The Best Apple Cider Cocktails to Make This Fall

The moment fresh-pressed cider shows up at the farm stand, it is officially cocktail season. Apple cider cocktails are the easiest way to drink the season: cider brings sweetness, acidity and body in a single pour, so it does the job of juice, syrup and mixer at once. Whether you reach for bourbon, spiced rum, tequila, vodka or a bottle of bubbly, there is an apple cider drink below for you. Here are the ten best apple cider cocktails on MixDrinkEnjoy, which cider to buy, and answers to the questions people ask most.

First, a Quick Word on Cider

In the United States, "apple cider" means unfiltered, non-alcoholic pressed apple juice, cloudy and slightly tart; in the UK and Europe it means the fermented drink. Every recipe here uses the sweet, non-alcoholic kind. Look for cold-pressed, refrigerated cider rather than shelf-stable, and skip anything labeled "apple juice," which is filtered and lacks the tannic bite that makes these drinks taste like fall. If you only have hard cider, use it as the sparkling topper in the spritz and bellini below.

1. Cider and Bourbon Cocktail

If you only make one drink from this list, make the Cider and Bourbon Cocktail. Two ounces of bourbon, three ounces of cider and half an ounce of lemon juice, shaken briefly and poured over ice with a cinnamon stick. The vanilla and caramel in the whiskey are what apple cider wants to taste like when it grows up, and the lemon keeps it out of dessert territory.

2. Apple Cider Margarita

The Apple Cider Margarita is the one that converts skeptics. Tequila, orange liqueur, cider and fresh lime, shaken hard and served on a cinnamon-sugar rim. Blanco tequila keeps it bright; a reposado adds a toasty note that leans harder into autumn. It is the drink for a Halloween party or a bonfire when half the guests say they "don't like whiskey drinks." Skip the optional simple syrup if your cider is already sweet.

3. Apple Cider Mule

The Apple Cider Mule takes the classic vodka-and-ginger-beer build and swaps in two ounces of cider. Spicy ginger beer and cider are a natural pairing, and because it is built in the glass, it scales easily for a crowd. If you prefer a whiskey base, the Caramel Apple Mule is the same idea dressed up for dessert.

4. Apple Cider Sangria

For a party pitcher, nothing beats Apple Cider Sangria. A bottle of white wine, two cups of cider, a half cup of brandy, sliced apples and oranges and a cinnamon stick, chilled for at least two hours and served over ice with a splash of soda. It gets better as the fruit soaks. For pear and bubbles, try the Sparkling Apple Pear Sangria; the Harvest Sangria is built for Thanksgiving weekend.

5. Apple Cider Spritz

The spritz is not just a summer drink. The Apple Cider Spritz keeps the low-alcohol, high-refreshment formula that made the Aperol Spritz famous and trades the orange bitterness for cider and sparkling wine. It is the right call for a long afternoon of football, or for guests who want something lighter than whiskey.

6. Apple Cider Mojito

Mint and apple sound like an odd couple until you taste them together. The Apple Cider Mojito muddles fresh mint and lime with white rum, then tops with cider instead of soda. It is bright and herbal with a rounder finish than the original. For a spicier take, the Spiced Rum Mojito build works just as well with cider on top.

7. Autumn Spiced Rum Cider

Spiced rum and cider are the shortcut to fall flavor. The Autumn Spiced Rum Cider leans on the vanilla, clove and cinnamon already in the bottle, so you need little more than a squeeze of citrus. Serve it over ice or gently warmed. For more on what spiced rum can do, our rum cocktail guide covers the classics.

8. Caramel Apple Cider Cocktail

This is the one for the sweet tooth at the table. The Caramel Apple Cider Cocktail tastes like the fairground treat, with caramel vodka or caramel syrup over cold cider. A small pour goes a long way, and a caramel-drizzled rim is not optional. For the same flavors in a coupe, the Salted Caramel Apple Martini is the elegant cousin.

9. Apple Cider Bellini

Brunch deserves a fall drink too. The Apple Cider Bellini swaps peach purée for chilled cider under a top of Prosecco. Keep both ingredients ice cold, pour the cider first, then the wine, and do not stir. It pairs perfectly with anything involving cinnamon rolls.

10. Maple Apple Toddy

When the temperature really drops, cider belongs in a mug. The Maple Apple Toddy warms cider with whiskey, a spoonful of maple syrup and a squeeze of lemon, following the same logic as a classic Hot Toddy. Heat the cider gently rather than boiling it, and add the spirit off the heat. The Hot Buttered Rum is the natural next step if you want something richer.

Tips for Better Apple Cider Cocktails

Balance the sweetness

Cider is already sweet, so these drinks need less sugar than the classics they are based on. Taste your cider first; if it is very sweet, drop any added simple syrup and lean on fresh lemon or lime. The classic sour ratio of two parts spirit to one part sour to one part sweet still applies, with cider counting as most of the sweet.

Use good ice

Cider drinks are already diluted by the cider, so small, wet ice makes them taste flat fast. Large cubes for built drinks and a quick hard shake for shaken ones keep the flavor intact. Our cocktail ice guide goes deeper.

Make a spiced cider base

If you are hosting, simmer a half gallon of cider with two cinnamon sticks, four cloves, a strip of orange peel and a few slices of fresh ginger for 20 minutes, then chill it. That one batch becomes the base for the margarita, mule, toddy and sangria.

Further Reading

For more on the history and formulas behind these drinks, Difford's Guide on toddy cocktails traces the toddy from India and Scotland to America, the classic Cider Apple Cocktail on Difford's Guide shows how bartenders build with cider, and PUNCH's hard cider cocktails are the place to go if you want to mix with the fermented kind.

Grab a Jug and Get Mixing

Apple cider is the most forgiving mixer of the season: it makes a bourbon drink smoother, a margarita more interesting and a party pitcher effortless. Start with the Cider and Bourbon Cocktail tonight, then work your way down the list as the weather cools. When you are ready to explore beyond apple, browse the full drink categories for more fall favorites, or see how the season's other stars stack up in our best bourbon cocktails guide.