Big Red Apple Drinks
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Please Drink Responsibly
September 25, 2008 - 11:00pmAs you are reading this, vendors and patrons alike are filling the Ithaca Commons to celebrate an important part of Upstate New York agriculture — the apple. If you haven’t noticed already, the area surrounding campus, Collegetown and downtown is filled with orchards and you can even go pick your own fruit at many of them. So why not continue the celebration by using the apples from the Apple Harvest Festival in your drinks this weekend?
When I started writing this mixology column last year, I used the space — and my friends’ time — to compare how different brands of liquor taste in popular mixed drinks. The results varied by liquor variety — expensive tequila we tried (Tequila Reserva 1800) was greatly favored in tequila sunrises while Grey Goose was not even favored over Barton’s when mixed with juice (most people chose Absolut in the blind test). The best part of doing these blind taste tests was discovering some tasty new brands that I still pick up on liquor store trips.
After a few weeks I started experimenting with some less common liquors — and some liquors that are very popular in other countries. My favorite new drink became the caipirinha, made with the fermented juice of unrefined sugarcane called cachaça.
More than 20 columns later, I began to wonder when I was going to run out of drink possibilities. I haven’t and in coming weeks, you'll see the results of research and experiments on Long Island Iced Teas (made properly, without powdered mix), different types of “bombs” and more.
But first, I’d like to return to some tasty drinks that utilize the freshest of local ingredients: apples, apple juice and apple cider.
1 ounce apple juice
2 ounces apple vodka (or 1.5 ounces regular
vodka and 1 tablespoon lemon juice)
1 teaspoon grenadine
Combine ingredients and shake with ice. Strain and serve in a martini glass, if possible. Garnish with a red apple slice to match the drink. Or, try this apple drink:
2 ounces vanilla vodka
4 ounces apple juice
4 ounces ginger ale
2 lime wedges
2 apple slices
Add ice, then lime, apples and vodka into a glass. Pour apple juice and ginger ale on top. You may want to add more lime and apples as garnish.
And then there’s my favorite, spiked spiced apple cider, which can be served warm or cold.
2 ounces spiced rum
(I suggest Captain Morgan’s Tattoo)
4 ounces apple cider
Stir rum and cider together. Do not add ice. You may want to heat the cider beforehand in the microwave or, if you're more ambitious, try this recipe:
8 ounces rum
1/2 gallon cider
cinnamon (ground or sticks)
nutmeg
whole cloves
Heat cider in saucepan on low to medium heat for five minutes. Add rum and spices; cook for 15 minutes or more. Do not boil or the cider will be bitter and the alcohol will evaporate. Use apple slices for flavor in the drink or as garnishes.