is amazing!
YUM! I’ll have to try that!