As you shuffle toward fall, hoping September will be nice and not jump right into the cold rain, apple cider and spiced rum cocktails will be there to greet you. Apple cider always pairs well with fall activities, and once you add a little rum, it's sure to warm you up and make the cold weather a little more enjoyable.
Warm Apple Cider With Spiced Rum
Warm apple cider can feel intimidating to make, but most of the recipe is spent simmering until it's ready for you to enjoy.
Ingredients
- ½ gallon apple cider
- 10 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 750mL bottle of spiced rum
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, add the cider, cinnamon sticks, and herbs.
- Simmer on low for 3-4 hours. If you are using a saucepan on the stove, bring mixture to boil for five minutes, then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes.
- Carefully remove spices using a slotted spoon.
- Prior to serving, add spiced rum.
- Ladle carefully into a mug.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Easy Warm Spiced Apple Cider
If you don't want to make a large batch of cider at once, this recipe makes simple, individual servings.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- 4 ounces apple cider
- 2 star anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Hot water
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, add cider, star anise, and cinnamon sticks.
- Bring to simmer, immediately turn off burner but do not remove from heat.
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add warm apple cider, straining out spices, rum, and hot water to top off.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Apple Spiced Rum Old Fashioned
Old fashioneds are a reliable classic cocktail, by using spiced rum and cider it makes it a bit cozier for the fall weather.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- 1 ounce apple cider or hard cider
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes lemon bitters
- 3 dashes angostura bitters
- Ice and king cube
- Apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, spiced rum, apple cider, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
- Garnish with apple slices.
Smokey Orchard
A derivative of the spiced rum old fashioned, this variation uses a few more ingredients as well as a charred rosemary sprig, but the reward is well worth the effort.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- 1 ounce apple cider
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 3 dashes angostura bitters
- Ice and king cube
- Two orange peels and single charred rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, spiced rum, apple cider, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
- Express one orange peel over the drink by twisting the peel between your fingers, then run outside of peel along rim.
- Garnish with second orange peel and charred rosemary sprig.
Apple Orchard Negroni
Negronis are a great drink as is, but the spiced rum adds a new depth to the herbs of the Campari.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce spiced rum
- 1 ounce Campari
- ½ ounce apple cider
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice and king cube
- Star anise for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, spiced rum, Campari, apple cider, and vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
- Garnish with star anise.
Apple Rum Fizz
If fall beer isn't for you or you've had too many already this season and can't even think about another, consider this cocktail to get your fix of a fancy rim garnish and all the fall flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- 1½ ounces sparkling apple cider
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 2 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
- Agave and cinnamon sugar for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, spiced rum, orange liqueur, and cinnamon bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- With the agave on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the agave to coat.
- With the cinnamon sugar in a separate saucer, dip the sticky rim into the sugar.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Add sparkling apple cider.
Warm Vanilla Spiced Cider
If you want something a little sweeter or something with a little more flavor than the basic warm apple cider, this recipe will take care of that.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 1 ounce spiced rum
- 1 ounce vanilla or caramel vodka
- Hot water to top off
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- Add spiced rum, vodka, apple cider, and hot water.
- Stir carefully to combine.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Spiced Apple Martini
This variation uses spiced rum as the base spirit, but it makes for the perfect fall martini while you wait for your apple crisp to finish.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- 1 ounce apple cider
- ½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, spiced rum, apple cider, and cinnamon simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Shake, Apple, and Roll
Apple cider season is the best time to play with fall flavored cocktails. Spiced rum might seem an odd pairing at first, but when you think of baking spices and apple, rum makes sense. Once you master the basic apple cider with spiced rum, considering playing with other flavors such as brown sugar or butterscotch. Embrace the cold weather and warm up with cocktails.
Looking for something a little more chill? Cool down with a tasty apple cider slushy cocktail.
