As autumn arrives, indulge in the delightful blend of Infused Apple Bourbon. This concoction offers a splendid opportunity to savor the essence of the season while crafting a selection of cocktails. Opting for intensely tart red apples enhances the experience, as their sharp flavor seamlessly intertwines with the smoky notes of the bourbon.
Ingredients to make Infused Apple Bourbon:
Apples:
Fruity Flavor: Apples contribute a natural sweetness and fruity flavor that infuses into the bourbon, creating a well-balanced and mellow taste.
Cinnamon Sticks:
Aromatic Complexity: Cinnamon’s aromatic qualities blend with the other ingredients, creating a more nuanced and inviting scent in the finished product.
Good Bourbon:
Enhanced Complexity: The interaction between high-quality bourbon and the added ingredients results in a more complex and sophisticated final product, elevating the overall taste of the bourbon.
Why infuse your own bourbon?
Customization: Infusing allows for the creation of unique flavor profiles, catering to individual taste preferences.
Enhanced Flavors: The process adds depth and complexity, transforming the base spirit into a more interesting and enjoyable experience.
Seasonal and Local Ingredients: Infusing provides an avenue to capture the essence of seasonal or locally sourced fruits, herbs, or spices.
Culinary Creativity: Infusing alcohol is a creative outlet, enabling experimentation with different flavor combinations for use in cocktails or culinary recipes.
Gifts and Special Occasions: Homemade infused spirits make thoughtful and personalized gifts, adding a unique touch to celebrations.
Cost-Effective: Making infused alcohol at home can be more economical than purchasing pre-flavored spirits, offering control over the quality of the base spirit.
Versatility: Infused alcohol expands the range of beverages one can create, serving as a versatile addition to a home bar.
Cocktail Innovation: Infused spirits serve as a foundation for inventive and signature cocktails, allowing for exploration in mixology.
The process of infusing can transform ordinary spirits into unique and flavorful creations, and it has become a popular practice both at home and in professional bar settings. Whether experimenting with fruits, spices, herbs, or other ingredients, the possibilities for creating distinctive infused alcohols are vast and limited only by one’s imagination.
What Bourbon should I use to make Apple Bourbon?
Mid-Range Bourbons: Explore bourbons like Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey 101, or Evan Williams Black Label for a balanced quality without a hefty price tag.
Premium Bourbons: Elevate your apple bourbon with premium choices such as Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, or Knob Creek, offering complex flavors that harmonize well with apple and cinnamon.
Wheated Bourbons: Opt for bourbons with a higher wheat content, like Maker’s Mark or Larceny, for a smoother and slightly sweeter profile that complements the apple and cinnamon infusion.
Rye-Forward Bourbons: Choose bourbons with a higher rye content, such as Four Roses Single Barrel or Bulleit Bourbon, for a spicier kick that pairs well with the warmth of cinnamon.
Small Batch Craft Bourbons: Explore the unique characteristics of local or craft bourbons. Brands like Elijah Craig and Rabbit Hole can offer distinct profiles that contribute a special touch to your homemade apple bourbon.
Now let’s talk about what drinks to use this in!
- Old Fashioned: A timeless blend that marries the rich warmth of apple bourbon with the classic allure of an Old Fashioned, creating a sophisticated and flavorful sipping experience.
- Bourbon Sour: A harmonious combination of tartness and warmth, this sour cocktail showcases the distinctive flavor profile of apple bourbon in a refreshing and well-balanced drink.
- Bourbon Smash: Muddled perfection, a Smash is a cocktail that celebrates the fruity and aromatic notes of apple bourbon alongside fresh, vibrant ingredients.
- Spiced Bourbon Mule: A festive and effervescent twist on the traditional Moscow Mule, featuring the spiced essence of apple bourbon paired with ginger beer and a hint of citrus.
- Apple Shot: This after-dinner dessert drink features an exquisite blend of three different liquors, boasting the pièce de résistance – our very own homemade Apple bourbon. Prepare to be enchanted as we artfully layer Amaretto, Kahlua, and the delectable bourbon to craft a taste sensation like no other. To add a final flourish of charm, we crown it with a dollop of velvety whipped cream and a fragrant cinnamon stick.
- Warm Toddy: A comforting and soothing beverage, a toddy combines the familiarity of hot apple cider with the spirited kick of bourbon for a perfect cold-weather companion.
- Bourbon Fizz: Bubbly and effervescent, a Fizz blends the sweetness of apples with the lively sparkle of soda, creating a refreshing and enjoyable drink.
- Smoky Bourbon Martini: A sophisticated take on the classic martini. Top this with a thin crisp apple slice.
- Caramel Apple Float: Decadence in a glass, this dessert cocktail features the rich and sweet notes of caramel, harmonizing with the apple bourbon and crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Hot Chocolate: Elevate your hot chocolate experience by adding a shot to your cup before you make your hot chocolate. Drizzle it with a little caramel.
Equipment
- Mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 Apples
- 4 Cinnamon sticks
- 750 ml Bourbon
Instructions
- Core and slice the apples. The easiest way to do this is to cut just off center to leave core, doing this on all 4 sides. Then slice apples, leaving the skin on.2 Apples
- Place cinnamon sticks and half or the apple slices into the jar. Pour the bourbon over the apples and cinnamon. Place additional apples into the jar till bourbon is about 1 inch from the top. Seal the mason jar, and make sure to wipe so that it is completely dry before you store it, since alcohol can damage surfaces.4 Cinnamon sticks, 2 Apples
- At this point the bourbon can soak for a few days, up to 3 weeks. This all depends on how deep of a flavor you are trying to achieve. 4 sticks of cinnamon will give you a very deep cinnamon flavor, so cut that in half if you want more of the apple flavor.
- Taste the bourbon after a few days to see if it is getting to the flavor profile you desire. At this point remove the cinnamon sticks, and allow to dry. I sit them across the top of a cocktail glass and let air dry. Remove apples and discard. Store bourbon in mason jar, or place into a more decorative decanter.
Nutrition
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