Apple Crisp Cocktail Recipe

Updated August 30, 2018

This autumnal highball from Union Square Cafe in NYC brings together Laird's bonded apple brandy with bourbon that's been infused with spicy green cardamom pods. It's lightly spicy but still refreshing.

Notes: We used Buffalo Trace bourbon, but you can use whichever drinkable bourbon you have on hand. Don't infuse the bourbon for longer than directed, or it will take on much too aggressive a flavor. This recipe makes 1 cup infused bourbon, so you can save it in a sealed container for future cocktails.

To make honey syrup, stir together 1 ounce boiling water with 1 ounce honey until dissolved. Let cool before using.

Recipe Details

Apple Crisp Cocktail Recipe

Active 15 mins

Total 105 mins

Serves 1 serving

Ingredients

For the Cardamom-Infused Bourbon:

1/4 cup green cardamom pods
1 cup bourbon, such as Buffalo Trace

For the Cocktail:

1 ounce Laird's 100 proof apple brandy (not Applejack)
1/2 ounce Cardamom-Infused bourbon
3/4 ounce fresh juice from 1 lemon
3/4 ounce honey syrup (see note)
Club soda
Garnish: lemon twist

Directions

To make the Cardamom-Infused Bourbon: Place 1⁄4 cup cardamom pods in a resealable jar. Crush with a wooden spoon to crack about half the pods (this can also be done in a mortar and pestle.) Top with 1 cup bourbon, shake, infuse for 1 1/2 hours at room temperature. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, discard solids, and re-bottle bourbon.
To make the cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add apple brandy, cardamom-infused bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds.
Strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with soda and garnish with lemon twist.

Special equipment

Cocktail shaker and strainer, resealable jar, fine-mesh strainer

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
166	Calories
0g	Fat
19g	Carbs
0g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	166
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 19g	7%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 12mg	58%
Calcium 14mg	1%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 65mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.