Hot Bourbon Apple Cider

Enjoy the warmth of this delicious hot bourbon apple cider, infused with gentle spices and citrus flavors. This festive cocktail is perfect for holiday gatherings and can be prepared in advance.

From darkness to light, yet what sees darkness? The Light. ~Dorothy Hunt

Recently, I served this hot bourbon apple cider at our holiday party, offering the bourbon separately so guests could customize their drink.

This Hot Bourbon Apple Cider is a comforting blend of warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, orange zest, and bay, topped off with smooth bourbon. It’s an easy-to-make cocktail that fills your home with a delightful holiday scent and is ideal for intimate gatherings, winter celebrations, and festive occasions.

What Makes This Bourbon Apple Cider Special

• • Perfect for crowds and can be prepared in advance – great for entertaining.

• • Warm, spiced, and just the right amount of sweetness.

• • Customizable – easily adjust the spice levels and alcohol content to suit your preferences. For gatherings, I recommend serving the bourbon separately so guests can decide how strong they want their drink to be, or if they prefer it without alcohol.

Ingredients for Bourbon Cider

• • Bourbon: Opt for a smooth, mellow bourbon – not too smoky or high-proof. You want the delicate spices to shine. Alternatively, you can experiment with rum.

• • Apple cider: Some ciders are sweeter than others. If yours is too sweet, adjust with hot water, orange juice, or even a splash of lemon juice.

• • Spices: Cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, whole cloves, and bay leaves. If needed, ground cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves can be substituted.

• • Orange: Both zest and juice are needed for a zesty citrus flavor.

• • Garnishes: Dried orange slices, star anise, or cinnamon sticks add a festive touch.

Variations in Spices

Feel free to get creative and try different whole spices to personalize your cider!

• • Fresh ginger

• • Nutmeg

• • Allspice

• • Star anise

• • Black peppercorns

Instructions for Making Hot Bourbon Apple Cider

1. Infuse the cider with spices. In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, combine apple cider, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves, and a strip of orange zest. Add water and bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes to allow the spices to infuse.

2. Add citrus flavors. Squeeze juice from half an orange into the pot, taste, and adjust by adding more spices or orange juice as needed.

 

3. Mix bourbon and cider. Pour 1-2 ounces of bourbon into a mug, then ladle the hot spiced cider over it.

4. Add garnishes. Enhance your drink with dried orange slices, star anise, or cinnamon sticks.

Tips from the Chef

1. 1.  Serve bourbon on the side. Allow guests to choose their preferred alcohol content – from non-alcoholic to a 1-ounce or 2-ounce pour. Alternatively, you can mix the bourbon directly into the cider.

1. 1. Choose high-quality apple cider. Opt for unfiltered cider with minimal ingredients for the best taste. Clear, store-bought “apple juice” may lack depth and richness.

1. 1. Adjust sweetness as needed. If your cider is too sweet, balance it out with hot water, orange juice, or lemon juice.

1. 1. Avoid boiling the mixture. Simmer gently to avoid bitterness from the spices and to preserve the apple flavor.

1. 1. Add citrus at the end. Orange juice adds freshness, so stir it in towards the end of cooking for a vibrant taste.

1. 1. Strain for a smoother drink. If keeping warm for an extended period, strain out the spices to prevent over-spicing.

1. 1. Perfect for slow cookers. Simply prepare the cider in a slow cooker for a cozy, stress-free gathering.