A new take on the classic whiskey smash cocktail, our Apple Whiskey Smash is perfect for Autumn. Use your choice of whiskey or bourbon, a quick and easy homemade cinnamon simple syrup, and sparkling apple cider for the perfect whiskey cocktail.
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A smash cocktail is one that muddles fruit with herbs, traditionally lemon and mint, but can be made to fit every season.
If you like my mezcal mule cocktail or the Fall favorite cranberry and gin cocktail, you are going to love this Apple Cider Whiskey Smash! It can be made as a batch cocktail for a crowd (i.e. a great tailgating cocktail).
📖Why My Recipe Works
- Uses any bourbon, whiskey, or rye you like.
- Has fresh apples (the ultimate Fall fruit!) and apple cider for double flavor. But I also added fresh sage and cinnamon
- The light cinnamon syrup adds a hint of sweetness. But you can use demerara syrup if cinnamon isn't your thing.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Whiskey- I used Bulleit Rye Whiskey for this recipe but you can use any whiskey, rye, or bourbon.. If you want to lean into apple flavor, applejack is a fun twist - just skip the overly sweet apple-flavored whiskeys, since they can overpower the drink.
- Sparkling Apple Cider- You can use traditional apple cider, but I prefer sparkling for the extra bubbles.
- Apples- Use a juicy apple, like a Honeycrisp apple for maximum flavor.
- Lemon juice- optional, but I like the brightness a splash of lemon adds to the drink.
- Water- Optional but I use filtered water when making simple syrup for a cleaner taste.
- Sugar- I used granulated sugar, but you can also use drown sugar or honey to change up the flavor.
- Cinnamon- Use a cinnamon stick, not ground cinnamon, which will make the drink gritty.
🥃How to Make an Apple Whiskey Cocktail
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
Combine water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add a cinnamon stick and let it simmer for a few minutes. Remove from heat, cool completely, then take out the cinnamon stick.
This makes extra syrup - keep it in the fridge for a couple of weeks and use it in more apple cocktails!
Muddle the Fruit and Herbs
Place the apples and sage in your cocktail shaker. Use a wooden muddler to mash the apples and sage together. The goal for the apples is to release their juice, and the sage to release its oil.
Shake and Serve
Add bourbon, simple syrup, and lemon juice to the cocktail shaker. Fill completely with ice. Shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker is very cold to the touch, at least 10 seconds.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with the sparkling apple cider. Garnish with extra sage leaves and apple slices.
🍾Whiskey Smash for a Crowd
This smash cocktail recipe can be easily tripled or more.
- Combine all the ingredients EXCEPT for the sparkling apple cider in a blender. Pulse a few times but DO NOT puree the fruit. We just want to break it up a bit.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain into a pitcher.
- Chill until you are ready to serve.
- When serving pour over crushed ice and top with the sparkling apple cider.
You can also serve this whiskey smash cocktail as a punch. Add your chilled and strained cocktail to the punch bowl. Add the apple cider and slices of apples and cinnamon sticks for decoration.
And if you are looking for more crowd-pleasing drinks, check out our 5-gallon homemade hard cider recipe!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- No muddler? Use the end of a wooden spoon or rolling pin to mash the apples and sage.
- If you don't want to smash ice cubes with a rolling pin, grab a bag of crushed ice from Sonic or your grocery store. Regular ice cubes also work just fine.
- I highly suggest avoiding other flavored whiskeys like Screwball or Fireball. Their strong flavors will overpower the apple.
- The recipe makes two cocktails, to make a large batch of cocktails press the 3x button to increase the recipe quantities.
More Fall Cocktail Recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Apple Whiskey Smash
Ingredients
- 4 ounces whiskey
- 1 ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 ounce sparkling apple cider
- ¼ apple sliced
- 6 sage leaves
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Muddle the apple slices and sage leaves in a shaker.¼ apple, 6 sage leaves
- Add bourbon, simple syrup, lemon, and ice, and shake until well-chilled.4 ounces whiskey, 1 ounce cinnamon simple syrup, ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with the sparkling apple cider. Garnish with sage leaves and apple slices.1 ounce sparkling apple cider
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- Add sugar, water, and cinnamon into a small pan over medium-high heat and mix together.½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 1 cinnamon stick
- Bring mixture to a simmer. Heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely. Strain or remove cinnamon stick.
Notes
- Whiskey, bourbon, rye, or apple whiskey can be used in this recipe. I do not recommend using cinnamon whiskey such as Fireball.
- Leftover cinnamon simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.
Liz says
This is a perfect cocktail for fall and winter! It's well balanced and delicious.
Jen Wooster says
Thanks for the review Liz!
Biana says
Looks great! This cocktail is perfect for Thanksgiving.
Jen says
Thanks!
Jess says
This looks like fall in a glass! So pretty.
Jen says
So glad it turned out perfectly for you.
Jessica Formicola says
Oh my goodness, this cocktail is amazing! We will definitely be making again for Thanksgiving!
Jen says
That is great to hear!
Tara says
Such a beautiful fall drink! All those flavors sound amazing and I love how you garnished the top too. Yum!
Jen says
Thanks.
Seema Sriram says
I will love to try this as I am having some friends over soon. This will be a superhit.